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Bennet council approves water-rate change, board membership update, sewer camera purchase and consent items
Summary
At its Oct. 13 meeting the Bennet City Council approved a water-usage ordinance on second reading, amended Board of Adjustment membership, reappointed planning commissioners via consent agenda, and authorized purchase of an Iris HD sewer camera; the council also entered closed session on potential litigation.
The Bennet City Council on Oct. 13 approved several measures, including a second-reading approval of a water-usage rate adjustment, a change to Board of Adjustment membership, reappointments to the Planning Commission via consent agenda, and the purchase of an Iris HD sewer camera.
The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Ryan Cheney presiding. The council approved the consent agenda by motion of Dan Zieg, seconded by Josh Buck; the consent package included approval of the Sept. 23 special meeting minutes, claims for payment, the treasurer’s report, Resolution 2025-10.1 reappointing Planning Commission members, approval of Van Kirk payment #5, and a request from Larry Kramer to place a banner over Monroe Street advertising "Christmas in the Park." The roll-call vote on the consent motion is recorded as YES: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg.
Mayor Cheney introduced Ordinance 2025-8.1 to amend City Code 52.02 to adjust water usage rates. Pete Simmons moved to approve second reading; the motion was seconded by Schmidt. The roll-call vote is recorded as YES: Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck, and the motion carried.
The council next considered Ordinance 2025-9.1 to amend City Code 32.02 relating to membership of the Board of Adjustment. Council member Dan Zieg moved and Pete Simmons seconded a motion to waive the three-reading rule; that motion carried. Zieg then moved to approve the ordinance and Simmons seconded; the roll-call vote is recorded as YES: Zieg, Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, and the ordinance was approved.
Utilities Superintendent Zach Fergus presented quotes and comparative information for three sewer cameras and recommended the Iris HD model. Council member Dan Zieg moved and Josh Buck seconded a motion to approve purchase of the Iris HD sewer camera; roll-call vote is recorded YES: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, and the motion carried. The minutes do not specify the purchase price or the funding line for the acquisition.
The council also voted to go into closed session to discuss potential litigation. Dan Zieg moved and Josh Buck seconded that the council enter closed session at 8:29 p.m.; the minutes record the council reconvened from closed session at 9:07 p.m. The minutes provide no substantive detail about the litigation topic, consistent with closed-session confidentiality.
The meeting adjourned after the closed session; the motion to adjourn passed on a roll-call vote recorded as YES: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg.
Why it matters: The water-rate change and the Board of Adjustment membership amendment are formal changes to city code that will affect residents and permit processes; the camera purchase represents a capital investment in utilities maintenance. Multiple items were handled on a single consent motion, which bundled procedural approvals with a community banner request. The minutes include a discrepancy in how Council Member rollout is recorded: the roll call at the start lists Buck, Simmons and Zieg (plus the mayor), while later vote tallies include an individual identified as "Schmidt" as a voting member. The minutes record Schmidt as voting on several items but do not provide a first name or the initial roll-call listing for that name.
Next steps: The ordinances will proceed per the city’s ordinance-adoption rules; no final action on the USPS lease or solid-waste contract award was recorded at this meeting.
