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Alma council adopts farm-animal ordinance, approves 2025 budget and library grant
Summary
Alma's Common Council adopted Ordinance #24-09 (Farm Animals) with an amendment allowing neutered male goats, unanimously approved the city's 2025 budget, accepted an FFP library grant and signed off on several infrastructure and administrative measures, including a $745,000 lift-station contract and authorization to borrow up to $300,000 for water projects.
The Common Council of the City of Alma on Nov. 14 adopted Ordinance #24-09, creating a chapter for farm animals in the Alma Code of Ordinances, and approved a package of budgetary and infrastructure actions.
The ordinance—reported out of the Services Committee by Chair Loren Mueller—was amended after a goat owner requested that section 3c allow neutered male goats in addition to females. On a motion by David Earney, seconded by Gary Jepsen, the council adopted the ordinance as amended; the roll-call tally was four in favor and one opposed, with Randy Brommer recorded as the lone no vote.
Also on the agenda, the council adopted the City of Alma's 2025 budget on a motion by Gary Jepsen, seconded by Larry Farl, with all members voting yes. No members of the public testified either for or against the budget during the public hearing.
The council accepted an FFP grant to build a new library and designated Clerk-Treasurer Linda Torgerson as the Financial Management Contact for the grant. The council approved the grant signatories as Gary Jepsen, Linda Torgerson and Sharaya Reed, and authorized a non-compete process for selecting architects and engineers while empowering the Library Building Committee to approve project items as needed. Appointed to the Library Building Committee were Cindy Duley, Laura Toone, Gary Wolf, Gary Jepsen and Shelly Cherry, with Andrea Goeldner named as an alternate.
On infrastructure matters, the Utilities Committee recommendation to award the Lift Station #4 contract to TJ's Trucking & Excavating for $745,000 was approved by the council. The council also approved an $81,116.00 invoice from TJ's for a water valve replacement and hydrant installation on Cedar Street and authorized borrowing up to $300,000 from the Bank of Alma to support water projects and operating costs.
The Fire Department notified the Services Committee of a mandatory change order for the new fire truck; council approved Change Order #10042-002-1 for $7,100 to cover an upgraded pool rack and new tank.
Additional actions included granting an easement to Andrew Bisek for a portion of Cedar Street, approving an operator license for Amber Huber, re-zoning several industrial lots off Shawnee Drive from Industrial to Commercial, and authorizing $2,500 from previously allocated broadband funds to extend service to the rezoned industrial lots. The council announced the next regular meeting for Dec. 12, 2024, and adjourned.
Votes at a glance: the farm-animal ordinance (Ordinance #24-09) was adopted 4-1; the 2025 budget was adopted unanimously; the lift station bid ($745,000), Cedar Street invoice ($81,116), acceptance of the FFP library grant, the $7,100 fire truck change order, easement for Andrew Bisek and other listed motions were approved by roll call as recorded in the minutes.
The meeting record shows no public testimony for or against the farm-animal ordinance or the budget during the hearings. The council accepted a resignation from landfill attendant Sarah Buehler, and the Services Committee noted a Cemetery Support Group meeting scheduled for Nov. 19 at City Hall.
The council did not record detailed roll-call assignments for every yes vote on motions that passed unanimously; where the minutes list only unanimous approval, this article reports the outcome as recorded.
