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Columbus council approves police contract, Fireman's Park change order and claims payment
Summary
On Oct. 7 the Common Council approved a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Columbus Professional Police Association, authorized a $60,000 change order for Fireman's Park path construction, approved $341,920.45 in claims, and adopted two routine resolutions (library tax exemption and Fire Prevention Week).
After a Committee of the Whole work session on the budget, the Common Council convened later Oct. 7 and took several formal actions.
The council approved a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Columbus and the Columbus Professional Police Association Local 237 covering Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027. The motion to approve was moved, seconded, and carried on roll call with the following recorded votes: Finkler (Aye), Rostad (Aye), Meyer (Aye), Roehlke (Aye), Lawson (Aye), Reid (Aye). The chair announced "Ayes have it, 6-0." (roll call recorded SEG 3031'1043).
Council also approved Change Order No. 1 for the Fireman's Park culvert removal project, adding $60,000 to fund a 10-foot-wide asphalt path to improve connectivity between park features and the new stormwater feature. Staff said unit-based contract pricing and the contractor's on-site status made the change cost-effective; the council approved the change order on a roll call vote (Reid Aye; Meyer Aye; Lawson Aye; Roecky Aye; Finkler Aye; Rostand Aye).
The council approved payment of claims totaling $341,920.45 by roll call vote (Meyer Aye; Reid Aye; Finkler Aye; Roeelke Aye; Rostad Aye; Lawson Aye). Earlier in the agenda, the council also approved two routine items by voice vote: Resolution 9-25 exempting the municipality from paying Columbia County library tax for 2026 and Resolution 10-25 declaring Oct. 5'12, 2025 as Fire Prevention Week in Columbus.
Several of the actions were prefaced by short staff presentations and limited council discussion. The council voted to enter closed session earlier in the meeting to discuss the police contract under state statute, and later voted to enter a second closed session under 19.85(1)(e) to discuss negotiation on 103 North Ludington Street.
What happens next: The police contract will be implemented for the covered period; staff will proceed with the Fireman's Park work per the change order and manage project retainage as described in the CIP materials. The council recorded the claims payments and adjourned after moving to a final closed session.
