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Smith Center council approves local grants, board appointments and administrative changes; tables backhoe decision
Summary
At its Jan. 26 meeting the Smith Center City Council approved a $5,000 revitalization grant, paid a $450 membership fee, updated Heritage Townhomes banking signatories, reappointed four Economic Development board members and waived routine approvals for certain reimbursements and a youth-facility grant; a backhoe purchase was tabled.
The Smith Center City Council on Jan. 26 approved several routine and administrative measures, including a $5,000 Commercial Revitalization Grant for 114 S. Main, the city’s WKREDA membership fee and multiple board appointments, while tabling a decision on backhoe bids until the full council can meet.
Council President Chris Cole opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the Srader Building. After recording attendance, the council approved the Jan. 12 minutes, vouchers and receipts on a motion by Tracy Kingsbury, seconded by Don Wick.
Economic Development matters led the meeting’s formal actions. Scott Roth, presenting for the Economic Development board, asked the council to approve a $5,000 Commercial Revitalization Grant for 114 S. Main; Cole moved to approve, Don Wick seconded, and the motion carried. Cole then moved to pay the 2026 annual membership fee of $450 to WKREDA; Tracy Kingsbury seconded and the motion carried.
The council approved administrative banking changes for Heritage Townhomes, removing Aurielle Hughes from the accounts and replacing her with Melissa Colby after a motion by Cole and a second by Everett Mansholt. Cole moved, and Mansholt seconded, to reappoint Nancy Schaffer, Jacob Cobb, Scott Roth and Charles Griffith to the Economic Development board; that motion also carried. The council also approved, on a motion by Don Wick and second by Chris Cole, waiving individual approvals for meal reimbursement requests related to Economic Development activities.
In new business, Joey Stansbury, representing the Recreation Committee, described grant funds raised for the Ken Sidles Youth Training Facility and a potential administrative delay if each purchase required individual council approval. Tabitha Owen told the council that the grant’s spending rules created a timing issue; council member Everett Mansholt moved to approve the committee’s spending plan and waive the requirement for individual approvals on grant purchases. Tracy Kingsbury seconded the motion, and it carried.
The council reviewed two backhoe bids but unanimously agreed to table any decision until the full council could be present; Council President Chris Cole requested a vendor representative meet with the council to discuss figures.
On the Chamber of Commerce request, Chris Huffman asked the council to increase the city’s annual contribution from $15,000 to $18,000. Scott Roth said the Economic Development board would consider a $2,000 contribution such that the city’s portion would be $16,000. The council tabled the Chamber request pending the Economic Development board’s approval. Huffman also said the Chamber plans to apply for grant funds to buy 10 tables and chairs and described a shortage of volunteers for Old Settlers Day; the council agreed to have city staff help hang new signage requested by Economic Development.
Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the minutes): - Approve Jan. 12 minutes, vouchers and receipts — mover: Tracy Kingsbury; second: Don Wick; outcome: motion carried (vote tally not specified in the minutes). - Approve Commercial Revitalization Grant, 114 S. Main, $5,000 — mover: Chris Cole; second: Don Wick; outcome: approved. - Pay WKREDA 2026 membership fee, $450 — mover: Chris Cole; second: Tracy Kingsbury; outcome: approved. - Remove Aurielle Hughes and add Melissa Colby to Heritage Townhomes bank accounts — mover: Chris Cole; second: Everett Mansholt; outcome: approved. - Reappoint Nancy Schaffer, Jacob Cobb, Scott Roth and Charles Griffith to the Economic Development board — mover: Chris Cole; second: Everett Mansholt; outcome: approved. - Waive individual approvals for Economic Development meal reimbursement — mover: Don Wick; second: Chris Cole; outcome: approved. - Approve Recreation Committee plan and waive individual approvals for Ken Sidles Youth Training Facility grant purchases — mover: Everett Mansholt; second: Tracy Kingsbury; outcome: approved. - Table decision on two backhoe bids until full council present — outcome: tabled.
The minutes record that the council expressed general support for a BUILD letter concerning county bridge replacements after Brittany Niles presented the request, but no formal motion text or vote tally is provided for the letter in the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Notes: where the minutes do not supply roll-call tallies, this article reports only motions, movers and seconders as recorded and notes when a vote tally was not specified.
