Tecumseh Council adopts One and Six Year street plan, appoints street superintendent and approves contracts; insurance renewal raises monthly premium

The Tecumseh City Council on Dec. 1 adopted a resolution approving the city's One and Six Year Plan for Street Improvements, appointed a new street superintendent for 2026 and approved a series of contracts and payments tied to utility and municipal services.

The council adopted the One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan by motion of Councilmember Lorie Topp, seconded by Councilmember Alicia Brommer; the vote was unanimous (Beethe, Britt, Brommer, Speckmann, Topp voting aye; Goracke absent). The plan sets Tecumseh's prioritized street projects for the near term; council members did not record additional amendments on the floor.

Councilmember Tyler Speckmann moved, and Councilmember Brian Britt seconded, approval of the Year-End Certification of the City Street Superintendent form; the motion carried unanimously. The council then voted to appoint Matt Schaardt as the City's Street Superintendent for the term Jan. 1, 2026'Dec. 31, 2026 (motion by Councilmember Lorie Topp, second by Lance Beethe; unanimous vote).

In other municipal business, the council approved a renewal of the city's group health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Staff reported the current monthly premium of $17,153 and a renewal premium of $22,256 per month; the renewal passed on a motion by Councilmember Tyler Speckmann, seconded by Councilmember Brian Britt, with the full council voting aye.

The council renewed the contract with Ray J Sanitation, LLC for garbage services (motion by Councilmember Tyler Speckmann, seconded by Councilmember Lorie Topp; unanimous vote). It also approved Change Order #2 on the power plant cooling project reflecting a decrease of $44,863.75 (motion by Councilmember Lorie Topp, seconded by Councilmember Brian Britt; unanimous vote) and approved the final pay application from Farabee Mechanical for $246,433.63 (motion by Councilmember Lorie Topp, seconded by Lance Beethe; unanimous vote).

Parks and Recreation recommended an Outback Fence quote of $32,738.10 for work on the tennis/pickleball courts and a park bridge; the council tabled that item for later consideration.

City staff reported several development and utility updates: a notice of award for the city's CDBG DTR improvement application, Turnbull Tire has begun construction on a new facility, staff plan a meeting with Aspen Builders, and the utility department noted the power plant cooling project is substantially complete though state-level reimbursement was delayed by a governor shutdown and is improving. Utility staff also reported demolition and backfill work at the old pool house and that a switchgear at Tecumseh Poultry will need replacement; staff are working through Grid grant paperwork and soliciting estimates for a generator-set building.

During public comment a member of the public raised a question about a code violation warning letter and the council discussed how many code violations are typically issued each year; no formal action on enforcement was recorded.

The council approved the consent agenda, including the Nov. 17, 2025 minutes and city bills totaling $40,913.26, and elected Councilmember Tyler Speckmann as Council President for 2026. The meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.