Bennet council adopts hazard plan, approves five-year refuse contract and OKs 6% pay raise

Mayor Ryan Cheney called the Bennet City Council to order on Dec. 8, 2025, and the council moved through multiple agenda items, approving an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan and a five‑year residential refuse contract with Uribe Refuse Services.

Council Member Pete Simmons moved to approve Resolution 2025‑11.3 to adopt the Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the motion carried on a roll call vote of Council Members Josh Buck, Jesse Schmidt, Pete Simmons and Dan Zieg. City Engineer Brian Schuele had described the updates that were incorporated into the plan.

Attorney Matt Blaser of the Solheim Law Office explained changes to Uribe’s original three‑year bid and said, “The new contract will be for a five‑year period with two annual options to renew. This contract is for residential curbside pickup only.” The council approved the updated agreement by roll call vote.

The council also authorized solicitation of bids for a new Maintenance Building with work required to be completed by August 31, 2026. On personnel matters, Council Member Dan Zieg moved that “all City Employee salaries be increased by six percent effective January 1, 2026,” and the resolution (2025.12‑3) passed unanimously. The council went into a closed session to discuss litigation later in the evening and adjourned at 8:37 PM.

The meeting included routine consent‑agenda approvals (minutes, claims, Treasurer’s report and several resolutions) and a tabled discussion about inspection costs and a lease renewal for the Post Office building to be revisited in January 2026.