PURCHASE APPROVAL … Bryan Street Commissioner Tyson Engstrom asked for approval to purchase from Selking International a 2023 cab and chassis, for the street department. Council approved of the request, by a unanimous vote. (PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY, STAFF)
By: Daniel Cooley
The February 7 Bryan City Council meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call. All five council members, Jim Kozumplik, Richard Hupe, Judy Yahraus John Betts and Mary Leatherman, were present.
In the first order of business, the city council approved of the previous minutes, from the January 18, 2022 meeting.
John Courtney, of Courtney and Associates, gave a presentation on the city of Bryan’s Waste Water rates. Courtney gave a preliminary account that Bryan was slightly behind in the waste water budget and stated that Bryan is a bit behind on the budget and may need to increase the usage charge, Courtney will be available to discuss the waste water budget at the next couple of city council meetings.
Next, council approved of Resolution number 11, accepting a donation of land on Portland Street, known as the Bryan Rotary Pavilion, from the Bryan City School District.
The school district requests that the small acreage of land, roughly .329 acres, become a part of the parks system. The one downfall is that the area lacks parking places, so the next step is to sit down with the owners as soon as possible, to discuss that problem.
That was followed by the council’s approval of Resolution 12. This resolution gives clerk-treasurer Laura Rode the right to advertise for bids for the Western Bryan Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project, in the Horton Heights area.
Next, council approved of Resolution 13, a replacement for Resolution 5, meaning that Resolution 5 has been rescinded. Resolution 12 passed, with corrections made from Resolution 5.
According to the agenda sheet, Resolution 13 declared “the necessity of an Election on the Question, of the Enactment of an Ordinance to Amend Sections of the Codified Ordinances Relating to Income Tax to provide for the replacement of the additional one-half of one percent on and after June 1, 2023 for nine and one-half years ending December 31, 2032…for the purpose of retirement of all indebtedness and/or expenses of the improvements of the city streets and the sewer system for the city of Bryan.”
Next, the council passed Resolution 14. This is the first step in the process of allowing Rode, according to the agenda sheet, “to advertise for contracted outside refuse removal services to replace inside services for residential and commercial refuse removal.”
City council then approved of Ordinance 8, the transfer of funds for the month ending February 28. Here, council approved of three transfers of funds from previous Bryan Board of Public Affairs meetings.
Next, council approved of Ordinance 9, a change order asking for $30,000 more to complete the re-build of the Bryan Fire Department Live Fire Training.
The council then discussed Ordinance 10, specifically regarding coming up with a policy for food trucks in the City of Bryan. Council decided to make Ordinance 10 the first reading and approved of that reading.
Next, council discussed Ordinance 11, for Mayor Carrie Schlade to approve a purchase order to Selking International, for a 2023 International Cab and Chassis for the Bryan Street Department.
“It’s a budget item and If we don’t order it now, we won’t get it in 2023,” said street commissioner Tyston Engstrom. The city council agreed and approved of Ordinance 11.
Next, council approved of the appointments to the Volunteer Peace Officers Dependents Fund.
Council then approved of the appointment of Schlade to the executive council of the Maumee Valley Planning Organization.
Next, Schlade brought to the city council a certified letter that she had just received.
In it, the St. Mary’s Development requested a senior center, to be put in at 1200 Center Street. St. Mary’s asked for a response by February 28, 2022.
After discussion, attorney Rhonda Fisher suggested that city council emailed her about St. Mary’s and that she would put those into a letter to be sent to St. Mary’s. Council approved of the suggestion to write a letter.
Next, an annual report was made by both the Engineering and Wastewater departments.
Yahraus thanked everyone who was working out in the storm. She also thanked the heads of engineering and waste water departments for good presentations.
Betts then talked to everyone about the need to pass the renewal levy, coming up in May.
Mayor Schlade thanked Bryan Municipal Utilities and (utilities director) Nate Gardner for the extra cots that were brought in for the fire department (the fire department stays at the facility during Level 3).
“(Also), the street department was phenomenal (for their work during the storm) and I feel really grateful for all the (city) departments,” Schlade said.
Council then entered executive session.
Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com