By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan City Council met on February 19, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. After the minutes of the February 5, 2024 meeting were approved, council approved Clerk / Treasurer Lehner’s financial report.
Ordinance 4-2024 approved the union contract with IBW and the Street Department, Resolution 12-2024 provided for the repayment of a cash advance to the 415 safe route to school project fund while grant funding was being awaited.
Resolution 13-2024 designated Mayor Schlade as delegate and Dick Long as alternate as representation to the AMP board, upon which Mayor Schlade is an executive board member.
Resolution 14-2024 accepted a donation from the Bryan Swim Team Association to the Parks and Recreation Department for a new pool heater, as the old heater went out at the end of last year.
Resolution 14-2024 accepted donations for the Fountain City Amphitheater for the 2024 season, with Bard Manufacturing thanked for their monumental support.
Ordinance 5-2024, which provided annual appropriations for the expenditure of donated funds and the 415 fund, was approved on its first reading after a suspension of the rules.
Mayor Schlade shared the details of negotiations committee participation, with council deciding to wait until all members were present to decide, with discussion being planned for next month’s meeting.
Annual reports were then given for the engineering department, including the success of the annual pavement marking and safe route to school programs and street extensions.
Council then thanked Clifford Weigel for his service to the city, including his time spent with the police department.
As his last day working for the city, the mayor shared that Weigel has serviced Bryan for helping with zoning and enforcement at the beginning of her position, sharing that his organization and self-motivation made him the best candidate for the position, and that the city will be grateful for his contributions made throughout the years.
The annual report continued, with details for code enforcement being discussed with code violations issued.
Future projects were discussed, like potential street extensions, and then the parks department began their annual review.
They shared how they are trying to “enhance the natural beauty” of the parks and “increase the quality of life” for Bryan residents.
The park board is planning to resume regular meetings, and the tree commission falls under his care as well.
The street department shared that they have been working hard to keep the roads clear, remove hazardous trees (39 last year), patch potholes, and the upkeep of sanitary sewer lines by the sewer team.
Thirty-five burials were completed at the cemetery this year, with 25 bases being poured. Mayor Schlade thanked the three department heads for their annual reports, as well as their staff for the work they do for the community.
The Bryan Swim Team Association and Bard’s Manufacturing were then thanked for their help, sharing that Bard’s is filled with “good people” that have nothing but dedication for the City of Bryan, and Clifford Weigel was thanked again for his help with code enforcement and commitment to the city.
Winter sports athletes were congratulated for doing themselves and the city proud with their prowess. The department heads were again thanked for their comprehensive reports, and all of the donors for the amphitheater were thanked for their contributions. The negotiations team was also thanked for coming to an agreement with the union contract.
With nothing further to address, Council then voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:22 p.m., set to meet next March 18, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.