The council vacancy arose when John Whittington transitioned to the role of mayor, leaving his previous seat open. Ultimately, Nick Lewis was appointed to the vacant seat, with council members valuing his proven willingness to serve, as evidenced by his previous campaign. This decision was favored over reopening the application process, highlighting the council’s inclination towards efficiency and continuity in governance. The appointment was met with unanimous approval.

In other matters, the council deliberated on the need for technology upgrades due to the impending end of support for Windows 11 in October 2025. Sally Comfort, a customer success manager with CTS, presented a detailed proposal for replacing outdated computers within the city’s infrastructure. This initiative involved the procurement of new desktops and laptops for various departments, including Public Works and the fire hall. Comfort emphasized the urgency of upgrading to prevent security vulnerabilities, recommending specific peripherals and a more efficient printer model to enhance productivity. The council explored cost-saving measures, such as repurposing existing machines by wiping and redeploying them, particularly those initially issued to council members.

The meeting also saw a discussion about the Mayor’s upcoming participation in the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in March. The conference is viewed as an opportunity for the Mayor to advocate for federal funding, especially for the city’s water treatment plant project. The budget for this travel was approved unanimously, with the council recognizing the potential long-term benefits of effective lobbying skills for future state-level funding requests.

Additionally, the council addressed community concerns, such as the lack of vending options at Lake Eagle Park during events. A proposal to install vending machines was considered, though potential conflicts of interest were noted due to a council member’s involvement. The city attorney advised that the council member abstain from participating in the decision-making process to avoid any perceived conflicts. The council showed interest in exploring partnerships with beverage companies for this initiative. Discussions with the park board were suggested to further evaluate the feasibility of vending machine installation.

The council also tackled issues related to land appraisal for a new water treatment facility. Staff were working to secure appraisers familiar with federal funding processes, but faced challenges due to lack of interest and holiday season delays. To expedite the process, a proposal to delegate authority to select an appraiser within a budget was discussed.

Financially, the meeting included a positive year-end revenue and expenditure report, with general fund revenues exceeding forecasts. Despite being unofficial pending an audit, the financial outlook was described as promising. The council also discussed the capital budget request for the water treatment improvement project, with optimism about achieving shovel-ready status by April.

Community engagement efforts were highlighted, with open gym basketball nights scheduled to continue through March. The council acknowledged the challenges in the childcare sector due to the closing of a preschool and the discontinuation of school district programs.