0:00During the meeting, Wayne Kroshus was appointed to the council, filling the vacant seat left by Kim. Wayne expressed a desire to return to city government. His appointment came after a brief discussion about Casey Krieger’s recusal from voting due to his potential tie-breaking role. The council unanimously approved Wayne’s appointment, after which he was sworn in. This move was particularly noteworthy given Wayne’s recent electoral performance as the next highest vote-getter. The council expressed optimism about Wayne’s return, anticipating that his experience would be beneficial to the council’s operations.

While the appointment of Wayne Kroshus was a key highlight, the meeting also delved into the ongoing renovation challenges at the Deco Center. The facility, undergoing significant improvements, faced issues with cleanliness during renovations. The painting company in charge left the area in unsatisfactory condition, prompting Public Works to undertake extensive cleaning efforts. The council acknowledged the hard work of Public Works, who managed to restore the facility to acceptable conditions through pressure washing and sweeping.

The Deco Center renovations included sandblasting and painting of the pool area, which was expected to be filled by the weekend. The walking track was anticipated to open in the following week, while the steam room awaited tiling completion before it could become operational in February. The status of the hot tub remained pending state approval, with renovations expected to start in February. Despite these challenges, the council remained hopeful for progress in the coming weeks and appreciated the efforts of Public Works amidst the ongoing difficulties.

18:09In addition to the Deco Center updates, the council addressed a significant incident at the event center where a broken pipe led to flooding. The malfunction was attributed to a furnace issue that caused the pipe to freeze, affecting several areas of the center, including the kitchen and hallway. Public Works discovered the flooding during snow removal activities. Insurance would cover the damage, albeit with a deductible of $55,000. Remediation efforts were immediately implemented, involving drying out the affected areas and removing damaged drywall and flooring. Replacement of these items was postponed until after roof repairs to prevent further issues. A contractor was scheduled to inspect the structural integrity of the center’s beams, with an emphasis on monitoring the heating system during repairs. Concerns about heating efficiency without insulation in certain areas were noted, leading to the water supply being mostly shut off, except for essential facilities.

The police department reported a notable increase in activity from 2023 to 2024, with calls rising from 1,800 to 2,470. The involvement of the School Resource Officer (SRO) with students and staff was highlighted, with a safety plan being developed with input from teachers and parents. Although questions arose about whether the increase in calls was directly related to the SRO’s activities, further breakdowns were promised for later.

The council also discussed a minor update to the KRJB media services contract, which had remained unchanged in pricing for five years. Minor alterations were made regarding social media management, but the overall cost remained constant. The council unanimously approved the updated contract.

Lastly, a resolution regarding garbage rates was formalized, with the council approving the previously established rates that had not increased since 2015. This resolution passed without further discussion. Additionally, the council approved a $500 donation request from Harley Valley Golf Course for their upcoming fundraiser banquet, maintaining historical contribution levels.