In response to the concerns, a city official explained that the payments were subsidies for volunteer fire organizations rather than rent. This practice, although characterized as rent in city documents, constitutes support for the volunteer services that the city relies on. The official maintained that this method of subsidizing has been longstanding, despite the resident’s disagreement and allegations of potential misconduct.

Another issue discussed was the city’s salary ordinance for 2024, which was up for public hearing and final consideration. A resident questioned why the ordinance was being passed at the end of the year, rather than the beginning, and expressed concerns over the listed salary ranges for city officials. The city officials clarified that the ordinance does not eliminate any positions and follows historical precedent.

Additionally, a resident raised concerns about a possible 10% increase in property taxes for the coming year, following a previous 21% hike. The resident voiced frustrations over the lack of public forums to discuss tax assessments and asserted the need for tax reductions to prevent further financial strain on residents. A city attorney corrected a misunderstanding about the city’s budget, clarifying that the final budget for the next year had not yet been determined.