Aberdeen City Council Meeting: December 15, 2025

The Aberdeen City Council convened on December 15, 2025, at approximately 5:25 PM (the meeting started after agenda approval) to consider routine city business, including a second reading of a salary ordinance, several first readings of fee and budget ordinances, multiple infrastructure payments and agreements, and a city manager's report. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the printed agenda.
• Approved minutes of the December 1, 2025, city council meeting and the December 8, 2025, work session (with a correction that the work session started at 4:00 PM).
• Approved the consent calendar containing numerous routine city business items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak during open forum.

Old Business

• Second Reading of the Salary Ordinance (Ordinance 25-1204? – actually ordinance number corrected): Councilmember Dave indicated no substantive changes; a clerical error in the ordinance number was fixed. The council voted unanimously (8-0) to implement the new wages, which included a 6% wage increase.

Discussion Items

• First Reading – Fee Schedule Ordinance (25-1204): Finance Director Jordan presented the 2026 fee schedule, which incorporates a 6% wage increase, inflationary costs, recommendations from the 2025 water and sewer rate study (Option 1 for both), and adjustments to solid waste, parking, building permits, and other fees. Council discussed the impact on residential water bills, the WINS water project, reserve funds, and potential federal matching requirements. The council approved the first reading unanimously.
• First Reading – Parks, Rec & Forestry Budget Supplement (25-1202): A quarterly supplement using park gift fund donations to provide budgetary authority for park activities. Approved unanimously.
• First Reading – General Fund Consolidation & Budget Supplement (25-1201): A comprehensive supplement consolidating park and recreation fund financial reporting into the general fund, and providing budgetary authority for various projects, including debt service, overtime, and insurance. No operational changes expected. Approved unanimously.
• NECOG Joint Cooperative Agreement for 2026: Approved the agreement with the Northeast Council of Governments for assistance on water and sewer projects; annual dues of approximately $7,400 included in the 2026 budget. Approved unanimously.
• WRF Improvement Pay Request #6 – $2,983,000 to PKG Contracting: Amanda reported the payment covers process piping, rebar and concrete work for aeration basin expansion, final clarifier addition, and a new generator. After this payment, $4,082,592 in state ARPA funds remain for the project. Approved unanimously.
• Purchase of Two Tahoes from Beck Motors – $107,874: Police Chief John Dahl explained the purchase was moved up from 2026 because the vehicles arrived early; funds are already budgeted. Approved unanimously.
• DOT Application – Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG) for Second Street Overpass: Stu presented an application for a polymer overlay on three bridge decks; grants of $37,500 each with a 20% city match. Approved unanimously.
• Pay Request #10 – 10th Avenue Bridge Replacement – $74,263.50 to Prom Construction: Stu reported the bridge should open at the end of the week after pedestrian guardrails are installed; liquidated damages are being deducted for the delay. Approved unanimously.
• Purchase of 2026 Chevy Silverado Pickup – State Contract from Beck Motors: For the pump department, replacing a 2017 Dodge; not available from local sources. Approved unanimously.
• Airport Payments and Agreements (multiple items):
  • AIP project 3 (terminal access road/parking lot): Reduction of retainage from 10% to 5% resulting in payment of $109,005.54 to Domy Construction; pay estimate #4 $173,369.75 to Domy; payment to Helms $24,496.54. Approved unanimously.
  • Helms invoice #10 for airport terminal expansion design – $226.48; authorized city manager to sign. Approved unanimously.
  • Apron reconstruction final payments: change order decrease $13,374.50, final pay $231,335.54 to Ready, and Helms $3,605.99. Approved unanimously.
  • One-year extension of airport rental car concession agreements (Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar) to allow time to solicit new bids for a potential five-year agreement. Approved unanimously.
  • Professional services agreement with Helms for design of snow removal building expansion and airfield electrical vault relocation (AIP project 58) – $280,010.78. Approved unanimously.
• Bills and Payroll – Pay Period Nov 30 – Dec 13: Approved with Councilmember Ward abstaining from the payment to Joy Ward for Winterfest, and Mayor Shanneman abstaining from his own mileage reimbursement; all other bills approved.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals on all votes (8-0) for consent calendar, salary ordinance (second reading), fee schedule (first reading), parks supplement (first reading), general fund consolidation (first reading), NECOG agreement, WRF pay request, Tahoe purchase, bridge grant application, 10th Avenue bridge pay request, pickup truck purchase, and all airport items.
• Council approved the first readings of three ordinances (fee schedule, parks supplement, general fund consolidation) that will be subject to second readings at a future meeting.
• The council noted that future water rate increases tied to the WINS project (estimated at 47 cents per 1,000 gallons for every $10 million in project costs) will be considered when costs are known; the current rate study does not factor in that project.
• The city manager reported that public works is addressing street ice complaints, performance evaluations are underway, a library director search has narrowed to five finalists, and employee Burt Clipfeld was recognized for 10 years of service.
• Meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.