Taylor City Council Regular Meeting - March 5, 2024
Taylor City Council Regular Meeting - March 5, 2024
The Taylor City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Taylor Municipal Building. Council Chairman Douglas A. Geiss called the meeting to order. Six council members were present (Charley Johnson, Angie Winton, Douglas Geiss, Jill Brandana, Lindsey Rose, Tina Daniels), with one seat vacant. The meeting included approval of numerous routine purchases, a closed session for a risk management claim, two failed votes to fill the vacant council seat, and setting of budget hearing dates.
Agenda & Minutes Approval
- 5.1 Motion to approve the agenda – Passed unanimously.
- 5.2 Motion to approve the minutes of February 20, 2024 – Passed unanimously.
Mayor’s Communications
- Mayor Woolley added a last-minute motion to receive and file an invoice from Universal Laundry Machinery for a new gas dryer at DPW ($7,989). Motion passed unanimously.
- Mayor announced a meeting with golf courses and restaurants to discuss promotions during the upcoming NFL draft.
Regular Agenda Items (7.1 – 7.12)
All items were approved unanimously unless noted. Key items included:
- 7.1 Approval of Smiley Tire Company (sole source) for fire department tires, $2,692. Some discussion on the wording “lowest qualified bidder” for a sole source and on the invoice date (September 2023). Council was assured the delay was due to emergency repairs.
- 7.2 Approval of Metro Airport Truck for engine repairs, $5,074.
- 7.3 Approval of Stryker Sales LLC for annual procare and 4-year preventative maintenance on fire equipment, $29,190.
- 7.4 Approval of Korte’s Collision, LLC for police vehicle repair, $2,757.
- 7.5 Approval of the Taylor Police Patrol Rifle Purchase Program, $123,400 – to be reimbursed by officers via payroll deduction. Motion by Councilwoman Rose, supported by Councilwoman Daniels. Passed unanimously.
- 7.6 Approval of a one-year extension of the 2023 Concrete Panel Replacement Contract with Audia Concrete Construction, Inc., not to exceed $1,165,000. City Engineer Chris Gibbs explained the work is panel-by-panel across the city, focusing on worst areas. Discussion included coordination with the “Good to Great” neighborhoods.
- 7.7 Approval of WSP for design of the Marvin Street culvert replacement, $54,750.
- 7.8 Approval of Spring 2024 golf course rates. Discussion: senior rates restored on Fridays at Taylor Meadows but remain excluded on weekends. Opening day set for March 15, 2024.
- 7.9 Approval of Leonard’s Syrups for new draft beer equipment at Lakes of Taylor, $6,693.
- 7.10 Approval of DACentral emergency purchase for Genetec license renewal, $13,466. IT Director Ryan Moore explained the emergency was related to public safety camera recording in the jail; the invoice was from October 20, 2023. Council noted the delay but approved.
- 7.11 Motion to enter closed session to discuss risk management claim QL-1041 – approved by roll call (6-0).
- 7.12 Motion to approve settlement of claim QL-1041 as recommended by risk management – approved unanimously.
Closed Session
- The council entered closed session at approximately 6:58 p.m. and returned at 7:15 p.m. The settlement was approved immediately after.
Council Vacancy Appointments (Item 7.13)
- Motion to appoint Nick D. Metricina – Motion by Councilman Johnson, supported by Councilwoman Winton. Roll call: Johnson (yes), Rose (no), Daniels (no), Winton (yes), Brandana (no), Geiss (yes) – 3-3 motion failed.
- Motion to appoint Ron Tady – Motion by Councilman Johnson, supported by Councilwoman Winton. Roll call identical (Johnson yes, Rose no, Daniels no, Winton yes, Brandana no, Geiss yes) – 3-3 motion failed.
- No further nominations were made, leaving the seat vacant.
Open Business
- Budget hearing dates: Council approved setting the public hearing for the FY 2024-2025 budget on April 16, 2024 (at the regular council meeting). The hearing will include proposed property tax millage rates. Council also decided to hold budget work sessions on April 9, 10, and 11 (if needed). The budget must be passed by May 1, 2024.
- Public comments:
- Mr. Hall (9555 Holland) urged the council to fill the vacant seat, noting the council’s responsibility and the upcoming budget. He suggested a special election if the council cannot agree.
- Caroline Patz (6860 Jackson) asked about marijuana licensing (three provisional licenses approved, two additional applications withdrawn and reapplied). She also requested removal of winter signs at Heritage Park.
- Towing discussion: Councilwoman Rose reported a court case on February 29 regarding the current towing vendor not charging contractual rates. She requested a reminder letter be sent and that audit requests be fulfilled. Councilwoman Winton raised the possibility of bringing towing in-house, but Councilman Geiss cautioned about liability. The mayor noted a third-party review is being pursued to determine fair costs.
- Election update: City Clerk Cindy Bower reported a 20% turnout (~8,500 voters) for the presidential primary. Early voting had about 300 in-person voters over nine days. She thanked her staff and noted the experience was a learning opportunity for the August and November elections. The cost of early voting has not yet been calculated.
- Other: Councilman Johnson inquired about loud booms heard in the city; the mayor replied they are likely from military testing in Ohio, not local.
Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn by Councilman Geiss, supported by Councilwoman Brandana. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Councilwoman Brandana supported by Councilwoman Daniels. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say yes. Yes. Yes. All is opposed, say no. Yes, this habit motion carried. Item 5.2 is a motion to approve the acceptance of the minutes of the meeting held February 20th, 2024 and dispense with oral reading. Motion. Support. Motion by Councilwoman Wittens supported by Councilman Johnson. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All is in favor say yes. Yes. Yes. All is opposed, say no. The yes is have it motion carried. Before turning over to the mayor, uh, I'm remiss in um acknowledging uh the gentleman sitting to my left uh who is uh acting corporation counsel. Um like to introduce yourself. Uh we welcome you to today's council meeting. Well, thank you very much. I'm Randall Pentuck, filling in for Ed, who sent me a text this evening saying that he's now out of the hospital and is mending nicely so very good here, and thank you for being here. Um that brings us to Mayor's communication. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did have one last minute add-on. I apologize for that. Um, but it was uh it's a motion to receive and file the invoice from universal laundry machinery, current vendor for a new gas dryer at DPW in the amount not to exceed $7,989 through various capital outlay accounts. Motion support. Motion by Councilwoman Witton supported by councilwoman Brandana. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say yes. Yes, all those opposed say no. Yes, it's have a motion carried. Mr. Mayor, anyway. Mr. Chairman, that's all I have, but I do want to let everyone know that tomorrow we're gonna uh have a meeting with uh both uh golf courses and the uh restaurants in the bars. We're gonna um sit down and have some discussions about what we can do to give people to come enjoy our places during the NFL draft, which is coming up soon. Uh, we're gonna have hundreds of thousands of people in the area, and we want to take advantage of that. So uh we'll post it all over Facebook, our social media when we come up with a game plan, but that's something we really want to look forward to do. All right, thank you. Any further open business? If not, we'll go to the regular agenda. Item 7.1 is a motion to approve Smiley Tire Company Sole Source, lowest qualified bidder for tire purchases and amount not to exceed $2,692 funded through general fund fire department repairs and maintenance. Make a motion.
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