East Central Reporter

City of Tuscola City Council met April 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Kleiss called the budget study session to order at 6:30 PM. In attendance were: Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, and Waldrop. Alderman Hoey was absent; Alderman Slaughter arrived during the study session. Treasurer Long went over the highlights of the proposed budget for FY 26. Each committee has met during the past few weeks and given feedback to the staff on proposed expenditures for the coming year. No major purchases are planned for FY 26. The city will move ahead with the Washington Street, North Central, and Parke resurfacing, using mostly MFT funds. Plans are to use rainy day funds for the pool house remodel at the end of the 2025 season. It is projected all funds will have good balances at the end of FY 26. No changes were suggested to the proposed budget; a final draft will be published with adoption at the April 28 meeting.

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Alderman Hoey was absent. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda

Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda:

Minutes of the March 24, 2025, meeting

Payment of bills totaling $344,907.74

Day moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. Day moved to approve the consent agenda for April 14, 2025. Brace seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor

Mayor Kleiss offered the City's condolences to Mike Morris and family on the recent passing of his mother.

City Clerk - No Report

City Treasurer - No Report

City Attorney - Absent

City Administrator

Administrator Hoel gave an update on the electric aggregation bids held the end of March. Constellation Energy submitted the lowest bid of $0.10899/kWh. Our rate for the last three years was $0.07895/kWh, Hoel stated. The bid will be for 12 months and begin with the June 2025 meter read. Hoel stated our broker advised the 12 month agreement because he believes the rates will go down. Hoel pointed out citizens can opt out of this program and choose their own electric supplier or go with Ameren. Ameren will announce their rates soon, Hoel added. Constellation will be sending out notifications to all residents advising them of the new rates and providing the information for opting out.

Other

• Slaughter moved to approve the appointment of Dustin Lutz, as a part time patrol officer at an hourly rate of $27.04. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

• Waldrop moved to approve the summer employment roster as presented. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. Copy attached to minutes.

• Morris moved council go into executive session to discuss personnel and possible land acquisition. The time was 7:08 PM. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. The meeting was called back to order at 7:27 PM with Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss present.

• Administrator Hoel announced the Women's Club will be holding a Child Abuse Awareness Walk this Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM.

The motion to adjourn was made by Slaughter and seconded by Morris. VOTE YEA**Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

https://tuscola.org/file/1547