East Central Reporter

City of Tuscola City Council met July 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance. Kleiss reported Alderman Hoey asked to be excused from tonight's meeting.

Consent Agenda

Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda:

Minutes of the July 14, 2025, meeting

Financial report for June 2025

Payment of bills totaling $241,913.97

Pay request from Grunloh Construction in the amount of $127,927.67, for the master meter station

Community Building lease with alcohol for Perla Rodriguez for a wedding reception August 23, 2025

Day moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. Shoemaker moved to approve the consent agenda for July 28, 2025. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor - No Report

City Clerk - No Report

City Treasurer - No Report

City Attorney - No Report

City Administrator – Absent Contracts and Agreements

Mayor Kleiss presented a repair estimate in the amount of $18,719.33, for the city's 35' bucket truck. According to Administrator Hoel's report, this expense is much less than the cost to purchase a used replacement vehicle. Also, the current bucket truck is low in mileage and in good condition. Day moved to approve the repair estimate from Drake- Scruggs Equipment for repair of the 2001 bucket truck at an estimated cost of $18,719.33. Brace seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Picture Perfect Technologies has submitted a quote for a new video projector for the Community Building. The $10,973.00 quote covers projector, parts, and installation. Waldrop moved to approve the quote from Picture Perfect Technologies in the amount of $10.973.00, for a new video projector for the Community Building. Day seconded. Rund asked if this was a special projector. The Mayor answered it is and we also need to replace the line that goes to the projector. Bldg Inspector Salmon added stability is also an issue with all the trains going by. We hope to eliminate that problem with the new projector. Salmon added the projector was not replaced when we did the building remodel and he feels we have gotten our money's worth out of the current projector. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor Kleiss opened discussion on the pool slide repair with Natural Structures. Originally the quote was ~$73,000.00; Natural Structures has revised the quote to $63,253.00. This includes parts and three days of technical assistance as our crews install the new parts. Shoemaker moved to approve the $63,253.00, quote from Natural Structures for pool slide parts and technical assistance. Rund seconded. After a question from Shoemaker, Mayor Kleiss stated this comes with a full warranty and having the city crews handle the installation does not change that. The slide repair will be done this fall. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Out of five bids received, Akra Builders has submitted the low bid for the pool house renovation, which is scheduled to begin this fall after the pool closes. Treasurer Long pointed out council had previously voted to use 'rainy day' funds for this project. We have over $2 million in that fund now, Long added. Slaughter moved accept the bid and award the contract for pool house renovation to Akra Builders and to use rainy day funds in the amount of $577,911.00, to pay for the project. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Other

Day moved council go into executive session to discuss personnel and collective bargaining matters. The time was 7:12 PM. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop. The meeting was called back to order at 7:37 PM with Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop and Mayor Kleiss in attendance.

Slaughter moved to approve the appointment of Morgan Cotton as a police officer with the City, effective July 29, 2025. Cotton will be paid $28.67, per hour and begin police training August 17. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Waldrop.

Mayor Kleiss stated he really appreciates the work Treasurer Long and Administrator Hoel put in to outline our spending. He understands the pool expenditure is a lot of money but we are spending for the future and hopefully it will last for a long time.

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

https://tuscola.org/file/1595