Aldermen hear budget concerns and address other city business, 9-2-2025 -

The Board of Aldermen met on September 2, 2025, heard budget concerns from a member of the public and conducted other city business.

The agenda and a 20-minute video of the meeting can be viewed below.

Public hearing on FY 2026 budget

The first piece of business was a public hearing on the 2026 budget. There was only one speaker.

(Timestamp 1:14) Bill Robertson raised concerns and objections to several items. He said he didn’t understand why taxes are being raised when the city is paying for gym memberships for “non-essential” city personnel. He believed paid gym memberships should be only for frontline personnel (for example for the police department, fire department, street department, Lights Gas & Water, and first responders). Every one else should be able to pay for their own.
Secondly, Robertson objected to the board voting for a 3% raise for themselves on an annual basis, but didn’t mind if they increased it 12% every four years at the mayoral election. He supported annual raises for everyone else working for the city.
Thirdly, Robertson asked what the tax increase was for, saying that his property taxes had doubled in the last 7 years. He pointed out that this would wind up squeezing taxpayers who are on a fixed income, until they “get a break” at 65.
Fourthly, Robertson said he’d lived in the area since 1986, and that, in all that time, the city had never had a forensic audit. He said he’d mentioned to Mayor Olsen when he was elected that the state auditor should look at everything and give the city a “clean set of books” moving forward.

Mr. Robertson received no response from the Board of Aldermen, and there were no further speakers from the audience.

Departmental business

(Timestamp 4:00) Bill Mattox from Lights Gas & Water raised several payment requests (seen on the agenda below). All items were approved. Community development, the Museum, Parks & Rec., Police, Fire and Street Departments had submitted reports prior to the public meeting and had nothing to add to those reports.

Building Commissioner Eric Thomas raised two items that came before the zoning board. One was a setback variance for a front yard at 501 Glade St., and the other was a variance for two lots at Oxford Loop belonging requested by TRY properties. Both were approved.

Consent Agenda, Action Agenda

(Timestamp 13:51) All Consent and Action Agenda items mentioned in the meeting were approved. Three sets of minutes from August meetings were approved. There was a bit of discussion regarding developments in the Opioid settlement. There was also clarification that the city is a participant in the contract for the Park Along the River project only because the city owns the land. The City is not a financial partner; grant money is being spent. The issue of the municipal storm shelter was not raised despite it being on the agenda.