The City of Stanley will hold a public hearing on November 4th at 7 PM for the 2025 Budget for the City of Stanley. The Council voted to adopt the 2025 Wastewater Utility Budget for the city with budgeted expenditures of $2,094,894.00 with revenues of $2,094,894.00. In the budget for the Wastewater Department is a future Sewer Vac Truck for $428,000.
“In time it’s going to pay for itself,” commented Henke. He added, “Sewer is in a good spot.”
The council also adopted the 2025 Water Utility Budget for the city with expenditures of $2,235,889.00 and revenues of $2,235,889.00.
“The overall 2025 budget looks better than 2024 so far,” said Henke. He mentioned that chemical prices were increasing in previous year but have leveled off at the beginning of this year. “We’re not using really any less chemicals. It’s just the cost didn’t go up,” he said.
The city of Stanley offered city employee Dean Schneider the interim Head Water Operator position, but Schneider has instead resigned from his position beginning October 18th. With the Head Water Operator position currently vacant, the city of Stanley requires a certified employee to fulfill essential duties with the Department of Natural Resources. According to DNR regulations, a certified water operator must sign off on the monthly state reports. The council has approved Jon Strand of CBS Squared to provide certified water operator services at a rate of $680 per month, totaling $8,160 for the year.
“Kind of don’t have a choice,” commented Alderperson Jacob Huff.
“We have nobody that is going to be certified within the year. It would take longer than that to get certified,” Mayor Mike Henke stated.
The council voted to accept the Water Well Solutions proposal from Swage Patch for Well #5 for up to $70,000 for casing replacement or relining. “We’ve used them for a number of years,” Henke mentioned of Swage Patch adding that the company was previously performing inspections for Well #5 and Well #7 and was the least expensive.
“It’s in pretty tough shape,” Henke commented on the well casing that needs to be replaced.
“It has to get done,” agreed Foster.
“Right now, we’re running one well down,” Henke added.
The council also voted to accept the city of Stanley Assessor Maintenance Contract with Bowmar Appraisal, Inc. at a cost of $10,500 for 2025, $10,800 for 2026, and $11,100 for 2027.
“This the same one that has been doing the assessments for as far as I can remember,” Henke mentioned.
The council approved the replacement of the Main Lift Station Pumps not to exceed $107,000. The price includes the pumps, labor, mobilizing it, and taking two of the old pumps out.
Henke explained, “The main lift station down off the trailer park there off Pine Court has three pumps in the basement. The one has failed and the other two are older.” Foster asked what the warranty was on the pump. “The new warranty is five years, and the expectation is to last ten,” Henke told her. He added that the newest pump has lasted seven years.
The council entered into closed session to discuss and set employee wages for City Administrator Nicole Pilgrim, Police Chief Lance Weiland, City employee Joe Schmitt, Wastewater Operator Nick Martin, and Deputy/Clerk Treasurer Maggie Keeku.