Council approves financial matters with amendment after debate over hotels, airline charges and KSM Logistics payment

Calumet City council members on Aug. 28 debated and amended the bill list after questions about travel and vendor payments, then approved the financial matters as amended.

Alderman Monet Wilson raised the concerns during the council's finance discussion and asked that the council table charges linked to Colorado Springs hotel rooms, Southwest Airlines travel to Texas and payments to KSM Logistics. "There were 4 bedrooms 4 rooms 4 hotel rooms, and then there were some Southwest Airlines, travel," Wilson said, noting supporting documents were not attached to the bill list.

Wilson also identified a $9,000 payment listed to KSM Logistics and asked whether a contract had been presented to the council for those services. "We are paying his brother-in-law $9,000 inside of the bill list for KSM Logistics. I don't recall a new contract or a contract being presented to this council for services," Wilson said.

A motion was made to table the Colorado Springs hotel charges, Southwest Airlines travel charges and KSM-related entries; the motion was seconded. The council later approved financial matters 1 through 25 "with the presented correction" and the amendment to remove the specified items.

Council members also moved for a brief executive session during the meeting to review employment and litigation matters included in the financial materials. The council went into a short executive session by roll call and returned to the regular agenda; no actionable votes were reported from that closed session.

Councilors asked staff to provide supporting documentation for bills and contracts cited in the bill list and to clarify when outside travel is city business and when supporting authorization exists. The council did not vote to approve any specific contract for KSM Logistics during the Aug. 28 meeting.