Laurel Budget/Finance Committee approves street sander and fire-truck extrication gear

The City of Laurel Budget and Finance Committee on Dec. 22, 2025, approved several procurement and financial items, including a new electronic pickup street sander and extrication gear for the fire department.

Kelly Strecker, the city clerk/treasurer, presented a requisition on behalf of Matt Wheeler to buy a new electronic pickup street sander from Kois Brothers for $9,260, including installation, after the committee learned the old sander failed during a recent snow storm. "This street sander is all electronic which will make it very easy to spread sand on the icy spots after a storm," Kelly said. Heidi Sparks moved to approve the purchase; Michelle Mize seconded. With no objection, the committee approved the requisition.

A second requisition, presented in the minutes under the initials "JW," authorized $32,995 to purchase extrication gear from Fire Up Rescue for the department's new fire truck. The minutes state this purchase will be paid for from a donation received from CHS. Heidi Sparks moved to approve the extrication gear purchase; Michelle Mize seconded and the motion passed by unanimous consent.

The committee also approved the claims and check register for items entered through Dec. 19, 2025, and approved the payroll register for the pay period ending Dec. 7, 2025, totaling $309,075.15. Each of those approvals was made by motion and carried "with no objection" in the minutes; no roll-call votes or dissenting votes are recorded.

Under other business, the committee reviewed comp/OT reports for the pay period ending Dec. 7, 2025. The mayor reported no updates. Kelly also reminded members of a special meeting scheduled for Jan. 06, 2026, at which the mayor will appoint the new Budget/Finance Committee. The minutes list the next regular meeting date as Jan. 13 but show the year as 2025; that year appears to be a typographical error in the minutes and is noted here for accuracy. The meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.

The minutes identify Committee Chair, committee members Michelle Mize, Heidi Sparks, Richard Klose and Casey Wheeler, and others present including Kelly (clerk/treasurer) and David Waggoner. The minutes are signed at the end as "Respectfully submitted, Kelly Belly Bricker," a name that differs from the attendance list entry for Kelly; the article uses the clerk/treasurer reference and the attendance list name (Kelly Strecker) but flags the inconsistent signature in the minutes.