Council authorizes new work shirts for maintenance crew, clarifies replacement policy

Farrant City Council voted to provide five shirts per maintenance employee and directed staff to arrange ordering and sizing from a vendor list presented by staff. The chair introduced the proposal and noted the city has approximately $1,000 in the uniform budget line.

Council members discussed the type of shirts (polo vs. T-shirt), safety enhancements (safety orange and reflective striping), and replacement frequency (annual vs. replacement-as-needed). Staff said the intent is five shirts per employee — typically rotated half in spring and half in fall — and that boots or heavy protective gear were not included in this purchase. Council also discussed administering vouchers for purchases and whether staffing exposure (e.g., welding or electrical work) might require different protective clothing.

A motion to approve the purchase was made (mover: council member Peterson; second: council member Staller) and the council recorded a vote in favor. Staff will collect sizes and finalize the vendor order. The council noted the maintenance line in this year’s budget can support the purchase and that the city will monitor replacement needs going forward.

The decision aims to improve staff visibility and standardize appearance while keeping purchase and replacement costs under budget and bringing safety considerations to future uniform choices.