Washington council approves appropriations ordinance, GAAP waiver and utility equipment purchases

The Washington City Council on Jan. 3 at City Hall approved routine meeting minutes, passed Appropriations Ordinance 2022‑01 and adopted Resolution 2022‑01 to waive generally accepted accounting principles and operate on a cash‑basis system.

The council voted unanimously on each item recorded: the minutes were approved on a motion by Council Member Roxanne Schottel, seconded by Theresa Herrs; the appropriation ordinance passed on a motion by Schottel, seconded by Don Imhoff; and the GAAP waiver passed on a motion by Theresa Herrs, seconded by Imhoff. The recorded ayes for those motions were Theresa Herrs, Don Imhoff and Roxanne Schottel.

Council also accepted the resignation of Terry Morse, the city’s power plant operator, effective Jan. 3, 2022. The resignation was approved on a motion by Theresa Herrs and seconded by Roxanne Schottel; ayes were Herrs, Imhoff and Schottel.

On utility procurement, the council accepted a low quote from Border States for electric materials at a cost not to exceed $5,156.78 (motion by Schottel, seconded by Imhoff) and authorized purchase of one 50 kVA, two 25 kVA and one 10 kVA new transformers and refurbishment of equivalent units from Sunbelt‑Solomon Solutions at a projected cost of $5,620 plus tax and freight (motion by Schottel, seconded by Herrs). Both procurement motions carried with the same recorded ayes: Theresa Herrs, Don Imhoff and Roxanne Schottel.

The council reached consensus to seek reimbursement for an electric pole and line damaged in a Dec. 15 windstorm after a carport at 114 E. 1st Street blew into it; staff was directed to pursue reimbursement.

Council also moved into executive session to discuss employee performance of non‑elected personnel on a motion by Schottel, seconded by Imhoff, with the session to resume at 7:20 p.m. The meeting was later adjourned and recessed to noon Jan. 10, 2022, to allow review and approval of water‑system bids; the adjournment motion was made by Schottel and seconded by Herrs. The meeting formally adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

Next steps: staff will pursue reimbursement for storm damage, complete year‑end accounting for a February water‑rate review, and present water tower painting bids at the adjourned Jan. 10 meeting.