A long agenda on Sept. 1 set the city’s budget for the year ahead and moved several projects forward.
What the council decided
- FY2027 budget adopted: $1,201,743. Ordinance #452 sets spending for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2026. No one spoke at the public hearing; the clerk said the final numbers were within about $1,500 of her estimate after the county’s property tax figures came in.
- Freemont Street right-of-way vacated. After a public hearing, the council granted the city’s East Freemont Street right-of-way to the adjacent property owner, Justice Owens, with a condition from the staff report. It gives his three westernmost lots access so they can be built on. The two written comments received supported the request.
- Online permits with Civic-Review — up to $6,000 a year. The platform covers permits, business and alcohol licenses, cemetery records, and building and park rentals.
- Athol Daze proceeds: a green turf cover for the ball field, removing one tree, two picnic tables and one 14-foot bleacher, with the rest going toward the park stage expansion. Going forward, $4,000 will be budgeted for part-time help with Athol Daze.
- A new Mountainview Cemetery fence, up to $7,000.
- Office technology: switching to a city-owned network (one-time cost up to $6,500, ending a $7,180 annual license), plus a storage device, three scanners and four monitors to move city records from paper to searchable digital files.
- Coin hauling station repair: a replacement valve, up to $2,300.
- Meeting calendar for the year approved, with cancellations around holidays and Athol Daze.
Also discussed
- The council agreed to invite a county commissioner and the county coroner to speak about kratom (they came on Sept. 15).
- Remaining federal ARPA funds may add features to the new park restroom — ideas include a covered walkway or a water bottle filler, pending bids.
Source: approved minutes of the Sept. 1, 2026 meeting (PDF).