City Council - Regular Meeting

Morning everyone. It'll soon be afternoon. But uh before we get started, I've asked David Black to offer us a word of prayer and then we'll have flag salute and we'll get started. Father, we ask you that you help us lead this city as you see fit. That it's what we do. our decisions and everything for the betterment of the entire community and not just individuals. Lord, we ask that you just protect us and heal us and just heal our lands and just provide us. It's in Jesus name we pray.

Join with me in the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It's now 12 noon. I call the Eleno City Council special meeting of Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 to order. Roll call starting with Councilwoman Nether here. Councilwoman Brothers here. Vice Mayor Black here. Councilman Schaer. Mayor Jensen

here. Uh discussion items. Item one, discussion, consideration, action, and/or possible amendments regarding demolition of the structure located at 619 West Clark Street. So, this is an item that originally came to city council in January 2025 and council took action on it, approved the demolition resolution. At the March City Council meeting, uh this item was brought back up in public comment. Um at that time, council didn't legally discuss it in that in that format. Um was not on the agenda and council cannot take action during public comment section of the meeting because that would be a violation of state law and the opening act. So, um that couldn't be openly discussed at the March meeting. Um since then, we had a productive meeting with Mr. Charles and his brother and uh we learned that the property had legally changed hands through probate after the resolution was passed in January. So, um, at this time, the city has legally gone through all the steps for condemnation and demolition as presented to you in January 2025, city council meeting. Um, and the city can legally still proceed with demolition. However, we put this back for consideration because of the change of ownership. Something to note, the property has been involved in the code enforcement process since 2024 that um it re-entered October 2025 when it started on this path that brought us to January 2026, sorry. U but now this is an opportunity for the current property owner to talk about plans for improvements and repairs at the

Mr. Charles, would you come up please? How are y'all doing today? Good.

Um, repairs to my property. Uh, if I can get a list of the things that for y'all inspections or to y'all point of uh what I may need to do, but uh I had some things done to my property already. you know, I've been upgrading on it before the situation of the power and everything else that put everything to a halt. Um, so I'm just hoping looking for some time to hoping I get some uh some power or something before I continue on with getting everything to uh the right standards and from there.

Mr. Charles, would you explain to the council? I mean, I know Mr. Black and I met with you and your brother. Um, but talk about what uh because you're now the owner of the property. Yes, sir. That that is that has changed and and you want to uh uh rebuild is basically your grandfather's house. Yes, sir. And and rebuild that and invest and and um uh but you need some time to do that. Yes, sir.

Uh yes. So, I plan on either uh renovating, renting it out or, you know, you know, selling it or something like that on down the line. But I'm trying to get it up that way I can be able to do so. And um I appreciate it if I can get the time to do that. What have you done so far?

I got some photos right here. It's like my hand to you. One of the things that we've discussed that if if allowed more time before additional progress is made a pre-construction meeting and review and inspection of the property. So it can also be brought up to speed as far as what improvements have been made since the last time city was in it and what else might need to be done.

The foundation estimate is 3500 electric plumbing. Can you kind of give us an idea financially? My my plumbing my plumbing is okay. My electric is okay. I have no problems with any one of them. Um, other than that, it's just basically finishing up the outside, you know, a little paint work inside. Other than that, it's basic cosmetic stuff. Mr. Charles, I know whenever we talked um, you know, past history on the house, there had been, you know, police had been back and forth and activity going on, but with you taking over ownership, that's Yeah, that's that's all changed.

Yeah. it wouldn't be nothing going on at that property. I mean, like I say, me myself, I'm not going to be there. So, I plan on, you know, going on elsewhere. You know, I got a house up in Oklahoma City, so I plan on heading up that way.

Any other questions? Do you have a general contractor or somebody to oversee? Are you going to kind of serve in that role yourself? Uh, I'm not needing no uh heavy work like that. It's just cosmetic. I mean, other than that, no, no contractors or anything like that. Mr. Sandage, it the report notes that we don't know for sure that structure sound, electric sound, plumbing sound. Is that correct?

That's correct. I think that that would be part of the construction meetings that would need to take place if more time. That's something that we talked about that we need to to meet with property owner Mr. Charles and review those items.

When would that take place if it's granted the construction? How soon? as early as Monday, then you're good with that.

What I'd like to move then is that we allow a pre-construction meeting, otherwise put this on the April agenda to talk about more time, but with you having the construction meeting and people have a better idea of scope and potential cost and all kind. Okay. Yes. Motion made and seconded. Roll call start with Council Me. Yes. Yes. Yes. Council Jacob. Mayor.

Yes. understand. So, you're going to have a pre-construction meeting next week so that the city can work with you to kind of give you an idea of what needs to be addressed. You'll have a couple of weeks to get contractors out there, bids, see what this might look like in cost, and then you'll come back in front of us in April and we'll decide if there's going to be a longer extension or what to do at that point. Am I going to have a power restored there where that way I could do work there or will be determined in power.

I had I had power before everything else.

May not be safe, but that's one of the things they'll determine next week, early part of next week as to whether power can be restored. And again, that'll be something else that'll help you make a decision. If it's not saved, then you'll have some idea that there's some electrical work and what that might look like. Okay? So that you'll you'll have more information to give to us at our April meeting. We understand that we can't do any power. So there won't be any What have you done since we last saw you? Yeah. Yeah. No.

Thank you. That brings us to item two, discussion, consideration, action, andor possible amendments to award project number P24-16, Sunset Trail Lake Sunset Lake Trail Construction Phase 2, and allow chairman Mayor to sign all documents associated there, too. This is part of the recreational trails program grant that we received a couple years ago. We received $300,000 to extend the sunset trail. We received bids uh six six uh contractors submit bids and the engineer's recommendation is to move forward with SACE services. The project was bid in and three alternates. Each alternate is an extension onto the trail. And so staff recommendations move forward with all three alternates making it a total length uh total project length of 4,755 ft. And so the total see here total bid price with alternates 64,139.75.

Remind me where will this end now? Where will the new ending be? It ends over near the RC airport. Correct. Amanda. Yes. So almost all the way where the road turns to gravel. So the the lake road turns to gravel. So the terminal there's a bathroom over there and the deadline for construction

July 30th. We're trying to make sure we're done by July 4th. June gave us additional time. June 30th. July 4th. We want to be fully open by July 4th. The contractor's deadline is June 30th. Yes. The funding deadline is what I like.

Yeah. Yeah. Contractor deadline June 30th. So we'll be all construction will be complete before July 4th and it'll tie on it'll be the same 10 width that the last page was built. to award project 24-16 to SACE services in the amount of $64,139.75 and allow the chairman and mayor to sign any documents needed. Motion made and seconded. Roll call starting with Vice Mayor Black. Yes. Mayor,

yes. Motion made second. All those in favor say I. I. We're journ