The St. Joseph City Council unanimously approved the evening agenda and a multi-item consent agenda that included board nominations, a school-zone speed amendment, airport and transit grants, demolition contracts, and several budget and contract actions.

Council member Davis moved to accept the agenda and Council member Novak seconded; the motion passed with nine ayes. Later, Council member Grama moved and Council member Novak seconded acceptance of the consent agenda; that motion also passed with nine ayes.

Items on the consent agenda (as read by the clerk) included nominations to the Downtown Review Board, an ordinance amending Chapter 28 (traffic and vehicles) to create a 25 mph school zone on Route U for Lake Contrary Learning Center, amendments to fire department budgets for demolition and emergency-response work, Federal Transit Administration grant submittal for FY2025 Section 5307 operating assistance (approximately $2,088,082), an airport apron reconstruction grant (total grant $732,106 with a $34,184 local match), an elevator upgrade contract at the Joyce Ray Patterson 50 Plus Activity Center (approximately $239,956) with an associated donation to offset part of the cost, janitorial and cleaning contracts for City Hall, farmland lease extension at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, and purchases of firefighter turnout gear using public safety tax funds (23 sets, total $101,954.33).

During the meeting the council also considered bill 1371-22, described as an ordinance authorizing the execution of a real estate sales contract with the Jeffrey Paul and Marie Evans Trust to purchase property at 110 South Eighth Street and an amendment to ARPA funding in the amount of $50,000. City staff requested the bill be withdrawn; Council member Novak moved to withdraw and Council member Schultz seconded. The motion to withdraw passed with nine ayes.

The clerk read several ordinances for first reading, including bills to roll forward unspent juvenile fund donations ($23,456.60) for emergency response equipment, to roll forward unspent pipeline emergency response grant funds ($37,444.27) from PHMSA, and a real estate sales contract to purchase land for a new transit bus shelter (total $25,000). No action beyond first reading was taken on those ordinances at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept agenda: mover: Council member Davis; second: Council member Novak; tally: Davis, Eslinger, Grimm, Rosendale, Novak, Randolph, Schomburg, Schultz, Trout — 9 ayes; outcome: approved.

- Motion to accept consent agenda: mover: Council member Grama; second: Council member Novak; tally: same nine council members — 9 ayes; outcome: approved.

- Motion to withdraw bill 1371-22 (real estate purchase at 110 South Eighth Street, ARPA amendment $50,000): mover: Council member Novak; second: Council member Schultz; tally: nine ayes; outcome: approved (bill withdrawn).

What’s next: Ordinances read for first reading will return at future meetings for additional readings or action; the withdrawn bill may be resubmitted if staff propose changes.