The Stuart City Council met last night for its February session.

To begin the meeting, local boy scout Trent Erickson discussed the possibility of the Stuart boy scouts building two picnic benches for the town park.  The project was unanimously approved by the Council.

Next, West Central Valley School District Superintendent Dr. David Arnold addressed the Council to discuss how the City and school district will share responsibility for maintenance of the old athletic complex.  Arnold recommended that that City take back full control and maintenance responsibilities. Council members agreed to further discuss the matter over the next month and will decide on a maintenance plan during their March meeting.

Stuart street commissioner Jim Henderson then spoke to the Council about the possible implementation of White Pole Road vanity signs being placed on street signs throughout town.  The Whitepole Road Development Corporation has proposed that nine signs be put up throughout Stuart along White Pole Road, and Henderson says the signage would cost $315.  He told the City he would be willing to provide the labor for putting the signs up as long as the cost for the signs is paid for by the development corporation.

The Council then unanimously approved the proposed public hearing date of March 10th for discussion of the 2014-15 fiscal year budget.  According to City Administrator Ashraf Ashour, the City has an estimated 2014-15 budget of just over $5.8 million.

Two pay estimates were then unanimously approved by the Council.  An estimate for just north of $13,500 was approved to be paid to Roy Sargent for work done on the Rock Island Depot Restoration project.  The other estimate was for payment on the Wambold Project to Priority Excavating for just over $2,000.

Next, the Council unanimously approved a contract agreement with Veenstra & Kimm Engineering as project manager and RDG Planning and Design as the sub-consultant architect for Stuart’s facade improvement project.  The contract is subject to final financial review, however.

Tentative construction on facade improvement is slated for early October if financial review is completed prior to the project’s kick-off date, currently scheduled for the end of February.

The Council then heard a presentation from Shaw-Belden Insurance pertaining to renewal of the City’s property insurance plan.  Shaw-Belden recommends that the Council select a plan that would result in an annual insurance premium of just under $76,000.  The Council will make a final decision on its coverage plan during its March session.

Finally, in public forum, Jason Wilder of Twisted Haunts LLC addressed the Council to discuss the possibility of bringing his haunted house business to Stuart.  The Council voiced that they liked the idea, but expressed to Wilder the difficulty he might have in finding the necessary space.  Wilder says he needs to find a building that is a minimum of 12,500 square feet in order to operate his haunted house.

The next Stuart City Council meeting has been scheduled for March 10th.  As usual, it will begin at 6:30pm in City Hall.