Oak Grove City Council — Transcript
Monday, July 13, 2026
Sheriff's Report and Law Enforcement
Amendments to the 2026 Fee Schedule
City Hall and Fire Department Project Update
West Oakrove Cemetery Association Request
Ponds Neighborhood Initiatives and Communication
Council Member Cell Phone Policy
Votes (9)
Setting of the Regular Agenda
Moved by Council member Wy [00:03:57] · Seconded by Council member West [00:04:09]
The agenda was modified to remove item 11 (consulting engineer pay request was not ready) and add the cemetery discussion under Mayor/Council requests and updates (13B). No major updates from the city engineer were available for the meeting.
Public Hearing: Ordinance 2026-09, Amend 2026 Fee Schedule (Non-Building Related Items)
Moved by Council member Tradewell [01:02:40] · Seconded by Council member Wy [01:02:46]
Lauren outlined several proposed fee schedule changes. This vote specifically addressed changes to the 'Gambling Premise Permit' title, the acknowledgment of a desired increase in the 'Park Dedication Fee in Lieu of Land' (though no action taken tonight), the addition of a 'Commercial Industrial Site Plan Review' fee, and the reduction of the 'Sewer Base Rate per Month in the Ponds' due to the sale of the ponds land and repayment of an interfund loan. The public hearing drew no comments from citizens.
Public Hearing: Ordinance 2026-09, Amend 2026 Fee Schedule (Building Inspector Fees from Rum River Consultants)
Dissent: Mayor Rolf, Council member West, Council member Bray Johnson
Moved by Council member Tradewell [01:09:47] · Seconded by Council member Wy [01:10:49]
Council members debated proposed increases and new fees for building permits, particularly expressing frustration over a 'technology fee' imposed by Rum River Consultants and high costs for items like pool and deck permits. Council Member West strongly opposed the technology fee and what he perceived as unreasonable permit costs. Council Member Tradewell acknowledged the necessity of using the consultant but expressed dislike for the fees. The motion to approve the building inspector fee schedule was ultimately denied.
Consent Agenda - Claims and Accounting
Moved by Council member Tradewell [01:18:25] · Seconded by Council member Wy [01:18:31]
Council Member West pulled this item for transparency due to an invoice from his company, Integrated Protection Systems (IPS), for $67,000 for low voltage security work on the new city hall. He clarified his company's prior work with the city and that this was part of a bidding process. The council approved the claims, with Council Member West abstaining.
Consent Agenda - Cannabis-Related Items
Moved by Mayor Rolf [01:19:28] · Seconded by Council member Tradewell [01:19:30]
The Mayor suggested tabling items B and C, which were related to cannabis. No further discussion was held, and the motion to table passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda - Appointment of Deputy City Clerks
Moved by Council member Wy [01:22:24] · Seconded by Council member West [01:22:27]
Council Member Wy requested an explanation for the appointment of two individuals as Deputy City Clerks. Lauren, the City Clerk, explained that Ariana Gross and Jackie Coleman, both existing staff, are being appointed to delegate duties, particularly assisting with elections and serving as filing officers in her absence. She noted an immediate need due to the ongoing statewide election primary and emphasized their capabilities.
City Administrator Updates - Ponds Sale Proceeds and Loan Payoff
Moved by Council member Wy [01:33:14] · Seconded by Council member West [01:33:23]
Following earlier discussion during the fee schedule public hearing, the council officially voted on the use of the $180,000 proceeds from the sale of the old wastewater land in the Ponds neighborhood. The motion was to transfer the necessary funds to the Lake George sewer account to pay off an interfund loan, which would then allow for a reduction of $5.33 in the monthly sewer base rate for Ponds residents. A resolution will be prepared for this action.
Mayor/Council Requests Updates - West Oakrove Cemetery Association Request
Dissent: Council member Bray Johnson
Moved by Council member Wy [01:49:58] · Seconded by Council member West [01:50:06]
The West Oakrove Cemetery Association formally requested the city to take over their operations. After presentations and discussions in prior work sessions regarding the city's concerns and the association's efforts to seek other solutions, the council proceeded to a vote to either accept or deny the request. The motion to deny was passed.
Mayor/Council Requests Updates - City Issued Cell Phones for Council Members
Moved by Council member Bray Johnson [02:13:00] · Seconded by Council member West [02:13:06]
Council Member Bray Johnson brought up the discussion about city-issued cell phones for council members, emphasizing the need to separate personal and city communications, especially concerning data requests and business integrity. Lauren provided a quote for approximately $40 per month per council member, plus a small one-time phone fee. While there was support for the concept, Council Member Tradewell suggested researching other options or solutions, like apps or practices in other cities, before a final vote. The initial motion was amended to allow for this research until the next meeting.
Notable Quotes (16)
to remove I would remove uh actually 11 consulting engineer. Uh the uh pay request is not ready for tonight. So that will come at a future meeting. Uh Chuck didn't have any major updates tonight. So no city engineer tonight.
The following is a sheriff's report for the month of June 2026. It's kind of a lengthy uh highlighted call uh list here, but uh I'll uh abbreviate it so we can uh move on. If you have any questions, ask me about them.
I don't know what position you hold there right now, but we all support traffic enforcement. You tell Lieutenant Knox all the time. So, keep it up.
What I would propose is we transer transfer the f funds of the balance loan to the Lake George account. Pay that off. That makes that account full and then remove this $5 and some change from the base rate.
Yeah. That so that's that is a benefit of doing it tonight. Then we're not doing another ordinance and another publication for another fee schedule amendment for one item.
The technology fee, I'm going to tell you flat out, I will not I will not vote in favor of this if there's a technology fee period. I look at it as a rum river game. This is the product that they offered and this is a product they want to use.
It's if we don't go with them, we go back to the state. They use the same fees for the commercial stuff as what they're going to charge. I mean, we really don't have a choice this year, do we? I mean, in all honesty, whether we like it or not.
I pulled A because there is an invoice from my company, Integrated Protection Systems, who is doing the, uh, low voltage security work on the new city hall. We were the selected contractor for that and it's for $67,000.
IPS has always given us good bids and uh people should be aware of that. It has nothing to do with Mr. West being on the council. He's always got good stuff.
As the city clerk, I'm the head of elections. I have to be the filing officer for uh accepting can affidavit of candidacy for mayor and council. Uh this allows them to be able to do those in my absence or if I'm not available. Um and also to assist with elections. Uh which we are in the middle of an election, statewide election. We have a primary coming up and this is big increase in workload to myself and city staff.
99% of the properties are immaculate. I mean, beautiful homes, lawns taken care of, people have trailers, they have, you know, motor homes, things like that. Put away nicely. People wave when you drive by. Just very nice city to live in. Uh, stark contrast to some of our neighbors.
I think four of the five still remain out of compliance. They've reached the max fine. I think the city has to give some direction on what we want to do with those.
I would just like to have which I think everyone agreed to have whatever the balance is of the the loan to have transferred into the Lake George. So, if we can do it tonight, great. If you got to bring something back, at least we all know.
City has uh you know expressed concerns about that and asked them to approach other entities. They've done that. They provided responses from other entities. again asked the city to turn it over to the council to discuss it in a work session tonight and decided to uh put it on the agenda, regular meeting agenda here now tonight to take a vote on it.
So, if somebody put in a request, would the city save time, money, anything if you if they're through the city and you already have it through FirstNet versus trying to get hold of everybody?
I'm not adverse to doing this, but I I think giving Lauren an opportunity to find out if there's other options um I think is the prudent thing to do.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Ordinance to amend the 2026 fee schedule.
Original title of a permit that was re-titled to 'Gambling Premise Investigation Fee'.
New title for a permit fee, reflecting the city's actual charge.
A fee currently at $2,300 per lot, which the Park Commission wants to increase to $3,800, pending further city study.
A new proposed fee of $500 for planning review of new commercial industrial buildings.
The monthly base rate for sewer services in the Ponds neighborhood, subject to reduction due to a loan payoff.
A permit with a proposed $15 fee, without technology service charge for the current year.
Resolution number to be assigned for the approval of paying off the Lake George sewer loan with proceeds from the ponds land sale.
The first meeting in the budget process for the upcoming fiscal year.
Long-term plan for funding replacement of city assets, to be updated and discussed during budget sessions.