St. Francis City Council — Transcript
Monday, October 5, 2026
Job Description Modification
Legal Services Procurement
Property Abatement and Demolition for Easement
Community Park Sign Future
Early Voting Duration and Cost
Inter-governmental Relations and Civic Engagement
Votes (4)
Facility Monitor Job Description (Pulled from Consent Agenda)
Dissent: None
Moved by Councilmember Edvik [0:04] · Seconded by Councilmember Robinson [0:04]
The discussion focused on a minor addition to the job description, specifically requiring the facility monitor employee to wear identification such as a badge or a St. Francis shirt.
Legal Services (Civil and Prosecution)
Dissent: None
Moved by Councilmember Robinson [0:05] · Seconded by Councilmember Edvik [0:05]
The council considered and approved a new legal services agreement with Berlin, Baumgardner and Glazier. Councilmembers who sat on the interview panel expressed satisfaction with the firm's presentation and noted that their rates would be slightly lower, potentially leading to long-term savings.
23925 St. Francis Boulevard Abatement Project
Dissent: None
Moved by Councilmember Edvik [0:10] · Seconded by Councilmember Robinson [0:10]
The council discussed the next phase of the project: abatement of the property to remove asbestos, a necessary step to secure an easement for utilities. The original plan to burn the house was altered because abatement would leave too little structure for a controlled burn. The project is funded by county HRA dollars, with the $34,000 abatement cost falling within the previously allocated $75,000. This abatement is a trade for a permanent legal easement.
Community Park Concrete Sign
Dissent: None
Moved by Not Applicable · Seconded by Not Applicable
The council revisited the issue of the obsolete concrete sign at Community Park, noting its high cost ($100,000) for technology upgrades and a lower cost ($1,600-$3,500) for removal. The digital component's software is outdated and may soon fail. Councilman Robinson advocated for saving the structure temporarily until after the Highway 47 project is completed, citing its non-hazardous nature and the desire to conserve funds. An informal consensus was reached to maintain the sign as is, continue running the digital component until it fails, and only then cut off the steel structure. Any complete replacement or significant changes will await the completion of the Highway 47 project.
Notable Quotes (12)
I just wanted to add some sort of identification. The employee, whoever that would be, would have to wear some sort of identifica- identification, like whether it be a badge or a St. Francis shirt or something like that.
tonight before you is the legal service agreement with our new proposed firm of Berlin, Baumgardner and Glazier. They are uh looking to provide both our civil and our prosecution.
their rates are going to be slightly less than our old rates, so we might see some say might see some savings in the long run, for the record.
next step in to gain the easement for our utilities to go up 47, we had the pre-assessment the pre-demo assessment done. They They recommended having the abatement completed.
we'll be using the county HRA dollars for the demolition of this So, we had hoped to be able to burn this property. However, once they go through the property with the abatement, there's really not much left to burn.
But the 34,000 for the abatement, does that fall within the 75 or addition to the 75?
No, Mayor and Council, this is all within the 75.
staff needs tonight um is just some general direction on on what you want to do with that uh sign at Community Park. This is the one we discussed back in February at some length. Uh with the technology needs, we're looking about $100,000 in expenses.
I my my position is we should wait till after Highway 47 is done... I would I think we should save it. My prices I got were anywhere from 1,600 to 3,500. I was thinking of an aluminum face just to put over it.
the digital sign is the the one of the catches with the digital sign is that it it can only be run off of one computer and it's obsolete. Uh the technology is obsolete.
I I I I guess I mean, I know we kind of I I know we had a consensus vote on removing it, but I mean, hearing what you're saying, Kevin, I'm not I'm not opposed to just leaving it just the way it is as long as we don't have to invest any more money in it.
So, right now we're going to leave it as is. Keep the digital running as long as we can. If the digital dies, cut it off. If the whole thing collapses, we'll scrape it clean. And nevertheless, we won't talk about replacing anything until after the highway project.
Ordinances & Resolutions (3)
Job description for a facility monitor, modified to include an identification requirement.
Agreement with Berlin, Baumgardner and Glazier for civil and prosecution legal services.
Funding source for the 23925 St. Francis Boulevard abatement project.