The Centralia City Council awarded plaques to honor two retiring city workers at Monday night’s regular council meeting. Kim Abbott was recognized for over 20 years of service to the Centralia Animal Shelter, and Kent Niermann was recognized for over 31 years of service at the water treatment plant. Niermann was in attendance to receive his plaque in-person, and he thanked the team he worked with at the water treatment plant.
“It can’t be done without everybody’s help at the water plant. It takes a lot of shifts and a lot of people communicating,” Niermann said. “We have a lot of good communication with each other when we run through three shifts, each guy passes on what’s been going on, and we go from day to day. Good communication is really important in all aspects.”
The council approved a bid to purchase a utility dump bed trailer for $12,805. This trailer will be used for collecting yard waste as the city transitions to have the Public Works Department handle yard waste instead of Republic Services. Resolutions were also approved to purchase four vehicles for the Public Works Department at a total cost of $81,300. Mayor Bryan Kuder said the city was able to purchase the vehicles well below budgeted cost thanks to the efforts of Public Works Director Jeff Schwartz.
The council also approved a Resolution to allow city manager to solicit proposals from electric retail suppliers through Affordable Gas and Electric. The city’s next electricity contract will cost less than the current one which expires in February. Affordable Gas and Electric recommends a 24-month contract at a rate of 7.218 cents per kilowatt-hour, which would save the city $260,000 over two years compared to what it pays now.
Centralia’s audit the 2024 fiscal year will once again be conducted by CJ Schlosser and Company, for fees not to exceed $32,860.
City Clerk Kim Enke announced that incoming city manager Galen Mahle will be sworn in Thursday afternoon at 3:30 in the Centralia City Council chambers.
