The Jefferson city council did various organizational tasks at its Jan. 13 meeting, the first of 2026.
Included was setting mayor and council goals for 2026-2027, based on a report by consultant Pat Callahan. Callahan conducted a goal setting work session with the council and department heads last November.
The top initiatives and programs as identified are: an employee recruitment and retention program/strategies; maintaining competitive wages; mapping existing sidewalks, underground utilities and storm water routes, and development of a digital map to guide future maintenance and repair; east side drainage; annual updates of the capital improvement plan; and reviewing policies on raising livestock within the city limits.
The priority capital improvement projects are: replacing deteriorating utility lines with phased upgrades; coordinating major street repair projects with funding strategies; increasing funding for street reconstruction; and determining a funding plan for storm water drainage improvements adjacent to E. Lincoln Way and the fairgrounds.
The council had previously committed to completing an update of the entire city code; implementation of a site plan ordinance; consulting the five-year capital improvement plan for major equipment purchases; new housing in the former middle schools; and resurfacing McKinley St. Those were not included in Callahan’s report.
The council approved a resolution appointing Jim Leiding as city engineer, Roxanne Gorsuch as city clerk, David Morain as city attorney, and Chad Stevens as city building inspector.
There were no public comments about appointing Leiding, Gorsuch and Morain. However, two residents spoke against the reappointment of Stevens. Both had been denied building permits.
City administrator Scott Peterson noted that issuing building permits is the job of the building inspector and that applicants have the right to request administrative review. If a review is requested, the matter goes to the board of review.
There is currently no policy requiring a record be kept of denied building permits. Council member Darren Jackson suggested such a record be kept.
Peterson defended Stevens. “I’m a big believer that good communications can accomplish more than anything. A lot of what’s called a “denial” occurs very early in the discussion of the project. I don’t know if a building permit application was ever turned in to actually be disapproved… When you take a look at these, there’s a rationale for why they were or not acted on,” he said. “We just need to be good about getting the word out about exactly what the decision is based on.”
The resolution named all four individuals. Council members Jackson, Luke Winkelman, Matt Wetrich and Harry Ahrenholtz voted in favor of approving the resolution. Sloan voted no.
The council named the Jefferson Herald as the official newspaper for placement of legal notices.
Jackson was appointed as mayor pro-tem. Other committee appointments are: airport, Sloan; animal shelter, Jackson; assessor’s conference board, mayor Craig Berry; Bell Tower Foundation, Matt Wetrich; cemetery, Jackson; Jefferson Matters Main Street, Winkelman; downtown buildings, Ahrenholtz and Sloan; finance, Berry, Ahrenholtz and Winkelman; and fire, Berry and Winkelman.
Also, Greene County Development Corporation, Ahrenholtz; golf course, Wetrich; Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, Wetrich; Highway 30 Coalition, Sloan; housing, Ahrenholtz and Jackson; LEC entity board, Berry and Winkelman; and library, Jackson; parks and recreation, Jackson and Wetrich; planning and zoning, Berry; street/water/sewer/sanitation, Ahrenholtz and Sloan; recycling, Wetrich; and wage & benefits, Ahrenholtz and Sloan.
The council approved a consultation agreement with PeopleService Inc to cover the certification requirement for the water treatment plant and distribution system. The company will assure compliance with pertinent state requirements, while city staff performs day-to-day operations. The contract fee for 2026 is $7,909 per month. The agreement is for five years, but either party can terminate the agreement with 60 days notice.
