The Fennimore City Council held their monthly meeting on Monday, May 18.

It was a quicker regular session meeting before the council went into closed session. Among the approvals reached by the council were making the apartments at 1730 and 1834 Lincoln Avenue into two separate parcels per a recent certified survey map.

The council also approved two bids, the first for Fahrner Asphalt Sealers for seal coating, and second to Klein Tree Service for stump removal.

Fennimore Police Chief Walt Dresen had stated in his report to the council that Fennimore School District Administrator Jane Wonderling informed him that the district wishes to resume a contract with the police department to provide liaison services consistent with past contracts, up to 150 hours per school year.

Dresen went on to report that he and the district discussed establishing a fixed cost for these services instead of using the true cost of an officer’s full benefits package, which continues to increase each year, as Dresen stated in his report, “I do not believe the intent of the liaison program is to generate income, but rather to provide a steady, consistent presence within the school that allows the Fennimore Police Department to build positive relationships with students and staff while providing the school with a law enforcement presence.”

The projected true cost at the start of the next school year will be approximately $54.50 per hour, but Dresen asked the council to approve the contract for the 2026–2027 school year at a fixed rate of $50 per hour instead of at the true cost rate, which the council unanimously approved.

Dresen also wrote in his report that he has reached out to Southwest Tech regarding a contract for the 2026-2027 school year, and they anticipate renewing their contract, but have not yet had those discussions, but will let Dresen know in the near future.

In other police department news, Fennimore Police Officer Michael McCoy has successfully completed his 720-hour recruit academy, and graduated May 16.

Officer McCoy received high praise from academy instructors throughout his training, according to Dresen, and was elected Academy President and received the leadership award.

McCoy was scheduled to resume field training with the Fennimore Police Department last week, with McCoy transitioning to normal shift duties later this summer.

Dresen also stated in his report that the department completed firearms training on April 24.

In her report, Fennimore City Clerk Ashley Edge stated that after state auditors recommended the city do a simplified rate case increase for water, a 3 percent increase will be reflected on utility bills beginning in August.

Also a recycling grant for the city was approved for $10,874.43.

Edge also stated in her report that the community pool will be open this season from Friday, June 5 until Saturday, Aug. 22.

Lifeguards have already had their orientation meeting, and the pool will have “a nice combination of returning guards, and new guards this year,” Edge went on to state in her report.

Additionally, swim lesson signs ups have been already posted through the school district.

To go along with Edge’s pool update, Director of Public Works Anthony Downing in his report stated that the pool has been filled and prepared for the season.

Downing also stated that the department has been working with contractors on the library’s water and sewer service as part of its remodel.

He went on to report that Dairyland Power identified that the industrial substation transformer that was replaced last year in March is showing high levels of hydrogen meaning something is wrong inside and it will need to be unfortunately swapped out again. Planned start date for that project was scheduled for May 19.

Lastly, Downing stated that a new street maintenance worker, Drew Stoughtenborough, started work on May 11.

Downing and Edge did present to the council a possible update to the city’s personnel manual, in regards to vacation time. Currently employees received two weeks of paid vacation upon the one year anniversary of their hire.

Downing and Edge proposed new employees starting at two weeks upon hire, then increasing upon one, five, 10 and 20 years hire date anniversaries.

While the council seemed in agreement, no approval was made pending referral of the proposal to the personal committee and comparisons with surrounding communities.

The council then went into closed session regarding possible sale of lots.

The next meeting of the city council is tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 15, at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers of the Memorial Building.