Mayor Sean A. Johnson | City of Geneseo
Mayor Sean A. Johnson | City of Geneseo
City of Geneseo City Council met Sept. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Regular Council of the City of Geneseo was called to order on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present:
COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Bob James, Council Brett Barnhart, Council Craig Arnold, Mayor Sean Johnson, Council Martin Rothschild, Alderman Kent Swanson, Council Keith Kennett, and Alderman James Roodhouse
COUNCIL ABSENT: Council Paula Simosky
STAFF PRESENT: Director of Finance Jamie Matthews, City Administrator Brandon Maeglin, Director of IT Garrett Griswold, Attorney Derke Price, Deputy Chief of Police Kondon Karzin, Chief of Police Casey Disterhoft, Attorney Margaret Kostopulos, Director of Public Works Chad VandeWoestyne, Building Inspector Rick Mills, City Clerk Paige Seibel, and Director of Electrical Operations Eric Rowold
PUBLIC PRESENT:
1 INVOCATION
Led by Pastor Palm
2 Pledge of Allegiance
3 Roll Call
Meeting began at 6:00 PM
Barnhart arrived at 6:02 PM
Roodhouse arrived at 6:09 PM
4 Chamber of Commerce Report
Chamber Director Sullivan gave the Chamber of Commerce Report.
Upcoming Events
September 11-13: City - Wide Fall Garage Sales
October 4: State Street Market
October 17: Cruise the Canal Fall Foliage Tours
October 25: Scarecrow Row
October 30 - November 1: Witches Night Out/Witches Weekend
4.1. City Council Chamber Report - 9.9.25
5 City Engineering Report
City Engineer Rains gave the City Engineering Report.
5.1. September Engineering Report
2025_09_09 Geneseo Engineering report
6 Public Comment - Agenda Items
City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the City Council at this time.
Pastor Palm noted that while Geneseo appears to be growing in terms of new buildings and businesses, the population itself does not seem to be increasing. Aldermen Roodhouse and Swanson later responded that the number of children has declined, with fewer students enrolling in schools, which gives the impression that population growth is not keeping pace with development.
7 Mayor's Comments
None.
8 City Council Comments
Alderman Rothschild advised his wife Cathy has a table at Lavendar Crest for Paws for Cause for the Humane Society and has a table of 10 available and to let him or his wife know if you are interested in attending.
9 City Administrator's Comments
- 09/15 - 09/19: Fall Curbside Cleanup
- 09/20: E-Waste Day at the Street Dept. Building
10 Finance Director Comments
Director of Finance Matthews gave the Treasurer's Report including Budget Book and Capital Assets.
Director of Electrical Operations Rowold, Director of Public Works VanDeWoestyne, Chief Disterhoft, and City Administrator Maeglin gave the Capital Projects report.
10.1. Treasurer's Report and Capital Asset Reports as Submitted.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Martin Rothschild, Motion to approve the Treasurer's Report and Capital Asset Reports as submitted.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Martin Rothschild AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse ABSENT: Paula Simosky |
City Clerk Seibel read the consent agenda.
11.1. Approval of Previous Minutes.
Regular Council - 12 Aug 2025 Minutes
Committee of the Whole - 26 Aug 2025 Minutes
Special City Council - 26 Aug 2025 Minutes
11.2. Facade Improvement Grant Application - State Street Development LLC
11.3. R-25-11: Sale of Surplus Property - PD Radios
11.4. R-25-12: Appointments to City Boards
11.5. Omnibus method
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Kent Swanson, Motion to approve using the omnibus method and to approve items 11.1 - 11.5
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Kent Swanson AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse ABSENT: Paula Simosky |
Items that were requested to be removed from consent agenda.
No items requested to be removed from consent agenda.
13 Administration
13.1. Waterworth Utility Rate Study & Customer Rate Design Discussion
City Administrator Maeglin opened the discussion, noting that Aryan from Waterworth would present the proposed rate increases effective January 1, 2026. He clarified that the proposed adjustments apply only to Water and Electric, while Sanitary rates will be addressed at the next meeting after the numbers are re evaluated.
City Administrator Maeglin opened the discussion by noting that Aryan from Waterworth would present the proposed rate increases effective January 1, 2026. These proposed increases apply only to Water and Electric. Discussion on Sanitary rates will be scheduled for the next meeting, as those figures require further evaluation.
Aryan then presented the Waterworth report (included in the attached agenda), which outlined projections through 2030. The charts illustrated the financial shortfall that would occur if rates were not adjusted to fund the capital projects scheduled to begin in 2026. A Q&A session followed with Council and City Staff.
Overall, City Staff expressed interest in providing some relief to residents within City limits on Water rates. The proposal introduces six billing classes based on customer classification. The average residential user, consuming between 1,000– 3,000 gallons, would see a consumption charge increase of $0.83–$1.02 per
month. (See presentation slides for non-residential and commercial rate impacts.) For Electric, residential users would see an average 2.0% increase. With typical residential usage between 700–1,000 kWh, this translates to an increase of $1.46–$2.07 per month.
Following the Waterworth presentation and discussion, City Administrator Maeglin provided an update on the Refuse contract. He reported that the City received three responses to the RFP. After review, the review group recommended continuing with Republic, as they submitted the lowest bid and have maintained a positive working relationship with the City.
Aldermen Roodhouse and Kennett participated in the review meetings for the proposed contracts and both agreed that Republic was the best option. As part of the new agreement, Republic will extend yard waste pickup through early December, and yard waste stickers will remain at $1.50 per tag.
The proposed contract is for five years, with the following rates to city customers:
∙ 2026: $17.29
∙ 2027: $17.99
∙ 2028: $18.70
∙ 2029: $19.45
∙ 2030: $20.23
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Keith Kennett, Motion to direct staff to bring a new 5-year contract with Republic Services for years 2026-2030 back to council for approval.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Keith Kennett AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse ABSENT: Paula Simosky |
Deputy Chief Karzin presented the 2024 Crime Report Comparison, followed by a Q&A and discussion. Council thanked him for the presentation and expressed pride in the Police Department’s prevention efforts.
13.3. Olivia Drive CUD Development - Significant Change to Approved CUD Layout
City Administrator Maeglin noted that the developers are requesting flexibility in the CUD layout, specifically in determining which units will be triplexes or duplexes. He added that there has been an increase in buyers seeking duplexes with basements, which will impact the west side of the development.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Martin Rothschild, Motion to approve the new plat layout for the Olivia Drive Condominium Use District Project by Affinity Growth Community Developers, giving the developers flexibility to construct both triplex and duplex structures within the approved CUD Development.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Martin Rothschild AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse ABSENT: Paula Simosky |
14.1. Approval of City bills
No discussion was had.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Kent Swanson, Motion to approve the City Bills as presented.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Kent Swanson AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse ABSENT: Paula Simosky |
City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the City Council at this time.
Alderman Barnhart asked if the City could determine the actual attendance at Trains, Planes, and Automobiles. Maeglin explained that the City and Chamber have been working with the County on this but noted that the program which tracks cell phone activity is very costly.
16 Adjournment
16.1. Move to close the meeting
Meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM
Martin Rothschild moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to Adjourn
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Martin Rothschild SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Kent Swanson, Keith Kennett, and James Roodhouse ABSENT: Paula Simosky |
a. New members
i. I-80 Café (Colona)
II.) Mural #6 Update
a. Is finished at at Richmond Hill Park, Chamber will host a reveal party for the new Mural, details coming soon.
III.) Event Recaps
a. 29th Annual Geneseo Chamber Golf Outing – this Friday August 15, at Country View Golf Course
b. 19th Annual Trains, Planes & Automobiles festival – September 4-6 with the Stearman Fly-In at gen Airpark on Thursday September 4, the first Cruise the Canal tours on Friday September 5, and the Maple City Cruisers Car Show on Saturday September 6.
i. Approx. 380 cars participated with over 10,000 people attending – the best turnout yet for the event!
IV.) Upcoming Events
a. City-Wide Fall Garage Sales – September 11-13
b. State Street Market – October 4
c. Cruise the Canal Fall Foliage Tours – October 17
d. Scarecrow Row – October 25
e. Witches Night Out/Witches Weekend – October 30-November 1
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