CITY OF CLAREMONT
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
JUNE 2, 2026
7:00 P.M.
Mayor Jared Sultze called the regular City Council meeting of the City of Claremont to order at 7:01 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Present: Mayor Jared Sultze, Council Member Krystal Sultze and Council Member Donna Gregory. Absent: Council Member Deb Ellis and Council Member Ethan Johnson. Others Present: City Administrator Elizabeth Sorg, City Attorney Mark Rahrick, City Engineer Derek Olinger, Ed Krenke, Tracy and Duane Boyum, Denice Baier, and Jamie Sultze.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda with 1 addition of a Hogfest Committee Request made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Council Member Donna Gregory. The motion carried.
Public Input
None
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda consisted of the following items: Approve the Minutes of the May 5, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting and Approve Resolution No. 26-12: Expressing Acceptance of and Appreciation of a Donation. Motion to approve the Consent Agenda was made by Mayor Jared Sultze and seconded by Council Member Donna Gregory. The motion carried.
Committee Reports
Finance Committee
Approve Financial Reports. Motion to approve the financial reports was made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Council Member Donna Gregory. The motion carried.
Approve Payment of Bills. Motion to approve the payment of bills, including the added bills, made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Mayor Jared Sultze. The motion carried.
Parks Committee
Porta Potty at Henning Park. A council member asked whether the city should rent a porta potty at Henning Park since there is one at Memorial Park and Harmer Park. City Administrator Elizabeth Sorg noted that the handicap-accessible unit at Memorial Park costs approximately $182 every month, while a standard unit would cost approximately $152 per month. Motion to authorize a standard porta potty at Henning Park was made by Council Member Donna Gregory and seconded by Mayor Jared Sultze. The motion carried.
Personnel Committee
No report.
Planning and Zoning Committee
No report.
Public Health & Safety Committee (Health, Fire, Police, Weeds)
No report.
EDA
No report.
City Engineer
2026 Street Maintenance Project Proposals. City Engineer Derek Olinger presented background information on pavement lifecycle management to provide context for the street maintenance proposal. He explained that asphalt pavement typically remains in relatively good condition for approximately two-thirds of its lifespan before reaching a deterioration tipping point once water penetrates the subgrade. He emphasized that the most cost-effective maintenance strategy is seal coating—specifically chip sealing combined with crack filling—performed on a roughly seven-year cycle. He noted that the sooner chip sealing is applied after initial paving, the greater its impact on extending road life, and that pairing seal coating with periodic overlays can extend a road's useful life from the standard 20–30 years to 50 or even 60 years. Olinger explained that the proposed street list was generated by assessing condition ratings across all city streets and identifying those that were either newly paved or approaching six to eight years since their last maintenance treatment. He recommended adding streets back into the scope to take advantage of the lower pricing, noting that delaying the work would result in higher costs in subsequent years and reduced overall road lifespan. Mayor Jared Sultze questioned whether the newest streets—particularly those reconstructed last year—could be deferred one year, with the budgeted funds redirected to streets in greater need. Olinger respectfully disagreed, stating that while waiting one year would not be catastrophic, it would increase long-term lifecycle costs and reduce the lifespan of those roads. Duane and Tracy Boyum live on 4th Place and raised concerns about the deteriorated condition of that street, suspecting that it was heavily damaged during construction of nearby homes by heavy equipment traffic. City Engineer Olinger confirmed that 4th Place was intentionally excluded from the project list because it is too far deteriorated for chip sealing to be beneficial. He stated that the road would require an overlay or repaving project in the future, and likened applying chip seal to a severely degraded road to "painting a rusty car." The resident expressed frustration that a relatively newer street had been allowed to deteriorate due to construction traffic, and questioned whether the city could have restricted such use. Administrator Sorg read a written comment submitted by Council Member Ethan Johnson, who stated he did not believe it was the best use of city funds to chip seal the section of Oakview and Southview Road highlighted on the map, as that portion is past the homes and transitions to gravel. Council Member Johnson suggested crack sealing the entire Oakview Road instead and noted he had spoken with a resident in that area who agreed. Olinger stated Oakview also needs to be overlayed or repaved. Pearson Bros bid was $26,259 and Allied Blacktop bid was $28,845. The final approved scope included the streets designated on the project map. The project was awarded to Pearson Brothers, with a base bid of $26,259 and additional work of 2 blocks of Elm Street bringing the total to $33,425. Motion to approve the 2026 chip seal project awarded to Pearson Brothers in the total amount of $33,425, covering the streets designated on the project map, was made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Mayor Jared Sultze. The motion carried 2–1, with Council Member Donna Gregory voting nay. Olinger agreed to provide Sorg the full street condition rating and maintenance schedule for distribution to all council members.
City Administrator
City Administrator Elizabeth Sorg announced that National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 4. The Chamber will host again with hot dogs and ice cream floats at the Memorial Park Pavilion.
City Attorney Mark Rahrick
City Attorney Mark Rahrick noted he has information for what was upcoming on the agenda.
Old Business
Land Purchase Request from Resident. Tracy and Duane Boyum addressed the council regarding the city's estimated value of the parcel they wish to purchase. The resident stated that after consulting with the USDA and Dodge County, she was informed that land in Claremont ranges from approximately $1,800 to $8,000 per acre, with the higher end representing prime farmland. She contended that the city's estimate of approximately $11,428—based on a per-square-foot calculation derived from the RK&T lot price—was excessive for what she described as an unplatted, irregularly shaped land. City Attorney Mark Rahrick clarified for the council that the $11,428 figure included in the agenda packet was not a formal offer to the adjacent property owner, but rather information for the council's consideration, derived at the council's prior request. City Administrator Sorg confirmed that she had been asked at the May meeting to calculate the price based on the per-square-foot value of the RK&T lots, yielding a rate of $0.99 per square foot. City Attorney Rahrick further noted that the city is under no obligation to sell the parcel at any particular price, and that the council could choose to take action or no action. The resident stated that they thought an offer of $2,000–$4,000 was more equitable given the nature of the land. Following a tense exchange, the council agreed that further dialogue was needed. No action was taken. The item was tabled.
Policy on Renting City Hall Council Chambers. City Attorney Mark Rahrick presented a revised draft of the City Hall Council Chambers Rental Policy, incorporating updates discussed at the prior meeting. Changes included a rental fee, maximum occupancy, prohibition of alcohol, prohibition of smoking and vaping, and prohibition of food preparation. City Attorney Rahrick clarified to the council that the food preparation prohibition as drafted would prevent cooking or preparation on the premises but would not prohibit individuals from bringing food prepared elsewhere. He noted that if the council preferred to prohibit food entirely, that language could be added. Council Member Krystal Sultze and Mayor Jared Sultze expressed concern about potential city liability if members of the public become ill from food brought onto the premises. Council Member Krystal Sultze suggested including liability disclaimer language within the policy document itself, rather than relying solely on the application waiver. City Attorney Rahrick agreed to revise the language accordingly. City Attorney Rahrick will return with a final version for council approval at the next meeting.
New Business
Employment Policy Addition. Council Member Krystal Sultze presented a proposed addition to the employment policy related to overtime for non-exempt employees. She explained that the issue of overtime had consistently come up as a concern during personnel committee discussions, particularly given the unpredictable nature of infrastructure emergencies such as pump failures or after-hours alarm responses. She noted a recent example in which the water operator and maintenance supervisor was required to work approximately 12 additional hours following a pumphouse failure. The proposed addition establishes a buffer of up to six hours of overtime per week that maintenance employees may work without requiring prior administrator approval, acknowledging that emergency situations can push employees beyond the standard 40-hour threshold. Any overtime beyond six hours would require prior discussion with City Administrator Sorg. Council Member Krystal Sultze emphasized that the intent was to ensure employees are not penalized or made to feel anxious about responding to genuine emergencies. Council Member Donna Gregory inquired about the public accessibility of daily task logs for maintenance employees. Council Member Krystal Sultze explained that detailed daily, weekly, and monthly sheets are maintained and available to citizens upon request through Administrator Sorg, and that this information had been presented to the council during a tour and meeting the prior year. The recommended sentence with the addition in quotes: Overtime pay “in excess of 6 hours per week” requires pre-approval by the City Administrator.
Motion to approve that amendment to the Employment Policy was made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Mayor Jared Sultze. The motion carried 2–1, with Council Member Donna Gregory voting nay.
Hogfest Temporary Liquor License. The Hogfest Committee requested a temporary (one-to-four-day) liquor license for the days of Hogfest. The application form and alcohol liability insurance quote had not yet been finalized but were expected within one and a half weeks. Motion to approve the temporary liquor license for Hogfest was made by Mayor Jared Sultze and seconded by Council Member Donna Gregory. The motion carried.
Hogfest Committee Request. Council Member Krystal Sultze summarized the request as consistent with prior years: street closures from in front of the Post Office down to the Service Center, a portion of the 100 block in front of City Hall for cornhole tournaments, and use of Memorial Park and Harmer Park for softball tournaments. A correction was noted that the written request had inadvertently listed Henning Park rather than Harmer Park. Motion to approve the Hogfest Committee's request with the correction from Henning Park to Harmer Park was made by Mayor Jared Sultze and seconded by Council Member Donna Gregory. The motion carried.
Proclamation of May 1, 2026 as Adriana Kunz Day. This item was noted as informational, as the proclaimed date had already passed.
Maintenance Supervisor/Sewer Operator Performance Appraisal Summary. Administrator Sorg presented the annual performance appraisal summary for Casey Dahl, Maintenance Supervisor/Sewer Operator. She noted that the employee completed a self-appraisal and she also completed one on his work performance and that she reviewed them with him directly. Her assessment indicated he is performing well overall. She noted that he plans to take the sewer operator certification test in October and has registered for a related workshop that month as well. Administrator Sorg provided the council with a comparison of wages from comparable positions in other cities as a reference for any compensation adjustment. She noted the difficulty in finding exact comparisons, as many cities divide maintenance, water, and sewer responsibilities among separate positions, whereas Claremont combines all roles. Council Member Krystal Sultze proposed a 3% merit increase of $0.90 per hour, noting the employee meets expectations and has additional certifications and training planned for later in the year that could support a higher evaluation at that time. Motion to approve a 3% wage increase or
$0.90 per hour for the Maintenance Supervisor/Sewer Operator, effective immediately, was made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Mayor Jared Sultze. The motion carried 2–1, with Council Member Donna Gregory voting nay.
Final Word
Duane Boyum addressed the council, reiterating concerns about 4th Place's condition and expressing frustration that a relatively new street had deteriorated to the point where even basic maintenance treatments were no longer viable, while newer streets were being prioritized for chip sealing. Mayor Sultze acknowledged the concern and clarified that the recently reconstructed streets are included in the chip seal list because early treatment has the greatest long-term benefit, and that the city engineer's recommendation was based on established pavement management principles.
The resident and his wife also raised concerns about the city's economic development prospects, specifically the lack of a gas station or convenience store. Mayor Sultze and Council Member Krystal Sultze acknowledged these long-standing challenges, noting that the city and Chamber have repeatedly reached out to businesses, all of which have declined due to Claremont's population being below their minimum threshold. Council Member Krystal Sultze noted that a representative from a local agricultural business had previously expressed willingness to support a gas station effort, but that the city still needed a willing operator. Mayor Sultze suggested that a community co-op model, as seen in other small communities in the region, may be the most viable path forward. No formal action was taken.
Adjourn
Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Krystal Sultze and seconded by Mayor Jared Sultze. The motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 PM.
City Administrator
Elizabeth Sorg
Mayor Jared Sultze
