The Stuart City Council met in regular session Monday.

The Council awarded a contract for the removal of tree stumps at North and South Oak Cemeteries and Lawbaugh Park to SLS Tree Management with their bid of $3,726. They then reviewed recommendations by the planning and zoning commission to pave an alley section, allow permit parking on Division Street for Airbnb renters and apartment tenants, and remove dead ash trees from the platted section of North Ninth Street and maintain the street with adequate grass cutting or to vacate the street.The Council was informed that the ash trees have been removed, and that the area is maintained in the same manner as City parks, and declined to take action on the recommendations.

The Council then reviewed bids with Stuart Fire Chief Josh Renslow for two fire trucks. He recommended that they approve the bid from Elk Mound Fire District for their 2005 GMC 5500 Duramax for $51,800, and decline the bids for the 1992 F700 Pumper truck, and the Council followed the recommendations.They also approved an ordinance amending the code of ordinances by revoking section 63.04(4) and revising section 63.04(1)(B) and 63.04(2)(B)(C), then adopted the ordinance.

The Council heard from Mayor Dick Cook that Zoning Administrator Jason Van Ausdall is working with City Attorney DuWayne Dalen to start condemnation for a nuisance property on the 400 block of North Sherman Street, then approved the fourth pay application for McAninch Corporation for $495,628.14, and the third partial payment to Hydro-Clean LLC for $49,105.50. They then approved a resolution authorizing issuance of a $150,000 taxable general obligation, and to continue with future discussion on possible participation in a county wide emergency medical service, but that the City was not deciding whether or not to participate at this time.

The Council approved for City Administrator Ashraf Ashour to approve the amount of extra pay needed to cover overtime/vacation/part-time, a resolution regarding a procurement policy for the Community Development Block Grant Water Grant, to increase hourly contribution from $9.10 per hour to $9.45 per hour paid for city employee health insurance effective January 1, 2024, and tabled a decision on a letter of engagement with Ahlers and Cooney PC. They then heard a presentation from Economic Development Director Matt Funk, in which he informed the Council that the City of Stuart has been selected for the Community Visioning Program.