DUBOIS: DuBois City Council met Wednesday, January 21, 2026, moving through routine approvals, winter operations updates, longer-range infrastructure planning, and multiple resolutions tied to fees, boards, zoning matters, and upcoming public hearings, following the agenda order that included consent items, special presentations, unfinished business, new business, and public comment.
Early in the meeting, council approved consent and fiscal items, including meeting minutes, year-end draft reports for the former municipal entities, bills, a fiscal report, and a wastewater treatment plant pay application (WWTP Pay Application #36).
City Manager Flags Cash-Flow Constraint During Bill Approval
During departmental and administrative remarks—roughly eight to nine minutes into the meeting—City Manager Ben Kafferlin highlighted a near-term cash-flow issue while asking council to approve bills so payments could be made as funds became available. Kafferlin said, verbatim:
“First of all, on the bills, we don't necessarily have the cash to pay all of those bills today. So, we were asking for approval so we can kind of pay them on a rolling basis for being judicious on on how that happens. Thanks for that approval.”
Votes And Actions
Below is a vote-focused rundown of actions referenced in the meeting transcript, including whether items passed unanimously or with dissent. No motions were recorded as failing in the transcript provided.
- Minutes and fiscal approvals (organizational meeting minutes, work session minutes, special meeting minutes, year-end drafts, bills, fiscal report, WWTP Pay App #36): Passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- Departmental reports and correspondence: Approved by motion and passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- Environmental Advisory Council: Council voted to move forward with the Environmental Advisory Council concept; the motion passed with one “no” vote indicated.
- Recreation Authority: Council approved advertising a public hearing for March 4; the motion passed with one “no” vote indicated.
- LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance): Council authorized moving forward with expanding the LERTA footprint across the city and adding a residential component; the motion passed with one “no” vote indicated.
- Intergovernmental Service Fees (Resolution 2026-021): Passed with one “no” vote indicated.
- CAZAG Appointments (Resolution 2026-022): Passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- Subdivision / Consolidation at 14 Navajo Trail: Approved by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- DuBois Food & Beverage (Micro-brewery conditional use): Council authorized advertising a public hearing for February 18 at 5:30 p.m.; passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- Slab Run Project (Engineers’ Opinion / Memo Regarding Slab Run Project 2026-01-20): Council accepted the engineers’ opinion and moved the project concept forward; passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- Authorization to advertise ordinances (Council Bills #001–#005 of 2026): Council authorized advertisement; passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- Governance Committee citizen appointments: Council voted to amend the agenda, then voted to appoint Melissa Keen and Dave Lombardo to the governance committee; both motions passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
- ATV permit fee clarification: Council clarified the ATV permit schedule as $150 the first year, $100 the second, and $50 the third and subsequent years; council then clarified that city employees would not be charged the fee, continuing prior policy. Both motions passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
Key Discussions
Winter operations and salt supply were discussed during department updates, including comments that available salt supplies could become tight if winter conditions remain severe, potentially requiring a shift to using smaller gravel on roads.
Council also discussed the Slab Run wastewater treatment plant, described as having reached the end of its useful life. Officials outlined a potential project to redirect flow to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which they said could reduce redundancy and long-term costs. Financing possibilities referenced during the meeting included grants and USDA loan programs, with discussion about coordinating certain infrastructure work to reduce excavation and procurement costs.
Council also referenced grant awards connected to the Jefferson Avenue waterline replacement project and security improvements at the DuBois water filtration plant, including access controls, cameras, and networking-related upgrades.
Public Comment
Two residents addressed council during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Dr. Joseph Zeitler warned that Washington Township supervisors are dealing with a renewed push for a landfill proposal tied to earlier efforts dating back to the late 1990s. Zeitler told council that Washington Township is expected to vote on a subdivision matter integral to those plans and noted a Washington Township meeting scheduled for February 10, encouraging interested residents to attend and express concerns. He referenced prevailing winds and the potential for impacts toward Treasure Lake.
Lisa Gabler spoke about the Downtown DuBois Hometown Hero Banner program, saying the current version is being retired and the banners taken down after substantial discussion among the Downtown DuBois board and staff. Gabler cited challenges including the lack of a banner rotation design, no room for seasonal or downtown banners, inventory management difficulties, and deterioration of older banners. She said the program is not ending, but will be rebooted, with a retirement ceremony planned in March at the VFW where details of a new version will be shared. Gabler said the goal is to rotate banners every two years, simplify the application process, and make room for additional honorees. She also said banners may be picked up at her office and provided a contact number: 814-581-4147.
Closing
Council concluded with solicitor and manager comments followed by board member remarks, which included thanks to city staff, recognition of grant efforts, discussion of snow response and preparedness, and a reminder about an upcoming chamber business bash. A motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.
