The remodel issue appeared on the agenda again at the Jan. 14 regular meeting and the Jan. 21 special meeting. On both occasions, the mayor did not address the remodel. He abruptly told aldermen at the Jan. 21 meeting that he was scheduling yet another special for Sat. Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. with the remodel being the only item for consideration at that meeting.

Schulte responded, “I had to meet with Cochran (Engineering) Friday morning for two hours. It wasn’t ready.”

Ward 1 Alderman Justin Charboneau spoke to his fellow aldermen and explained his opposition to the plan. “Many people have called  me to object to this proposal,” Charboneau began.

The mayor interrupted him, “These people who called, have any of them been to court? Or are they just your normal, everyday troublemakers? Justin, I get complaints all the time that you vote no on everything,” Schulte said. “You can’t pay attention to everything people say.”

Schulte claims that court night brings so many to city hall that they fill the main room and line up outside. When asked why they didn’t schedule court for two separate nights, Schulte said, “The judge probably wouldn’t come.” Currently, when a court appearance is required, people are all told to be at court when it begins at 7:30 p.m. When asked why they didn’t have defendants arrive for court at staggered times, no one answered.

Charboneau again attempted to voice his objections, “We barely have enough parking now, and I don’t want to lose parking.”

“We won’t lose any parking,” the mayor interrupted again. “We just won’t have parking in the center of the lot anymore which nobody does anyway.”

“We want people to come to Gerald. We need beautification projects and better infrastructure. No one will decide to come here just because we have a remodeled city hall,” Charboneau explained. He told his fellow aldermen that the money could be better spent on other projects that would attract new residents to town.

“The normal average citizen will say, ‘Why a new city hall when my street is a mess,’” Charboneau continued. “We need to improve our  infrastructure. If we don’t, people will be mad that we spent money making our meeting room more comfortable,” he concluded.

Schulte said he had heard people were saying the only reason he was pushing the project was because the contractors who won the bid were customers of his home center. The remodel could benefit the mayor financially. “They don’t have to buy from me,” the mayor said.

Ward 2 Alderman David Luechtefeld agreed with the mayor’s plan. “I think there is enough of a need. I think it’s reasonable enough to do at this time,” he remarked.

Ward 2 Alderman Craig McCormick agreed with Charboneau that there were other, more pressing issues for the city to pursue.

Ward 1 Alderman Richard Johnson backed the mayor’s plan. “We need to replace the old windows anyway, we might as well do the whole job,” he said.

In response to the complaints Charboneau received Johnson responded, “We all get people who complain, but we can’t get anyone to help.”

“No one has told me this was a bad idea,” Schulte told the board.

“Has anyone said it was a good idea?” McCormick inquired.

“No,” admitted the mayor.

When taken to a vote, Charboneau and McCormick quickly voted no, while Johnson and Luechtefeld cast yes votes. Schulte sat back in his chair as he tossed his pen down. 

“You all know how I feel,” he said, “I’m voting yes.”

The aldermen then turned their attention to the financing of the project. Schulte had contacted the two local banks and also Community Bank in Owensville. All three institutions only offered five year rates, with a balloon payment due at the end of the term.

McCormick said he did not want to put the city at the risk of much higher interest rates in five years.

“I don’t think the rates are going to go up,” Schulte told the board.

The board asked the mayor to check on rates with out-of-town banks before they make a commitment.

Before the remodel becomes a reality, the board must approve the terms of a financial institution to fund the project.