Common Council Raises Wages, Cemetery Restoration Requests Wreaths for Win-Win

COLUMBIA CITY-Tuesday's Common Council meeting marked a unanimous approval on the 2024 city budget. Mayor Ryan Daniel reassured those present that it did not include a bunch of changes and only added two new positions. As previously mentioned, the new budget sets aside funds towards the trail extension, Eagle Park, and a text alert program to help announce street closings, outages, events, etc.; the budget also adds a 4% raise to employees across the board.

Gary Bird and his team gave a very detailed presentation of the work that they have completed over the last year in various cemeteries, cleaning and restoring headstones and gravesites. Though the focus has been on veterans, some civilian markers have also been repaired. Bird thanked the council for their purchase of the needed cleaning supplies and specifically Rosie Coyle's fast research on a weekend that aided in finding a specific Civil War era grave.

Photo byGary Bird's Slideshow

Photo byGary Bird's Slideshow

Bird is excited about being a part of the Wreaths Across America project, which will take place on Dec. 16th at noon and include 3700 cemeteries. Wreaths can be ordered for specific veterans at specific graves, or can be ordered nonspecifically. The cost is $17, and $5 of each purchase can be put back into the cemetery restoration fund, so Bird says this is a "win-win." Bird's goal is to sell 400 wreaths by the Thanksgiving deadline. Information can be found at wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Photo byGary Bird's Slideshow

Department heads reported on upcoming events. The Veterans' Marathon will be on Oct. 11, and leaf pickup starts Oct. 23. Trick or Treating will be October 28. The next Common Council meeting is Nov. 14.

(This story is reprinted from an earlier version published via the NewsBreak App)