August 17, 2026
City Council Updates & Correspondence
- The East 6th Street project continues to move forward on schedule. Utility relocation work is underway, and a new project webpage will go live to keep residents informed. The city plans to provide construction updates every two weeks initially, with weekly updates once street reconstruction becomes more active.
- Council members also discussed concerns from residents regarding trees that were removed along East 6th Street. City engineers explained that the trees had to be removed because reconstruction activities would have severely damaged their root systems, likely causing them to die in the coming years anyway. Stumps will eventually be removed, and residents will have the opportunity to request earlier removal in areas where construction will not begin until next year.
- The final draft of the swimming pool report has been completed and submitted to the city. Council and staff will review the report before a public work session scheduled for August 18 at 5:30 p.m. The work session is expected to focus on evaluation of the city’s pool and future options.
- The city has officially started the annexation process for the proposed Harvest Housing Development, located on property formerly owned by the school district and now owned by the Daufeldt family. Meetings with county officials and other stakeholders are underway as part of the annexation process.
- Council members received an update on the search for West Liberty’s next Police Chief. The Public Safety Committee recently met to discuss recruitment strategies, candidate qualifications, and salary considerations. Officials emphasized their goal of attracting experienced, ethical, and strong leadership candidates. The committee has established an aggressive timeline and hopes to have a new chief selected within the next few months.
- Council also received development updates on: the Deepu Chauk housing development project, ongoing coordination with Liferaft regarding permits and development timelines, and continued discussions with West Liberty Foods regarding wastewater treatment infrastructure and future funding opportunities.
- Additional items discussed included:
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- The launch of the city’s new online utility customer portal, which council members praised for improving customer access to billing information.
- Staffing challenges at City Hall due to summer vacation schedules.
- Updates on nuisance property enforcement efforts.
- Reinstallation of the stop sign at Spencer Street and 3rd Street.
- A public hearing on a budget amendment scheduled for August 18.
- Ongoing work on the City Manager’s annual evaluation process.
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What the Council Approved
- Council approved a leadership assessment and training program designed for city supervisors and department managers. City leadership noted that the goal is to improve communication, strengthen management skills, and identify areas where additional support or training could help city operations function more effectively. (Vote passed 5-0)
- Council approved an agreement with utility consultants to conduct an evaluation of West Liberty’s electric utility system. (Vote passed 5-0)
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Council approved a maintenance agreement for the city’s power generation turbines. (Vote passed 5-0)
- Council formally approved the Police Chief recruitment timeline and process. (Vote passed 5-0)
Looking Ahead…
- August 18th, 2026 | 5:30 p.m. Pool Study Work Session
- August 18th, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. Council Meeting
For more information, check out:
City Council Meeting – City Council Video