A cleaning company has been selected to clean city buildings. ServiceMaster will now be responsible for cleaning the new Municipal building, with several other buildings possibly added.

   “To clean the new building and the streets building they would charge $491 per month. We might add the Depot. It has been used every weekend this summer and needs cleaned. We also might add the Community Hall and the Recreation Center later,” City Administrator Jeff Davis informed the St. James City Council Monday night.
    The company was hired after former janitor James House position was eliminated and the council chose to contract out janitorial services. With several city buildings in need of cleaning services, ServiceMaster provided the best cost to keep facilities in proper condition.
    In other business, the council:
    • Held a tax levy public hearing prior to the regular monthly meeting. No citizen input was given. The tax levy will remain the same as it has been, at the current rate of .3909.
    • Appointed new members to several vacancies on city boards. Ben Verkmap will fill Michael Nahm’s position on the Historic Preservation Committee; David Cottingham, Becky Hufmann, and John Keeney will take over three-year appointments on the St. James Park Board; and John Smallwood will be filling a vacancy on the Tax Increment Financing Committee.
    • Moved the September regular meeting due to a holiday. It will now be held on Tuesday, September 4 and is open to the public. The meeting will most likely be held at the train depot due to renovations being completed in the council chambers of the Municipal Center.
    • Heard well construction in the Industrial Park should begin shortly. The contractors are finishing up a project before work can begin on digging the site.
    • Heard that new police vehicles are being delivered. Two new police cruisers have already been received, with another two are on the way.