The Fairmont City Council continued work on its 2027 budget Tuesday, focusing on capital improvement projects and equipment needs. One major discussion centered on the city’s yard waste site, where $515,000 is currently budgeted for a garage enclosure, burn box and used excavator. Council members questioned the costs and whether the site should be staffed. After discussion, the council agreed to remove the yard waste funding from the budget for now and revisit the issue at a future work session. The council also debated the number of vehicles needed by the streets and parks departments, including 13 dump trucks. Some members questioned whether the city needs that many vehicles, while staff said the equipment is necessary to maintain current service levels, particularly during snow events. A $450,000 replacement motor grader also remains in the preliminary budget while the council gathers more information. Other projects discussed included improvements at the Fairmont Aquatic Park, water and wastewater infrastructure, and police equipment. The police department is also proposing a $30,000 drone program that could be used for public safety, including locating missing people. The council’s next budget workshop is scheduled for September first. The preliminary budget is expected to come before the council for approval September 14th.
