HART - After years of planning, Hart’s long-awaited downtown streetscape reconstruction project is set to begin this spring. Council members Catalina Burillo, Jim Cunningham, Andrew Mullen, Karen Thomson, Betty Root and Mayor Amanda Klotz awarded the construction contract to Wadel Stabilization, Inc. of Hart at their regular council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13. Councilor Dean Hodges was absent. Wadel’s bid was the lowest of two received, coming in at $2,092,242.00.
The first phase of the streetscape project, being billed as the “Downtown Plaza” project, will include reconstruction of a small portion of East Main, the Hart Commons corner, a short portion of State Street and around the corner to West Main. City Manager Nichole Kleiner told council Wadel plans to begin construction April 1 or before, weather permitting, and it could be completed as early as the National Asparagus Festival starting June 12, 2026.
Other action items approved included a Winterfest Special Event permit request; a Right-of-Way authorization for Frontier Communications to install a fiber service drop to serve the property at 3 E. Main St.; and approval for a Temporary Grading Easement for cemetery property located at 513 Water St. in support of the Safe Routes to Schools Pathway Project (SRTS). Kleiner reported construction on the SRTS pathway will begin after school is out in June.
Jordan Smith, of Maner Costerisan, the city’s auditors, presented the city’s FY 2024-25 Audit Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. In 2025, as in 2023, the city was able to add to their governmental fund balances. In 2025, Revenue was just over $2.5 million and Expenses were just over $2.3 million. Smith reported, “The city’s fund balance is at 10 percent of expenditures and other financing uses. The state recommends a 17 percent minimum fund balance, while the state’s average is 40 percent.”
In the city’s Proprietary Funds, Smith reported Hart Hydro revenues are up, putting that fund in a very healthy position. The city’s Sewer Fund was positive in 2021, 2022 and 2024, however, was not as healthy in 2025, ending at -$151,000 last June 30. The city has invested heavily in sewer infrastructure more recently, however, the state recommendation is that Hart should have a $2.4 million fund balance in their sewer fund. “There are only two ways to resolve - raise rates or cut costs,” said Smith. “There’s only so far you can go and still be able to offer services.”
This deficiency will need to be addressed, Kleiner stated following the presentation.
Hart’s Water Fund remains in a good position with an almost $400,000 unrestricted net position, which is just above the state’s minimum of unrestricted net position. Smith concluded his presentation, stating three deficiencies for the city: material journal entries proposed by auditors, budgeting for a fund balance deficit and fund balances.
In her city manager’s report, Kleiner addressed the following:
• Several meetings she’d attended recently or plans to attend in the coming days.
• Work continues on straightening out the city’s water tower property ownership, with an expected resolution coming soon.
• The Community and Economic Development Director job posting will run through the month of January.
• There is now a water testing page on the website.
• With the help from a grant, the Oceana Conservation District plans to continue treating for Japanese Knotweed this spring, an invasive species that generally takes several years of treatment to eradicate.
• Many more projects and initiatives are in the works.
To hear more, bimonthly city council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month starting at 7:30 p.m.
