City Council met in regular session on May 1, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Mike Peterson
Beryl Grant
Scott Winkler
Pete Lane
Amy Farris
Councilmembers absent:
Dylan Canaday
City employees present were City Administrator Kennedy, Public Works Director Mager, Chief Newman and Attorney Jessup.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of April 17th were approved as presented by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Grant. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Carly Decker with the Grangeville Farmer’s Market was present requesting to use Pioneer Park for the 2023 Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings through the summer, excluding the Border Days weekend. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Peterson to allow Grangeville Farmer’s Market to use Pioneer Park from June 17th – October 7th, 2023 for the Farmer’s Market. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Carly Decker requested permission to hold a kid’s yoga camp in Pioneer Park on July 20, 21 and 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. She is a certified yoga instructor; the camp would be for 6 – 11-year-old youth with about 10 kids in the camp. If it’s rainy they would use the pavilion. She has a certificate of insurance listing the city as additional insured. On motion by Councilor Lane, second by Councilor Winkler to allow Carly Decker to use Pioneer Park for a kid’s yoga summer camp on July 20, 21 and 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Krista Baker, CEDA was present to provide a District II Interoperability Governance Board (DIGB2) broadband grant application update. They are working on a North Central Idaho middle mile and last mile grant application. They have numerous partners in this project which would complete the middle mile from Orofino to Nezperce and then to Grangeville and the last mile portion which would provide fiber in Nezperce. Current estimate for project is $10,820,801 with commitments of $2,816,793 which is about 26% match. Funds must be expended by December 31, 2026 and Idaho County would like to transfer ownership to the Port of Lewiston.
LIONS PARK RETAINING WALLS: Public Works Director Mager explained the retaining walls were installed in the 1990s at Lions Park constructed with railroad ties. They are currently rotting by the skatepark and softball field. Mager felt this is a safety issue and needs to be addressed. He has two options for the Council to consider. The first is to replace it with a concrete wall which is a lot of money and it also has to be engineered. The second option recommended by Mager is to user the pre-engineered blocks. They are similar to eco blocks but they are L shaped. The total for the project is $148,200. Mager recommended doing the project in three sections. The worst area is by the softball field for $33,000. There is no water and sewer in the way and they could start tearing out the railroad ties after youth baseball ends and it could take a little over a month to complete. This is not in the budget but since it’s a safety issued, Mager suggested using the money budgeted for the pavilion since that project will not happen this fiscal year and then using recreation funds instead of Webb funds. Mager would budget the remaining sections in the next budget year. On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Winkler to allow Mager to build the retaining wall at the Lions Park in the proposed worst area for the $33,000 and move money around to make it happen out of recreation. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
POLICY FOR WATER AND SEWER AT THE AIRPORT: Public Works Director Mager explained he’s been working with Kennedy and Mike Cook at the County to have an agreement on how proceed with water and sewer requests for hangers at the airport. We are seeing an increase in interest for utilities to the hangers. The County has three utility easements with 10 hangers per easement. Mager explained it will not work on the City lines to have 10 connections in a row. The City’s position is to allow a singular water service and a singular sewer tap per each of the three utility easements for hangers North of Airport Road. The County will be required to pay the equity buy in fees upfront prior to the City completing the installation.
Kennedy explained they have been drafting a policy for connections at the airport that will be presented to the Council at a future meeting. Currently the City needs to decide how they want to treat the County airport. They are currently outside the City. Any new connections to water and sewer require annexation. The City needs to decide if they want the airport to be annexed into the City or if they would like to amend the water and sewer code to list Idaho County airport property as an exception that would not require annexation to receive services. This will be on a future agenda for discussion.
ITEMS TO NOTE: 2023 Spring Clean Up Week is May 15th – 19th.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
