City Council met in regular session on October 21, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Scott Winkler
Wyatt Perry
Jared Andrew
Amy Farris
Beryl Grant
Dylan Canaday
City employees present were Public Works Director Mager, City Administrator Kennedy, Attorney Jessup and Chief Newman.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of October 7th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: David Watkins and Adam Rushold, J-U-B Engineers attended virtually to discuss the draft technical memorandum and answer any questions before the Council would chose a treatment option for temperature at the wastewater treatment plant. David reiterated from the last meeting that the Council would be choosing between land application and chillers. Councilor Perry asked which choice would be best, regardless of cost, between the two. David responded there are challenges that neither will solve. PFAS are a problem on both. Land application solves more problems. The chillers are narrow in scope and only solve temperature. Land application is more effort and requires more manpower and maintenance. Chillers are more streamlined and discrete in space. Adam stated land application would require a reuse permit and also have additional testing.
David stated if you put more value on beneficial use, reuse consumes less energy and helps grow a crop. On chillers you’ll spend money and energy to chill water before discharging into stream. There is a benefit to fish, however, because if you pull out of stream with land application the water could dry up. Mayor Lester stated the biggest problem with land application isn’t money but weather in Grangeville. Sometimes we are wet and you won’t be able to land apply so you may need bigger lagoons because of the wet years. David also explained the costs in the technical memo are only for partial reuse, so only during the time we have issues. Lester stated we are probably at least 2 miles out of town to find land so the city would have to pump it there and then also find someone willing to take it. For comparison, Tolo lake is 30 acres so about 1/3 the size of the required lagoon. The decision needs to be decided tonight and then the technical memo will be finalized and submitted to DEQ by 10/31.
The estimates are as follows:
• Land Application: $40 million capital cost with land purchase. The 20-year net present worth O&M cost is $5.5 million.
• Chillers: $12 million capital cost. The 20-year net present worth O&M cost is $6.8 million.
As technology and information progress, there could be better options in the future. Councilor Winkler questioned if additional employees would be necessary with either option. Mager felt with land application additional employees would be needed, due to the required testing and additional maintenance and training to operate it. He felt the chillers would not require extra. David stated with reuse, you are maintaining things that aren’t complicated and more normal like pumps and lines; however they take time and money. With chillers, the city would probably hire someone to do the annual maintenance on them as they are specialized, for example the control system or air conditioning lines.
On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Winkler to move forward with chillers. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
STORAGE OF WINTER MAGIC LIGHTS IN THE POOL BASEMENT: Kathy Ackerman stated she is a citizen of Grangeville that loves Christmas lights but has no skin in the game. Terra Hill and Cathy Wassmuth are all the work behind horizons but she felt someone should advocate on their behalf. She thanked the city for the storage up to this point. She acknowledged that the storage got out of hand with not putting the lights away. There is a lot of buy in from the community and horizons have done a lot of work that supports other opportunities at the park, including the electrical and activities at the park. Winter magic is for everyone and she asked if they could continue to use the basement area for the storage of lights. They would have a spring-cleaning event each year. Terra does all the groundwork/physical effort along with anyone else she can find while Cathy does the books. Terra explained she is in the facility seven different times a year, in and out of 25 totes. The thought of having to haul all the totes to and from the park 7 different times when their sole purpose is for the lighting of the park is hard. It’s very difficult to move them all back and forth. She is not sure they can continue to operate if they have to move them. It may be the last Winter Magic.
Councilor Grant stated she knows it’s hard and it’s a difficult decision, but the city needs the room to store our city items. Cathy asked what we want to store there because the city hasn’t gotten more lawn mowers. Mayor Lester stated we’ve been storing them in other areas and plan to move them to the basement along with additional items. Mager explained we have a ton of park related items in the machine shed that will be moved to the basement as we have the excavator arriving and we need a location to park it. Terra asked if the city would like to take over Winter Magic. Mayor Lester stated the city can’t take it over. We don’t have the manpower.
Attorney Jessup asked if they’ve thought about an enclosed trailer. Terra thought about it and didn’t think a trailer would work because there isn’t enough space to work in it. She also doesn’t know where to store it. Cathy questioned how much it would cost to just add on to the machine shed. Mager didn’t know, but probably $200,000+. Attorney Jessup asked if there was a chance a trailer could be placed on city property? Mager responded temporarily maybe, but our insurance had said we could be held liable for items damaged or stored on city property. Councilor Perry stated he is in favor of storing the lights and was in favor of swim team keeping their items in the basement. Councilor Farris said it’s a tough decision just like swim team, but Mager needs the space. How does the city pay for storage in the future, if we let other’s use the property we have?
Councilor Andrews stated he would volunteer to move the trailer any time Terra needs it moved.
Mager stated he may be able to find a spot to park the trailer temporarily.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• SURPLUS: Fire Chief Perry is ready to surplus the 1986 attack truck. This fire truck was replaced this summer. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to surplus the 1986 attack truck with a $5,000 reserve. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated the Lions Park wall is mostly done. It has been sealed and paved; he still needs to place rocks at the top. He has been working with Knife River a lot on the sewer project. They have poured little stem walls by The Depot and have been winterizing the parks. The excavator should arrive soon and the sweeper will arrive in November.
• POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT: Chief Newman reported the City had 104 calls for service and 33 reports taken for August 2024 and 122 calls for service and 22 reports taken for September 2024. Chief Newman stated they’ve been working on the required 40 hours of annual post training. They’ve had people taking vacation and they are ready for trunk or treat.
• CITY ADMINISTRATOR: They have been busy with water and sewer meetings and Snowhaven projects. They have completed utility billing year-end. On the financial side, accounts payable has two bill reports: one for last year and one for the new year. They are working to update all the new rates. Tonya and Keely both attended the ICCTFOA conference in September.
• SEWER LINE PROJECT UPDATE: Knife River is gone right now. Due to all the rock at Highway 13/Main Street, it was determined instead of boring under the highway, we will move forward with pipe bursting instead. This change requires different equipment, so the pipe bursters will be back around October 28th so Knife River should be back by then too. The CIPP portion of the project from Park Street to Maple is completed. E. North 4th street is paved all the way across and some finish work needs to be done on Nez Perce Street by the trailer park. The airport, WWTP and the portion by Carpenters house on North State is done. Knife River will be working in the Lions Park area and they’ll be up there through Thanksgiving. The dirt from the well site is by the shop and will be used on the ball field before rehabilitation. Knife River pay request #5 for $624,113.75 is included in the bills.
• LIBRARY MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Library Minutes of September 19, 2024. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to accept the Fire Minutes of August 12th and 26th, 2024. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
SNOWHAVEN BOARD: Mayor Lester stated Kennedy sent out information about the previous Snowhaven board. Over time, the number of people on the board decreased until eventually the board was dissolved. Councilor Perry thought a 6-board seat with 1 council representative would be a good size. He’s also interested in being the council representative. Councilor Farris asked Gabe Forsmann if he had an idea of how many people would be good on the board. Gabe thought 6 would be plenty but he wants enough to spread the knowledge around. He has about 5 people interested in being on the board. Farris questioned if the members would have terms. City Administrator Kennedy felt they should. Council Farris wanted to have a workshop as she wants to pick Gabe and Scott Wasem’s brain to see if it’s worth moving forward. A special meeting was set for 10/28/24.
BILLS: The bills, in the total amount of $1,257,585.79 ((23-24: Financials $1,018,646.88, September Payroll $89,961.11) and (24-25: Financials $148,977.80)) were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds, on motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BILLBOARD ORDINANCE: Attorney Jessup stated the current billboard ordinance has no variance option. If the Council would like to have one, he suggested adding the option to follow the zoning variance procedure so it would go to Planning and Zoning. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to add a variance option to the city code for billboards. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
FENCE IN RIGHT OF WAY: Rusty Bennett, 803 Cunningham, requested permission to install a 4’ chain link fence in N B Street right of way. City Administrator Kennedy explained this is a two-part request. The first portion is to have a fence in the right of way, the second is to have a fence taller than 3’ within 50’ of the corner. Councilor Farris stated Rusty has dogs and it’s a high traffic area while Councilor Perry stated the fence will line up with the shed. Public Works Director Mager stated Rusty’s fence will be on property line on Cunningham and tie into the shed on N B in the right of way. When the shed burns down or is torn down, it will not be allowed in the right of way. There are no utilities in the right of way. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to allow Rusty Bennett, 803 Cunningham to have a 4’ chain link fence in the N B Street right of way. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Farris according to Idaho Code 74-206 (c) to acquire an interest in real property. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
The Council returned to regular session. No action was taken.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
