City Council met in regular session on May 4, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Jared Andrews
Wyatt Perry
Amy Farris
Dylan Canaday
Gabriel Forsmann
Cody Edwards
City employees present: Public Works Director Mager, City Administrator Kennedy and Attorney Jessup. Chief Newman absent.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of April 20th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Dr. Charlene Boyer, Syringa Hospital & Clinics and Dr. Brown were present to ask to take operational control of North Street between N B and N C Streets. The city would still retain ownership of the street. She would like to install gates at both ends of the street which would allow the hospital to use the street for parking and to add additional crosswalks for pedestrian safety. The physical therapy building currently sees 816 patients every month. The MRI imaging truck is onsite two days each week which inhibits vision at the intersection of North and B Streets. The clinic sees 7,000 patients and is looking to hire another provider which would allow them to serve 8,500 patients. The hospital plans to create an employee parking lot on the N C Street lot. Patients are parking as close as possible to get into the two buildings and then they just cross the street in the middle of the block and they don’t look for traffic. City residents are using North Street as a thru street to access other areas of town. They are looking at adding gates on both ends of North Street. They are manual gates and anyone could open them if needed, as they wouldn’t be locked. She would have a temporary parking attendant help control traffic. They felt people could enter from C Street, park and/or leave going through the parking lot to the north to get to the alley and then use the alley to exit on B Street. They asked if the city would consider having the street be one way and then a gate on B Street.
Councilor Farris questioned if the alley is maintained by the city. Public Works Director Mager stated no, the city doesn’t plow or maintain alleys. Councilor Perry didn’t think a gate was a good idea; with snow plowing it doesn’t work. Mayor Lester stated the city wouldn’t be plowing the street, as this agreement would require Syringa to maintain it. Councilor Edwards asked if there are sewer and water mains in street. Mager stated yes there is a water main and a sewer main partially up the street and it can’t be eliminated as it is required for fire flows. This proposal would allow the hospital to protect pedestrians in and out of hospital and physical therapy building. Councilor Perry didn’t like most of the ideas suggested. Mayor Lester asked if they considered a walkway overpass. Dr. Brown said that option costs a lot of money. Councilor Canaday generally likes the presented idea. Councilor Andrews stated he lives close and he sees the day-to-day traffic. He felt opening the new lot on N C for employee parking would help a lot. He is not sure he’s in favor of the proposal because he’s not sure how traffic will be rerouted. Dr. Brown said this is a patient safety issue first and foremost. The area of those walking across the street should be closed for patient safety.
Councilor Canaday asked if the city wanted to move forward, could the council be in favor, yet say they want to be involved on the decisions moving forward to figure out a good plan. Mayor Lester stated tonight is discussion only. Attorney Jessup clarified if you make a decision, it’s not permanent and it’s still your street. If something isn’t working you can change it. This is not a vacation of the street; the city retains ownership of the street. Mayor Lester stated if the council decides to let them try it, maybe cones could be used on a temporary basis. Mager stated cones don’t work very well, a temporary fence would be better. Councilor Farris expressed concern about the gates and when they weren’t manned by an attendant, how would someone be able to get out and open them, especially if they were elderly and snow was on the ground. She agrees the problem needed a solution but felt more information was needed. She questioned if a traffic study should be conducted. Councilor Edwards asked if bollards with a gate were installed, what size of gate is needed. Mager stated the city determines the width of gates, with Councilor Andrews stating fire access requires a 20’ gate. Councilor Canaday was open to more discussion on the proposal. It was clarified Syringa initially proposed blocking both ends with a gate but as discussion continued, their plan changed to possibly only have one gate.
25. May 4, 2026
Mager stated several years ago when Morgan Drew was the Police Chief, they met onsite with Abner King and Bill Spencer. One idea was to make the street a one-way road with clearly marked signage. Examples would be “NO THRU TRAFFIC” and “HOSPITAL PARKING ONLY”. The hospital could figure out how to make angled parking. This would allow Syringa patients to still enter and exit the street without gates but the street would not be used for thru traffic. Mager is not a fan of bringing traffic to the alley as it’s not paved and will not hold up to the traffic. Also, the current proposal is for the city to own the street but not maintain it. There would be no street sweeping or no snow plowing. If Syringa damages it, they would fix it. Mager is willing to meet with the current administration to go over the plan originally discussed with Chief Drew.
After continued discussion the council was open to a solution as they agree there are safety issues, but they wanted to see a detailed plan. Syringa will return at a future meeting with additional details.
Cody Robinson, 504 S Meadow Street, was present to ask for permission to place a hog panel type fence along the sidewalk and in the vision triangle. The fence would be about 4 feet tall with a board on top to tie it all together. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Edwards to grant permission for Cody Robinson to place a hog panel type fence in the vision triangle into the city row if needed to connect to fence with a maximum height of 4.5 feet tall. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
Jenny McLean, 421 Lincoln Avenue explained she had no idea a permit was needed for drywall until Tonya called. She is requesting a waiver of the double fee on the building permit. She is converting an existing shop under the carport that was used for personal use to a salon. City Administrator Kennedy explained city hall saw she was starting a business in her home, so Kennedy reached out to her to explain the conditional use process and in the meantime, found out the project was started without a building permit. Mayor Lester stated there have been two other applicants who requested a waiver from the double permit fee. At that time, both were denied. Jenny stated she knew if it was a new structure, it would be required but didn’t think so on existing structure. Councilor Edwards felt for health and safety for a business it’s important. Councilor Andrews felt he’d have a hard time waiving this one when others were not. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Canaday, to deny the request by Jenny McLean, 421 Lincoln Avenue to waive the double fees. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to accept the P&Z Minutes of April 28, 2026. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
o Decision on the conditional use application submitted by Jenny McLean, 421 Lincoln Avenue to allow her to operate a salon located in the carport at her home.
It was questioned if she had off street parking. Mayor Lester stated the minutes reflected she had off street parking and Councilor Farris stated she has a corner lot, so she has area in front of her house, in the driveway and on the side street. Administrator Kennedy stated her application said clients would use her driveway. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Andrews to approve the conditional use submitted by Jenny McLean, 421 Lincoln Avenue to allow her to operate a solon located in the carport at her home. Councilor Edwards questioned since she didn’t have plumbing completed yet if the approval should be conditional on completing it. Councilor Farris stated she has to work to connect the new lines to her existing plumbing and she can’t continue her project until we grant the conditional use and issue the building permit. By approving the application the city is allowing her to operate her business in her home. Attorney Jessup stated the permit process and the conditional use process are two different entities. If she complies with the permit or any other permits she needs, they are independent of the conditional use. Administrator Kennedy stated the plumbing permit is issued by the state. She will also have an inspection as required by her cosmetology license through the state. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
SIDEWALK, CURB AND GUTTER WAIVER: Public Works Director Mager stated there is no place for sidewalks at this time in the industrial zone. There are no curb or gutters in the area and the sidewalks would be covered with gravel. Councilor Farris asked if this was an indefinite waiver. Mager stated yes. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Edwards to grant the recommendation by the public works director for an indefinite sidewalk, curb and gutter waiver along Hill Street for the property owned by Nick Horrace and Rachel Knudsen at 1110 N D Drive. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
HERITAGE SQUARE PAVING PROJECT: Mayor Lester had Public Works Director Mager check back in with Herco after the discussion last meeting. Their current bid is $22,820 and $15,000 is budgeted for a difference of $7,820. Mayor Lester explained Herco said they are keeping oil prices the same and he knows it’s not a good idea to open the budget for these types of things but since it needs to be opened for softball field grant, he wanted the council to consider adding $7,820 from investments to complete the project in this budget. Mager stated he would like to add an additional $5,000 for contingency in case something changed. Councilor Perry stated this isn’t how things are done. The price shouldn’t change. Councilor Canaday stated it could be the difference between a quote and bid. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Andrews to authorize the Heritage Square Paving Project in the current budget year for the $22,820 with the additional $7,820 coming from recreation funds plus a buffer of an additional $7,000. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed. Councilor Farris questioned if the buffer wasn’t needed would it go back into the recreation funds. That is correct.
CLEARWATER WELL COMPLETION CHANGE ORDER #9: The change order was removed from this agenda.
ITEMS TO NOTE:
• Spring Clean Up: May 11-15, 2026
• Budget Meetings: July 7-9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
