City Council met in regular session on September 21, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Wyatt Perry
Dylan Canaday
Amy Farris
Cody Edwards
Gabe Forsmann
Jared Andrews
City employees present: Public Works Director Mager and Chief Newman. Attorney Jessup and City Administrator Kennedy absent.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of September 8th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Jen Harris with Winter Magic was present requesting permanent hooks in the pavilion beams and masonry hooks in the concrete wall for Christmas decorations. There will be three hooks in the top of the rock wall, installed by Chase Weisz. There will be several hooks installed on the exterior beams to hold Christmas lights. After discussion, the council was generally in favor of allowing the work if completed by contractors.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• PUBLIC WORKS: Public Works Director Mager stated the majority of the pool is painted. They were five gallons short on paint; it’s ordered and they will finish when it arrives. The manhole cover in front of Tackett’s Saw Shop was replaced. Wayne Harris started on the ADA sidewalk approaches on Main Streett and will be done by October 1st. Clearwater Well is up and running. The lift at the airport died, but they got a replacement and it is running again. Lion’s Park sprinklers are fixed and they will be getting them winterized and shut down for the season. Russ Fleming has been brought back to run the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• POLICE REPORT: The department had 130 calls for service and 39 reports taken for July 2026. The department had 93 calls for service and 16 reports taken for August 2026. The department has solved the burglary issues. The new pickup has been delivered and is being outfitted with equipment and decals.
• FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to accept the Fire Minutes of August 10 and 24, 2026. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BILLS: The bills in total amount of $493,553.36 (Financials $369,879.85, August Payroll $123,673.51) were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds, on motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
CLEARWATER WELL CHANGE ORDER #9: Mayor Lester explained the change order is a decrease of $81,396. Additional project expenses are currently held and unbilled by J-U-B Engineers and Walter Steed resulting from schedule delays. These costs were incurred by the city due to delays associated with pump installation hydraulic issues, including the documented pump failure and faulty deep well air vacuum valve. This is the final change order for the project.
On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Perry to approve Change Order #9 with Knife River Corp, authorizing a decrease of $81,396 in the Clearwater Well Completion project. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
CLEARWATER WELL EJCDC OWNER-ENGINEER AGREEMENT AMENDMENT #6: Mayor Lester explained due to the delays on the project, the Owner-Engineer Agreement needed to be modified to reflect budget adjustments associated with Change Order #9. Councilor Edwards wanted to verify that the decrease of $81,396 was accurately accounted for in the budget adjustments for the payout of the EJCDC Owner-Engineer Agreement Amendment No. 6 in the amount of $74,076 for the Grangeville Water System Improvements Project. Mayor Lester explained that it had.
On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the EJCDC Owner-Engineer Agreement Amendment No. 6 in the amount of $74,076 for the Grangeville Water System Improvements Project, to reflect budget adjustments associated with Change Order #9. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
WALTER M. STEED & ASSOCIATES ADDITIONAL PAYMENT: Mayor Lester explained this is for additional work on the Clearwater Well Completion project, due to 402 days of added contract days to Knife River’s contract and the amount is included in Change Order #9 reducing payment to Knife River.
On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to approve payment of $14,820 to Walter M. Steed & Associates for additional work on Clearwater Well Completion, due to the additional 402 days of added contract days to Knife River’s contract ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
CLEARWATER WELL KNIFE RIVER’S FINAL PAY REQUEST #11: Mayor Lester explained Knife River wanted to submit one final pay request that included retainage. The amounts have been agreed upon; however J-U-B engineers will be reviewing all documents as they are submitted. J-U-B won’t sign the pay application until everything has been submitted, including the state tax release and all documents required in the contract. After J-U-B signs, then the city will sign the request and send it to Rural Development for final approval before payment.
On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to authorize signing Knife River’s final pay application #11 for the Well Completion Project pending J-U-B’s review of all final documents and J-U-B’s signature on the pay application. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
SNOWHAVEN CHANGE ORDER #3 SHOP INTERIOR FINISH: Mayor Lester explained the change order to finish the interior of the shop is $17,510. This includes insulation of walls with R21, attic to R-38, hang sheet rock with fire tape and 1 coat finish, paint interior addition, electrical with 6-8 outlets on 2-3 circuits, interior lighting, electric heater for space and exterior groomer outlet.
On motion by Councilor Perry, second by Councilor Forsmann to approve Change Order #3 for interior finish of the Snowhaven shop addition in the amount of $17,510. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
BEER & WINE LICENSE TRANSFERS: On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to approve the Beer & Wine license transfers as listed, pending state approval. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
a. Malhi & Bal LLC d/b/a Depot Express to Grangeville Enterprises LLC d/b/a Depot Express, pending state approval
b. Ceressero Corporation d/b/a Palenque Mexican Restaurant to Family Mexican Restaurant LLC d/b/a Family Mexican Restaurant
CATERING PERMIT MID-WINTER CONVENTION: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to approve the catering permit for The Rib Guy and Gall LLC to cater for Mid-Winter Convention on October 30-31, 2026, 3pm – 12am at The Eagles Lodge. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK CHANGES: Mayor Lester stated the city normally doesn’t allow remote work, but it didn’t specifically state it in the employee handbook. This clarifies that employees report to work on site unless authorized by the Mayor or Administrator for special situations. The travel expense reimbursement increases the daily maximum for meals using the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Standard rate of Idaho. The On-the-Job Injuries and Workers Compensation is updated with a recommendation from Attorney Jessup, which clarifies that an employee can supplement their time-loss benefits using sick, vacation or compensatory time to bring them up to a normal 40-hour week pay. This change eliminates the ambiguity in the current language and lines up with other public agency handbooks.
Councilor Perry wanted to clarify that the council would not be affected by the remote work policy change; specifically that the Council still had the ability to call in for the meeting if they couldn’t attend in person. Mayor Lester replied the council will not be affected.
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to adopt the handbook changes modifying the following sections:
a. Work Location and Remote Work
b. Travel Expense Reimbursement
c. On-the-Job Injuries and Workers Compensation
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:28 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
