City Council met in regular session on April 15, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Scott Winkler
Dylan Canaday
Wyatt Perry
Jared Andrew
Amy Farris
Beryl Grant
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 1st were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Jordan Zwygart, Zwygart John & Associates presented the audit for FY23, stating it was a clean audit. On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Perry to accept the audit for 2022-23. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Jane Spencer, Grangeville Arts was present to request permission to hold Music in the Park at Pioneer Park for 2024. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to approve the request to hold Music in the Park on July 11, 18, 25 and August 1 from 6pm-8pm in Pioneer Park. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Miles Hatter, Clay Groom and Derek Nuxoll, with Legacy Beef provided a letter for what they plan to do. They stated they have paid for the BOD load levels from JUB. They are preparing to purchase 4 Frendz Meat Market in Clarkston. They will have a kill facility here in Grangeville for locals, but they hope to bring the main facility here in 2 years. They hope to be up and running sometime between July to September in 2026 and hope at that time for the city to take the waste. Public Works Director Mager talked with Miles the other day and told him the City is still in the same spot we were last time. JUB is gathering information on temperature and ammonia to start our facility plan. The first half of the facility plan is just starting. Clay stated they are hoping to work with the city over the next 2 years so they can be included in the plan so they know they can move their facility here. They are willing to pay toward the project. Mager stated we don’t know any details until the facility plan is completed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
SNOWHAVEN UPDATE: Manager Gabe Forsmann stated the old groomer is a Bombardier with 18,000-20,000 hours. The trade in value with Peterson Equipment is about $5,000 or with a private party it could be $5,000-10,000. It has been well taken care of but the industry standard is 10,000 hours. When the new groomer wouldn’t start, he used the old groomer so we could open. Last season, the groomer broke 2 times and we couldn’t get it fixed for a while. In December of 2022, the T-bar had a derailment that forced us to close after 2 hours of operation. We lost $10,000 in potential sales that day. If the groomer goes down and we don’t have a backup, that same thing could happen. Councilor Perry asked if there is adequate storage for both groomers? Gabe responded no. Councilor Canaday asked what the cost is to keep the old groomer. Gabe stated there is a 200-hour maintenance that cost about $500 annually. Councilor Grant stated we’ve only had one groomer over the years and we’ve been told it’s worn out and need a replacement. Now we have a new groomer and we want to keep the old. Why? Councilor Andrews asked if the old groomer breaks, then what are you going to do. Gabe stated get rid of it. Councilor Andrews responded but then we don’t get any money. Councilor Perry could see where Gabe was coming from and how it could get us out of a pinch; however it may be that keeping it costs more money than just cutting ties and moving on. Councilor Grant asked if you can get parts for old one. Gabe stated yes. Grant questioned how much it costs to transport the groomers. Gabe stated about $1,000 /year for each of them.
Gabe stated the on the T-bar, once the cable gets here, then in July or August it could maybe get installed. On the frequency drive we are waiting on one part and then drive will be installed this summer. The T-bar ran well this year. On a shop, not much for plans have happened yet. The Wasem family has stored the groomer and parts at their farm and Gabe felt it needed to be stored on city property. A shop has been in the works for 40 years and nothing has happened yet. Gabe stated there are Snowhaven investments including ARPA funds that could be used for the shop. Councilor Grant questioned if a shop could be built for $600,000. Councilor Perry asked if you want a storage building only. Gabe replayed the city needs to do something as the groomer and
parts are all stored at the farm. Councilor Winkler asked if he had a projected budget for the cost of a shop? Gabe felt a 50’x70’ pole barn could be built for about $120,000 or steel building for $80,000. Councilor Winkler questioned what size of shop do you need. Gabe felt a 30’x40’ would work as the old groomer doesn’t have to be indoor. Councilor Perry felt it would be better storing it inside. Councilor Grant stated the costs would be less with one groomer. It’s nice to have spares, but in the real world everyone doesn’t have spares. Councilor Andrews questioned why we shut down early. Gabe stated there was a problem with the source water. They are working to add a tap to sample the well separate. Councilor Andrews felt the facility issues should be resolved prior to building a shop. Councilor Perry stated on the old groomer, it comes down to is it worth keeping. The shop will get bigger unless the old groomer sits in a boneyard. Councilor Winkler questioned if the old groomer contains $5,000 worth of parts that can be used? Gabe stated you could part things out. Winkler asked if there is a deadline on the old groomer. He’d like to know more about the water issues before deciding on groomer.
Council Farris was under the impression that ARPA money might go toward ADA improvements. Mayor Lester stated they worked with an architect to expand the rental shop, including adding bathrooms downstairs, and the project was over $1 million. Then started looking at doing a shop by T-bar and adding the rental shop and bathrooms in that. Then Public Works Director Mager had an idea to put a building where the ski patrol building is with the shop on the parking lot level, then upstairs could put rental shop, ticket booth in upstairs and then ski patrol in basement. Price keeps getting terrible. ARPA funds are federal and would require davis bacon. Per the health department, you can only have a vault toilet if you don’t have running water. The committee talked about a shop but the existing building needs a lot of work too. Councilor Perry stated a small shop gets the groomer on our property. He felt it was the responsible thing to do.
Councilor Farris felt the city didn’t need to spend any money until we know what the issue is with the water and sewer. She also felt we should wait until July to make a decision on the groomer.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated Park Well at the Soroptimist Park discharges into ditch and over time has created a mess. They have replaced the ditch and culvert and did some improvements. They are slowly working on closing the open ditch and over time will make it all the way to the rodeo grounds. The state is putting in a turning lane by the Depot. We still need to move the fire hydrant and Mager is working with a contractor to do so. Mager has been working with Gabe to put in sample tabs at Snowhaven so they can sample the well. He’ll bring construction samples to the WWTP and we’ll test for two weeks. They are also looking into the sewer system at Snowhaven. They’ve been using the hydro-excavation trailer to clean valve cans. Up on Myrtle at the Jim Moody house, they are ready to pour the alley approach and sidewalk across the alley and the tree is removed. They are working on the alley approach behind the Methodist church and moving forward to get that fixed. They will bring it up with concrete, pave it back and it will direct water down the road like it’s suppose to. They are busy grading roads, going to school for certifications and crack sealing.
POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT: Chief Newman reported the City had 117 calls for service and 21 reports taken for March 2024. Most of increase was city code violations for parking and trailers. The Chief has been working with Kennedy on surplus vehicle issues. He is working with Tyler from Bancorp. The new vehicles are working out well; they had warranty work done with Jess Ford. Officer Forsgren graduated from POST last Friday.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: City Administrator Kennedy stated they’ve been busy gearing up for the pool. They have set the dates for pool opening, group lessons, and private lesson signups. She has been working with preschools and Cottonwood to get session specific signs ups for groups and have sent out all that information. She has been in contact with the LGI from Asotin Aquatic Center and she’s willing to come up again and teach a lifeguard class at our pool. Jacklyn is coming back, but we are hiring an assistant manager and additional lifeguards. The office has been reviewing permits and coordinating with Kile our building inspector and Mager for reviews. They are working on annual reports that are due this month. This month is the first month of sewer average, which were all calculated after the March bill. Kennedy will be out of the office for trainings three different days and will attend the CEDA annual meeting. They continue to answer and research a lot of property questions for new buyers or existing owners. They have been working on Border Days street closures and banner requests which require submitting information to ITD: one is approved and the second one has been submitted. They are working on tower lease revisions.
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to accept the Library Minutes of March 21, 2024. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to accept the Fire Minutes of February 12 and 26, 2024. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BILLS: The bills, in the amount of $382,945.84 (Financials $238,113.92, March Payroll $144,831.92) 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.
FIRE BILLING: Chief Brian Perry discussed charging for fire calls on non-real property, such as vehicles, trailers. This came about from a rural call that was on a vehicle fire and it was suggested they should be billing for these types of calls. Perry is suggesting billing for non-real property because on cars or campers, no property taxes are paid toward a fire district. Last week there was a car fire in front of Syringa Hospital. They ran two pumpers, a brush truck and 13 firemen: the cost for that call was $1,063.47 and that didn’t include charges for foam and pads. The city is fortunate that we received grants to buy air packs; however grants are harder to come by every year. The air packs need replaced every 10 years and they are currently $9,500 each. Our pump trucks are a 1996 and 1997 and the brush truck is a 1986.
Councilor Farris questioned if 13 people were needed and asked if they have a call schedule? Perry stated he doesn’t know how to limit who can show. The concern is if you send them home, then on the next call you might not have people show up. Perry stated RV fires are extremely aggressive on turnout gear and they run about $3,000 each. He is looking for guidance from the council if they are interested in billing. On his homeowner’s insurance, he has a line item for fire compensation at $500. He would like to recoup and keep funds for the fire department. Councilor Farris asked if you could bill for every fire whether house or vehicle? Perry stated yes, but he picked these because the city isn’t getting property taxes from these. The prices are set by FEMA and the schedule is approved by the state fire marshal’s office. Councilor Farris questioned if other cities our size bill for services? Perry stated Donnelly and McCall charge. Mayor Lester stated there has been concern about charging because people pay taxes. But hospital and ambulance charge for services even though they are in a taxing district. Chief Perry stated he trying to keep his department at a level that keeps the council happy and his department safe. Graydon Galloway stated the department is expending time, equipment and supplies. They are trying to recoup as much as possible for our taxpayers. These are non-tax paying incidents. It was stated trailers could include manufactured homes on land that is not real property that could be billed and maybe could have liens on property. The city doesn’t get property tax from the trailer owner for manufactured homes located in someone else’s trailer park. Chief Perry is only proposing charging for non-real property. Councilor Farris felt the Council should discuss all calls including house fires. Mayor Lester stated if you go to the hospital you get a bill from them even if you pay taxes. Perry stated the department is going through an insurance rating right now so he has a lot of information available. He takes the reputation of his department seriously. Councilor Farris would like to see additional information and discuss again at the next meeting.
PROCLAMATION: Mayor Lester read the proclamation declaring April 2024 Fair Housing Month.
SURPLUS: The old boss snowplow was on the dump truck Mager drives. The new one arrived and there is no need to keep the old one. On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to declare the old boss snowplow surplus. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Grant to go into Executive Session according to Section 74-206 (c) To acquire an interest in real property. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Winkler, Canaday, Andrews, Grant, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed.
OLD CITY DUMP: The council chose to take no action.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
