February 18, 2025
City Council met in regular session on February 18, 2025, 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
Dylan Canaday
Beryl Grant
City employees present were City Administrator Kennedy, Public Works Director Mager Attorney Jessup and Chief Newman.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of February 3rd were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Joyce Forsmann with the Grangeville Eagles #539 was present requesting to change the name of the Soroptimist Park to the Eagles Park. The Eagles have been in Grangeville for over 120 years. They provide a scholarship to the high school each year, sponsor the easter egg hunt and the kids Christmas sale. Their facility is available for rent for private/public use. They hope by changing the name of the park to get familiarity with the Eagle’s name similar to the Lions and Lion’s Park. They plan to hold the easter egg hunt at this park and would like to add a tree or park bench in the future. The Eagles would provide signage if the name change were approved. Neither the Jaycee nor the Soroptimist organization exists any longer. The Soroptimist disbanded probably 10 years or so ago. Mayor Lester stated we are trying to research when and why the name change occurred from Jaycee to Soroptimist better understand the history. Councilor Grant questioned if any money had been put into the park by the Eagles. Joyce stated they have not. Grant stated there are a couple of old members of the Soroptimist still alive, so she would like to do some research before a name change. Councilor Farris stated she would like to see more use of this park. Joyce stated the Eagles were able to grant $24,000 in grants to Syringa Hospital.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• OPEN MEETING LAW TRAINING: Attorney Jessup provided an open meeting law training to the council, P&Z commission members and Library board members and staff.
• LIBRARY REPORT: Library Director Sobrero stated story time numbers are up. Story time is on Wednesday each week and as staff, they are working on getting summer reading together. When asked how things are going on book complaints, Assistant Brown stated they made their changes and moved a few books around and it’s been quiet since. Donnelly is in a lawsuit and they have a publisher backing them. They went to an adult only library when the Idaho law was passed.
• SEWER LINE PROJECT UPDATE: Knife River is winding down on the sewer project. They are working off Elm Street in the Alm field. Pipe burst occurred under Highway 13 into the manhole at the daycare. Pipe bursting will occur across the creek and they will connect the two. This is the last of the project. There will be some finish work after the weather clears up.
• CLEARWATER WELL PROJECT UPDATE: Knife River is breaking ground today to put in the electrical pad for the transformer and multiple subs should be here this week working. By the end of the week, they should be close to setting footings.
• POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT: Chief Newman reported the city had 100 calls for service and 28 reports taken for January 2025. The department hosted high risk traffic stop training and had participation from city, county and state employees. They worked with Mager’s crew to get trailers and vehicles moved for snow removal.
• FIRE MINUTE: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Grant to accept the Fire Minutes of 12/9/24. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
CAMPING ORDINANCE: Attorney Jessup changed the ordinance from an infraction to a misdemeanor so the police have the ability to remove them from the park with non-compliance.
RESOLUTION FOR CAMPING AREAS ON CITY PROPERTY: Discussion occurred on the 48 hours allowed for camping, with the question if they leave but keep coming back what can the city do. The city doesn’t mind the traveler coming through for 48 hours however we don’t want it abused and people using the park as a place to live. It was suggested to limit the 48 hours of camping to every 30 days. Councilor Farris felt language needed to be added to prohibit campfires and Councilor Andrews agreed. Farris felt the idea is for the police department to address problem people that try to make the park their home and stay longer than 48 hours.
BILLS: The bills, in total amount of $767,440.20 (Financials $601,701.64, January Payroll $165,738.56) 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.
BEER & WINE LICENSE: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to approve the beer and wine license for Lemargee LLC d/b/a Triangle Tavern. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Mayor Lester wanted the council to understand the snow removal process from the weekend as social media had some upset citizens. Yesterday was a holiday so the city crew wasn’t out and about plowing. Yesterday morning everything was frozen and it started to thaw in the afternoon. When it’s slushy you can’t plow with the trucks as they’d end up getting thrown around. Today the loader and grader were out all day. The snow is heavy and hard to push. Public Works Director Mager stated some of the ice started to break free about noon in certain areas yesterday. If he had called everyone into work, they would have worked and only moved certain areas because too much of the snow was still frozen, so they wouldn’t have made much progress. It took a while today for the snow/ice to come undone. They were out with the grader and loader. The grader blade is 1’ tall and it was building up higher than that. Councilor Farris stated people are snow blowing snow back out in the street and people aren’t slowing down. Farris questioned if the city has ever talked about parking on certain sides of the streets so people could move around and we’d be able to plow more of the streets. Mager stated all plowing takes place based upon the day and how much snow, so it would be difficult to plan that out.
The meeting adjourned at 7:42 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
