City Council met in regular session on February 20, 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
Councilmember via phone: 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 February 5th were approved as presented by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Lauren Dreyer and Liza Wilson were present to ask permission to hold the Kids Triathlon on June 22, 2024 using Pioneer Park and the surrounding neighborhood. Last summer was the first year, the kids loved it and it was well received in the community. They did have an ambulance attend last year but they are hoping by starting earlier they can also get the fire department to attend. It would be in Pioneer Park from 8:00 a.m. – noon plus set up and take down. Pitch/UI extension provides the insurance. They use city streets, but only one street is closed. They will let residents in the vicinity know it is happening. They will have garbage bins placed about and volunteers to pick everything up after the event. The police and public works departments have no issues with the request. Councilor Farris stated to heard lots of compliments.
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Andrews to approve the request to hold the Kids Triathlon June 22, 2024. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present. Councilor Andrews stated next Monday is a fire meeting at the station. Lauren could come to meeting to ask for fire department volunteers for the event.
Bonnie Butz was present to request a 4-way stop at the intersection of W North 7th and N. State Streets. Bonnie stated people on the truck route barrel down State Street and younger folks race down the street at night. She feels it’s really dangerous. In less than one year, there have been three serious accidents at this intersection. She has grandkids that play in her yard. February 12th was the most recent accident and the vehicle rolled into her yard. The previous homeowner knew of 8 accidents in 8 years. She received police reports of accidents at that intersection but it isn’t all of them because the state police have the serious ones. It’s scary for anyone in the area. Councilor Farris asked if it will require a traffic study? Mayor Lester answered yes. Councilor Grant asked if the trailer would go out and monitor speeds? On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to implement a traffic study by the police department at the intersection of W. North 7th and N. State. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
Councilor Perry’s initial thought would be 2-way stop not a 4-way. Mayor Lester stated 4th street had a stop sign on N. State at one time but it was taken out because the residents complained and it caused issues with traffic flows. The City has four main collector streets: Idaho, State, Meadow and Florence so those have heavy traffic.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated the stops signs are up at the high school and Hill Street. The sewer is functional at the shop and the non-pot pump at WWTP should be installed tomorrow. When we bought the property the steel water tanks are on, the city had a survey completed. Mager talked to Spencers and received approval to place concrete rings around each survey stake, which is now completed. J-U-B is 30% complete on the well house design and it may be ready to bid in April. The department is working on tree trimming on N. Hall and the gold pickup sold.
POLICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT: Chief Newman reported the City had 96 calls for service and 19 reports taken for January 2024. Officer Forsgren is doing well at POST with an expected graduation date of April 12th.
ARPA FUNDS UPDATE: Administrator Kennedy stated the bills have a payment to Idaho County for the DIGB2 broadband project. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to authorize payment of ARPA funds to Idaho County and DIGB2 for the middle-last
mile path from Orofino to Nezperce to Grangeville in the amount of $69,626. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. The motion passed.
On the Snowhaven project minutes and update, Councilor Winkler asked what the plan is on the shop. Mayor Lester stated the hope is to build a shop. Originally it was going to be by the T-bar and include ski patrol. Then Lester took some sewer classes and figured out we couldn’t have a drain field in parking lot so that nixed that idea. We then talked about moving it to the current ski patrol building location. At the last meeting, we authorized purchase of a new cable for the T-bar. Councilor Andrews stated they wanted to keep both groomers. Is there a value to recoup some of the cost? This will be placed on a future agenda.
On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Farris to accept Snowhaven Committee Minutes of 8/30/23, 11/20/23, 11/30/23 and 2/15/24. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BILLS: The bills, in the amount of $562,515.29 (Financials $467,653.06, January Payroll $94,862.23) 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.
PLANNING AND ZONING APPOINTMENTS: On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Farris to re-appoint Kevin Asker and Brian Perry to a 3-year Planning and Zoning terms expiring 2/28/27 and 3/6/27 respectively. Councilor Perry stated he would like to abstain from the vote since Brian is his father. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: Perry. The motion passed.
On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Farris to appoint James Zehner to a 3-year Planning and Zoning term expiring 2/20/27, replacing Graydon Galloway. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Administrator Kennedy explained when the additional sewer investment amount for $601,000 was approved January 16, 2024, it didn’t account for all the items Rural Development includes, so the request was short. On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Andrews to approve the additional amount of $170,705 using sewer investments for the sewer project. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:43 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
