City Council met in regular session on June 1, 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, Chief Newman, City Administrator Kennedy and Attorney Jessup.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of May 18th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Kylara Darwish requested permission to have an electric ice cream trike on the streets throughout the city from June – August. She would most likely run from noon to about 8:00 pm or sunset. The trike is about 6’ long and 3’ wide. Mayor Lester asked if it was street legal and it was. Attorney Jessup stated that city code requires a non-resident merchant license; however the city hasn’t used that historically. City Administrator Kennedy stated it hasn’t been used as it would even require brick and mortar businesses to get a license if they didn’t reside in the city. This is a code that needs to be amended. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the request to have an electric ice cream trike on the streets throughout the city from June – August, pending listing the city as additional insured. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to accept the P&Z Minutes of May 26, 2026. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
WAIVING OF DOUBLE PERMIT FEES: Attorney Jessup explained that the council can’t waive the double permit fee under the current ordinance. In order to waive it, you would need to amend the ordinance to allow the council to waive it. The building inspector can’t waive his fee either because the city has a set fee schedule and he doesn’t have the authority to waive a city fee. Administrator Kennedy already called Ted Lindsley to let him know there was no provision to waive the fee and he would need to take out his building permit. Mayor Lester stated the ordinance to have the double fee was added in 2012.
LEASING THE GRANGEVILLE INVESTMENT PROPERTY: Mayor Lester explained both he and Public Works Director Mager have had a couple businesses contact them that are interested in leasing a portion of the Grangeville Investment property just north of the city limits between Grangeville Truck Route and Airport Road. Attorney Jessup looked into the rules for selling public property. It has to go up for auction. The city can place a minimum bid amount; however the property would be sold to the highest bidder. The property is currently not annexed. The city can lease property and have more control. They can choose the tenant and they retain the property. This helps the city with continuing lease income and also allows control over the lease amount, term and who you lease to.
Councilor Perry asked if the property was annexed, could the city subdivide it and sell it in smaller lots? Attorney Jessup stated that it was possible; however the city would have to use the bid processes and then have no control over who buys it and what the property was used for. Mayor Lester stated if any of the property was sold, then the city can’t say what could go on the property and the city is concerned, due to the location of Clearwater Well on the same property. Councilor Andrews asked if the farm lease was still active. Mayor Lester stated Rick Hazelbaker is leasing the property, currently under a farm lease. On the remainder of the property, we don’t know how to price it if we lease it, but we will check with the Port of Lewiston to see if we can determine commercial rate structures. Councilors Canaday and Andrews stated they were not opposed to leasing the property.
Councilor Edwards questioned who would put in the infrastructure? Administrator Kennedy stated if we lease the property the subdivision rules don’t apply because we are not selling or dividing property. It was questioned what if they wanted to drill a well. Mayor Lester stated that it wouldn’t be allowed, as it’s city property and we would require city utilities if they wanted water and sewer. Public Works Director explained the location of water and sewer in the area. Councilor Perry asked if the city subdivided the property and put houses there, would the infrastructure support the homes out there? Mager stated yes, but the area is more industrial than residential. Councilor Perry stated he would like to see the property sold for residential housing. Businesses are good but he felt the city needed housing first. He would hate for the property to go into long term leases that you can’t get out of if you want to sell the property. Councilor Canaday stated the city could set aside some land to sell and only lease the other portion. Councilor Edwards stated if the city doesn’t have to pay for roads and other infrastructure, the city would eventually have money to accommodate more property leases that aren’t already on street frontage.
Public Works Director Mager stated the city needs to set aside a portion of the property for a city lift station in the Day Road and County Road area. Councilor Perry didn’t know if leasing is the best avenue for the city. Councilor Farris didn’t think selling was either. Councilor Canaday stated a lease could have time limits. Councilor Andrews felt it could be interesting to see what others have in their contracts. Mayor Lester stated Tim Kaschmitter came to the city 10 years, requested annexation of property to subdivide and he’s never penciled it out to get it to work. He wasn’t sure someone in Grangeville would be able to do it. Councilor Perry stated there could be approximately 71 acres which could be 70 homes. Mager stated if the city creates a residential neighborhood, costs will go up because you are plowing and upkeeping roads in addition to other utilities. Residential areas create a lot of work with water and sewer services and maintaining streets. Councilor Farris felt it was not in the best interest of the city to create infrastructure when we have a hard time maintaining our current stock. Councilor Edwards asked what the county received for airport leases. Attorney Jessup stated it is 10 cents per square foot. He would not recommend using the airport as a comparison. Mayor Lester stated the city currently has leases for the tower property, archery range, rodeo grounds, country club and the farm lease. Attorney Jessup stated the difference on this lease is that we’d try to get a commercial rate. Council Canaday felt the city should move forward looking into a lease option.
NELLY BROADCASTING IDAHO, LLC TOWER LEASE: Administrator Kennedy explained this is a lease on the tower property. The lease expired in September and the city has been working with Jim Nelly to create a new lease. Most things in the lease are the same; however we did add a shared building maintenance agreement as the city doesn’t do any maintenance to the building and the building is leased to two entities. Mayor Lester clarified that this building is owned by the city. The building was originally Prairie Tree Farms. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Andrews to approve the Nelly Broadcasting Idaho, LLC lease. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
WALCO, INC. REFUSE REMOVAL CONTRACT: Mayor Lester explained he, Kennedy and BJ and Marietta of Walco met to review the contract about three months ago. Administrator Kennedy explained the new contract is for 5 years and it would be effective October 1st. The new contract has a few small changes. The date the funds are available for pickup was moved to the 5th of the month to give the city processing time, transfer station hours were updated and Attorney Jessup modified a few items such as insurance and liability requirements. The exhibits reflect the current garbage rates. Walco plans to be at the June 15th meeting with a rate increase proposal, which will go through the budget process. Those rates, if approved, would be in the rate schedule.
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the Walco, Inc. Refuse Removal Contract effective October 1, 2026 for 5 years. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Budget Meetings: July 7-9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Public Works Director Mager stated the pump might go in the well tomorrow.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 P.M.
_________________________________
Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
