City Council met in regular session on June 2, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Dylan Canaday
Scott Winkler
Jared Andrews
Wyatt Perry
Amy Farris
Beryl Grant
City employees present were Public Works Director Mager, Chief Newman, City Administrator Kennedy and Attorney Jessup.
Attorney Jessup introduced Whitley Holthaus who just finished her second year of law school and is working at his office this summer.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of May 19th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• CITY ADMINISTRATOR: City Administrator Kennedy stated the lifeguard class for pool employees is this coming weekend and the pool opens on June 13th. We are gearing up for budget and all departments have received their budget estimates. Joel Wasem was hired as the Snowhaven Manager. Budget meetings are July 14, 15, and 16, 2025 at 6pm.
• FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canady, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Fire Minutes of 4/14/25 and 4/28/25. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated they’ve been patching, mowing lawns, getting the pool ready and preparing for the 4th of July. Robin Courtright retires June 13th and will take a lot of experience with him. Elvis Hooper is a new hire in the department. Mager has advertised for a parttime seasonal position as he has surgery later in the summer and he will be out for a bit.
• PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Planning and Zoning Minutes of May 27, 2025. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
o McColloch Rezone Request: The Council reviewed the application and P&Z minutes and voiced concerns about parking. Kennedy explained although McColloch’s submitted a tentative plan for the property that included a draft plot map, the request is specific only to rezoning the property from Residential to commercial. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to direct Attorney Jessup to draw up the ordinance to rezone 110 and 116 S A Street from Residential to Commercial. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
LEMONADE STAND AT LIONS PARK: Brooke Allbright requested permission to sell lemonade at the Lions Park 2-4 days/week during June via written request. City Administrator Kennedy explained the city does not allow private business to operate on city property unless it’s for a special event. At the Lions Park, the city has an agreement with Youth Baseball so they can sublease the concession stand. Councilor Andrews, who is also on the youth baseball board, explained Brooke was in the concession stand last year for youth baseball. Shawna House at GHS runs the concessions stand at the school as a fundraising opportunity for the high school programs and she reached out to the board to see if she could do the same for the season. The youth baseball board felt it would be a great opportunity for the school and work well for youth baseball and moved forward with for this summer. Andrews stated Brooke did ask to co-run the concession stand, but the board felt there was a conflict. Councilor Winkler felt youth baseball should control the concession stand and felt Brooke’s proposal conflicted since they have the concessions figured out. On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Grant to deny the request by Brooke Albright to sell lemonade at the Lions Park 2-4 days/week during June at the Lions Park. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
ON-CALL RESPONSE TIME – PUBLIC WORKS: Public Works Director Mager explained it has always been an unwritten law for public works employees that you have a response time of 30 minutes or less. An employee recently moved down to Leitch Creek. The city has had employees previously be farther away than 30 minutes and when they are on duty week, they either live with someone in town or made arrangements to be within 30 minutes. Mager reached out to Riggings, Kooskia and Cottonwood. They too have an unwritten policy that says the same thing. Mager felt this policy needs to be written in black and white. He would like to have it added to the handbook that you must have a response time of 30 minutes or less when on duty and 100% phone coverage. Councilor Farris felt this was reasonable but had concerns about 100% phone coverage as it’s never guaranteed. Mayor Lester stated depending on what type of emergency, even 30 minutes could cause major damage. Councilor Perry asked if this affects anyone right now. Mager stated yes, the employee on Leitch Creek. When he’s on duty, he would need to make arrangements to be within 30 minutes. Attorney Jessup asked if the city has accommodations they can stay at. Mager stated a previous employee brought a camper to the shop for the week he was on duty; Mager has offered the same to his current employee. Duty rotation currently occurs every 7 weeks.
Kennedy will draft a handbook change for the next meeting.
SPLIT ZONING ON LOTS: City Administrator Kennedy explained some lots in town have split zoning. An example would be the lots along Crooks Street. The portion of the lot frontage on Crooks is Zone A however as the property moves to the east and heads toward the draw it is Zone B. Kennedy stated historically, the answer from city hall has been that portion of the property in Zone A can have Zone A uses, while the portion located in Zone B can have Zone B uses.
The property in question is for sale and listed as Tax #888. A portion of the property is in Commercial and a portion in Zone A. The house is in commercial; however the shop is on a second portion of the lot and the zone line runs through the shop cutting it in half as residential and commercial. A realtor asked if a determination could be made as a possible buyer was questioning the zoning. Attorney Jessup stated the council could make a determination on this instant for this property only and they could draft an ordinance on how to deal with it in the future. The three options are as follow:
1. Use most restrictive rule and could apply to entire lot.
2. Do separate compliance with each portion of its zone, depending on what’s allowed in each zone.
3. Predominant use rule – whatever most of the property it’s in.
Councilor Perry stated it looks like it’s predominantly commercial. Farris was in favor of a rezone. Mayor Lester was concerned about the surrounding neighborhood if it’s rezoned or commercial.
Councilor Winkler felt the most restrictive rule would be best for this specific situation. Attorney Jessup stated if it doesn’t align with what they want to do, they can ask for a rezone. Andrew and Perry agreed.
On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Perry that all of T#888 is to be treated with the most restrictive zone which is zone A. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: Farris. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
The Council did not want to have an ordinance drafted at this time.
Clerk Note: Although both properties are Tax#888, they are two different parcel numbers, so the decision in the motion above applies to the shop property only which is parcel #RPG00000204180A.
180-DAY TEMPORARY PERMIT: Kennedy requested the Council approve an additional 180-day temporary permit for Lori MacGregor at 915 Crooks Street as she works to rebuild her home. She is working to get the foundation plan approved and then the building permit can be issued. On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the 180-day temporary permit for Lori MacGregor at 915 Crooks Street for an additional 180 days. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to go into Executive Session according to Section 74-206 (f) Pending litigation. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Winkler, Canaday, Andrews, Grant, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed.
The Council returned to regular session. No action was taken.
POLICE DISPATCH AGREEMENT: No discussion.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Budget Meetings: July 14, 15 and 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 7:27 P.M.
_________________________________
Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
