City Council met in regular session on March 16, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester:
Councilmembers present:
Wyatt Perry
Jared Andrew
Dylan Canaday
Gabe Forsmann
Amy Farris
Councilmember absent: Cody Edwards
City employees present: City Administrator Kennedy, Chief Newman, Attorney Jessup and Public Works Director Mager.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of March 2nd were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Bonnie Patrick, Grangeville Farmers Market – did not attend.
Larry Allen – did not attend.
Ty Reuter, Mountain View School was present to request a chain link fence in the vision triangle at South B and Court Streets.
Councilor Andrews disclosed a conflict of interest, stating he is a Mountain View School District employee and will recuse himself from discussion and voting.
Ty Reuter explained they would like to install a 5’ chain link fence that connects with the existing fence along B Street and run it south to the corner of South B and Court Streets before turning and heading east in front of the primary building and then connecting it to the main GEMS building. The fence is on school property but in the vision triangle at the intersection. They are working to secure the school so kids can’t run out in the street and patrons can’t enter the school buildings without checking in at the office first. On motion by Councilor Perry, second by Councilor Farris to grant Mountain View School District’s request to have a chain link fence in the vision triangle at South B and Court Street. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. ABSTAIN: Andrews. The motion passed. An agreement will be drafted for the school to sign.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• CITY ADMINISTRATOR: City hall has been working on normal day-to-day tasks. Currently we are advertising for pool manager, assistant manager and lifeguards. Kennedy has been working on an audit of the tower leases to make sure lease requirements are being met. March is the last month of winter utility rates. After bills are processed, the summer sewer average will be determined for the summer months.
• PUBLIC WORKS: Public Works Director Mager stated public works replaced a culvert and is working to get a little better parking at Soroptimist Park. They purchased 30-gallon tar melting pot on a trailer, so they can crack seal bigger projects, which would include parking lots and the streets. They have been getting the mowers ready for the season and working to get all winter equipment stripped. They are making sure the creeks and abutments are ready for the season. Eric Jones has been flushing the main water zone. Spencer Well is running and back online. Mager has been working with J-U-B on a small sewer project on S. Florence and another on Scott Street.
• CLEARWATER WELL UPDATE: Public Works Director Mager stated nothing much has changed; the new pump has been ordered. It looks like the well will not be operational until August, due to long lead times.
• POLICE REPORT: The department had 78 calls for service and 26 reports taken for February 2026. In July last year the city had an increase in dispatch service fees. The city has been working with Lewis County for dispatch services since last summer and all was moving forward until the Lewis County commissioners pulled the plug and said they weren’t interested. The sheriff especially was interested but apparently there was discussion between the two counties and they decided each county would stay on their side of the creek.
• CITY ATTORNEY: Attorney Jessup stated he was putting his name in for the magistrate judge position that opens in January 2027. If he gets it, the city will need to transition to a new attorney; however if he doesn’t then he’d like to stay on with the city.
BILLS: The bills in total amount of $625,219.10 (Financials $518,685.38 February Payroll $106,533.72) 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.
CURB AND GUTTER WAIVER: Public Works Director Mager stated the Baptist Church is adding on to their building. They have to replace the sidewalk on N C Street; however the street is not designed for curb and gutter at this time, so he recommends a waiver of the curb and gutter on N C Street only until that time when the street is set up for curb and gutter. They will also fix the sidewalk, curb and gutter on W North 2nd Street and they will redo the driveway approach. When they do sidewalk on C Street it may be extended into alley. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to approve the recommendation by the public works director to waive curb and gutter along North C Street until the block is engineered for curb and gutter, for Redeemer Baptist Church, 215 N C. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed. Attorney Jessup will draft an agreement for the church to sign.
BEER AND WINE LICENSE TRANSFER: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Andrews to approve the beer and wine license transfer from LightenUp! LLC d/b/a Jungle Gym’s Indoor Play center & Café to J Perez LLC d/b/a Jungle Gym’s Indoor Play Center & Café ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
SURPLUS: Public Works Director Mager stated the motor has been laying around 6 or 7 years and the air cleaner isn’t used. He would like to declare them surplus and place them on the auction site. On motion by Councilor Perry, second by Councilor Forsmann to surplus the Micro Air cleaner for welding and the Baldor Reliance Electric motor. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
GRANGEVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT SPONSORSHIP FOR BORDER DAYS: Administrator Kennedy explained Grangeville Border Days applied for a Grangeville Community Foundation Grant to replace the speakers on Main Street by The Brickhouse and then discovered they didn’t have the right designation. Kennedy recommended sponsoring the application. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to approve sponsoring grant. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW: Attorney Jessup stated he has been working with Kennedy on cleanup for planning and zoning recommendations for variance and conditional use decisions as required by city code. He has created Findings of Fact and Conclusions of law that are consistent with the meeting minutes for both P&Z and the Council. This gives people the information they need to appeal the decision.
On motion by Councilor Perry, second by Councilor Andrews to approve the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for the following applications as presented.
• Merrian Hanson’s conditional use for a salon at 208 E South 7th Street
• Chris and Emily Schacher’s variance for a covered post and beam structure over the front steps at 628 S A Street
• Freebird Holdings, LLC variance for a billboard at 331 W Main Street
• Derith E. Kettenburg’s conditional use for an upholstery business at 815 N Mill Street
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Andrews, Canaday, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 6:31 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
