City Council met in regular session on May 18, 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
Cody Edwards
City employees present: City Administrator Kennedy, Attorney Jessup, Chief Newman and Public Works Director Mager.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of May 4th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: MaeLena Dalling, Pioneer Park Playground Committee was in attendance to present two requests to the council.
• Cookie/Lemonade Fundraiser: MaeLena explained since kids are the beneficiary of the new equipment at the park, the committee wants to include them in the fundraiser. They would like to have a children’s lemonade day with individual stands during music in the park on July 23rd and 30th and then the donated proceeds would go to the playground equipment. The Chamber of Commerce has agreed to sponsor them for the insurance. The Public Health department said lemonade and cookies are fine and the don’t require anything else from them. Councilor Edwards asked if the fundraiser was during the music in the park. MaeLena stated yes they would set up during the concert, probably on the north side of the park. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to grant permission for the kids to hold a cookie and lemonade fundraiser in Pioneer Park on July 23rd and 30th during music in the park. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• Grant Sponsorship/Submittal: MaeLena stated the committee has been applying for grants but discovered they have the wrong designation through Innovia. They would like to work with city hall to have the city sponsor the grants. The committee will write the grants; Kennedy will review and then the application will be submitted by the city at the applicant. Administrator Kennedy stated she met with two representatives this morning and received a copy of the budget and project timelines so the necessary information can be included in next year’s budget. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris to approve the request to work with the city to apply for grants and have the city sponsor as needed. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. RECUSED: none. The motion passed.
David Taylor was present to provide an update on the Idaho County/DIGB2 Broadband Fiber Project. David thanked the city for the funding, stating they are in full construction mode. They started in 2024 with a signed contract. In September 2025 they started phase 1. They currently have about 3.5-4 miles left on Gilbert Grade and then they are hanging conduit on the bridge at the Clearwater River. In June they will place the POP building. Phase 2 started in January 2026 and they’ve been working on Old Highway 7 and drilling and boring in Lawyer’s canyon. Phase 3 will be fiber to the premise with construction to start in July 2026. Idaho County will retain ownership of the Fiber plant and a Master Service Agreement with Idaho Regional Optical Network is in development. The fiber could be lit in the fall of 2026.
Ted Lindsley was present to request a waiver of the double permit fee for starting work on the Gateway Inn without a permit. Ted said he was doing a lipstick project to replace like for like facia board by removing old deteriorating metal. He had some rotten material, so they installed new wood on top of the old wood and replaced the facia with new metal facia. It is cosmetic and maintenance to the building and maintenance does not require a permit in Idaho towns. He didn’t know he needed a permit and the building inspector agreed.
City Administrator stated Kyle knew you needed a permit so the permit was required. Ted stated he was told he didn’t need a permit. Kennedy stated Kyle said for commercial he needed a permit and she was not told otherwise. Mayor Lester felt clarification was needed from Kile. Kennedy stated at the counter on Friday, Kyle said a permit was needed as she had specifically asked him because she wouldn’t have issued the permit if it wasn’t required. Councilor Perry stated he would like to hear directly from the inspector what he told Ted. Councilor Forsmann felt it was for repairs and maintenance. Councilor Andrews stated maintenance requires a permit. Mayor Lester stated we’ll get something in writing from the inspector and it will be on next agenda. Ted questioned going forward what he is supposed to do when he’s doing a project. Mayor Lester responded he needed to call city hall to ask Tonya if it required a permit. Ted questioned if there was a list of items which require a permit. Kennedy stated they don’t have a list, however most things do require a permit. He can call city hall, let them know what his project is and if they don’t know if a permit is required, they will direct the question to Kyle. If it’s an easy answer like a reroof, they would tell him a permit is required. Councilor Edwards questioned if the permit was a minimum fee. Kennedy responded no. Ted stated he gave the valuation and was told he’d have to pay double fees. At that time, Kyle came out and said he didn’t need the double fee so just pay the permit. Kennedy stated Kile was willing to give away his side of the permit fee. Tonya is unable to waive the double fee. Mayor Lester stated the council has never waived the double fee a to date. Councilor Canaday stated so the building inspector wanted a permit. Kennedy stated yes, she called him and he said it required a permit and he said again on Friday when he was in the office. Councilors Andrews and Perry stated they want to hear from Kile what he said.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• CITY ADMINISTRATOR: City Administrator Kennedy stated other than normal day to day, they have been working on the pool. The pool is fully staffed and will open on June 8th. The first week will be reduced hours and then starting June 15th the pool moves to regular hours. The Council room computer crashed and we are waiting on a quote to replace it.
• PUBLIC WORKS: Public Works Director Mager stated at the pool they have painted the lines and are doing crack sealing. They rebuilt the railings and powder coated them at the city hall front steps. Clean up week was last week and they were very busy. Eric Jones has been working on backflow compliance. The department has been busy mowing lawns, weed eating, street patching and crack sealing. He is working with John Llewelyn and Josh Ebert to replace the soil in the middle field June 5, 6 and 7th. Youth baseball has agreed to project. There is no cost to the city as the Lions Club is covering the cost. Jerime Zimmerman with the softball field project made a measurement error and is 10’ off. He will need an additional 10’ to square things up with the fencing. Mager and Kennedy told him to bring in a new map with measurements and to have soccer sign off on the revision. Since the project was already approved, the Council was ok if city staff continued to monitor the project.
• POLICE REPORT: The department had 101 calls for service and 38 reports taken for April 2026. Chief Newman attended the Chief’s conference the 1st week of May and Officer Pittman went to instructor training the following week. The first truck should be done in a couple weeks.
• FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Canaday to accept the Fire Minutes of April 13 and 27th, 2026. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BILLS: The bills in total amount of $306,020.34 (Financials $200,908.41 April Payroll $105,111.93) were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds, on motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
MANHOLE REPLACEMENT BY CABIN IN LIONS PARK: Public Works Director Mager explained he will be replacing the manhole in front of the little cabin in Lions Park and located along Main Street. From the manhole, the line runs through Tackett Saw to the daycare. To save money, as they are excavating, Mager would like to dump the spoils over the hill, then come back smooth it out, add topsoil from the well and then reseed it. Mayor Lester asked if it would affect the disc golf basket. Mager stated no.
On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Andrews to allow publics works to dump the spoils for the manhole replacement project in front of the cabin over the hill in the Lions park. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW: Attorney Jessup explained the findings represent information presented. He clarified that the bathroom is not in carport salon but in the house. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Farris, to approve the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for the conditional use submitted by Jenny McLean, 421 Lincoln Avenue. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Canaday, Edwards, Forsmann, Perry. NO: none. RECUSED: Andrews. The motion passed.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Mayor Lester and Administrator Kennedy attended the Grangeville Community Foundation awards banquet. It was well attended.
The meeting adjourned at 6:56 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
