City Council met in regular session on May 6, 2024 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 City Administrator Kennedy, Public Works Director Mager, and Attorney Jessup. Chief Newman absent.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of April 15th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Grant. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Fire Minutes of March 11 and 25, 2024. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
FIRE BILLING: Chief Perry felt it would be best to charge uniform rates across the board. He had four examples of true calls in the city limits in the last year and what they would have been billed at.
False Alarm – $806.74
Car fire – $1,063.47
Chimney Fire – $706.64
Structure Fire – $3,169.58
He reached out to his local insurance agent and five others. Agents were positive in their response after visiting with Perry, in that it would be healthy for agents to reach out to their customers to visit about their coverage. He went to his local agent to find out if it was his house on fire, how it worked. If he had the fire department come to his residence, his insurance would write a check for $500 (no deductible/no hit on claim). On his policy, Brian could choose claim coverage of anywhere between $5,000 – $10,000 per event. $8/year additional would get him a coverage check of $5,000 instead of $500.
Perry stated turn-outs are sustainable in his budget at $2,975 each; air packs are not at $9,500 each. Last time, air packs they were purchased with grants. By billing for fires, this could offset air pack purchases. He would like to work toward implementing this change in the 24-25 year. There needs to be a city ordinance and he wants it uniform across the board.
Councilor Canaday questioned what could be a false alarm. Chief Perry stated a false alarm is if there is no deployment. The smoke alarm goes off and they show up and look but there is no issue. Councilor Grant stated if someone calls in a false alarm on her house, why should she as the homeowner have to pay? Chief Perry stated normally chimney fires are called in by neighbors. Mayor Lester asked how many claims can you have in a year before your insurance goes up or you get dropped. Chief Perry said his insurance states a fire call is zero points against his insurance. 99% of calls in town are preventable. The Council consensus was in favor of an ordinance and charging for fire calls. An ordinance will need to be presented to the council for discussion and adoption.
FIBER STUDY: City Administrator Kennedy explained Idaho County applied for a $50,000 broadband coalition and planning grant with the state which would have helped build a county broadband coalition, develop a 5-year broadband action plan and create a preliminary design/cost estimate for fiber to homes in Grangeville. They received the grant, but not the whole amount. They are now asking if the city would like to contribute $14,400 to the project. Mayor Lester and Kennedy have researched broadband and funding. Kennedy stated the city was originally looking at a fiber study for Grangeville, but it only made sense if we thought the city would receive BEAD funding. At this time, it is still up in the air how areas are going to be split up. There is a possibility Grangeville could end up in an area that includes outlying areas such as Elk City or Syringa which would make a project not feasible. These areas aren’t set yet and it could still be a few months before we know. Through research both locally and at the state, it doesn’t make sense for the city to pay for a fiber study if the city doesn’t get BEAD funding. Kennedy and Mayor Lester do not recommend contributing the funds.
On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Farris to not contribute funds toward the Idaho County Broadband Coalition and Planning Grant. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
AUTHORIZE KENNEDY TO SIGN DOCUMENTS FOR THE SEWER PROJECT AND WELL COMPLETION: On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Farris to Authorize City Administrator Kennedy to sign field orders, pay applications and change orders up to +/- $25,000 without Council approval for the sewer project and well completion project. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
TOWERCO LEASE: TowerCo submitted an offer to acquire a 99-year easement on their tower in exchange for $155,400. The City and TowerCo signed a new lease that took effect in July 2023. Mayor Lester and Kennedy do not recommend taking it. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Winkler to deny TowerCo’s 99-year easement request. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
GEM GRANT: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to authorize the mayor to sign the Idaho GEM Grant agreement for $50,000 for construction of the pavilion at Pioneer Park. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
ND HOLDINGS ELECTRICAL SERVICE: Public Works Director Mager stated he has met with Avista and ND Holdings and the plan now is for ND Holdings electrical service to come off the pole in Heritage Square and cross over to the mast by the man door off South Street. On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Perry to accept the new plan for ND Holding electrical service. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
SURPLUS: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to surplus the old sander as scrap metal. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
IDA-LEW SPONSORSHIP: City Administrator Kennedy stated the city has been contributing $2,000 annually to Ida-Lew. Kennedy could submit the sponsorship form with a tentative sponsorship, dependent upon final budget approval in September. Ida-Lew wrote our GEM grant for the pavilion. On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to submit the sponsorship form with a tentative $2,000 sponsorship, dependent upon final budget approval in September.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Spring Clean Up May 13-17, 2024.
The meeting adjourned at 6:44 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
