City Council met in regular session on October 20, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester:
Councilmembers present:
Wyatt Perry
Jared Andrew
Dylan Canaday
Beryl Grant
Scott Winkler
Amy Farris
City employees present were City Administrator Kennedy, Attorney Jessup and Public Works Director Mager. Chief Newman absent.
AVISTA FRANCHISE FEE BALLOT QUESTION – QUESTION AND ANSWER: Mayor Lester stated the city currently has a 1% Avista franchise and is proposing 3% to cover the increase in dispatch agreement. The dispatch agreement increased $43,179.53 annually and this is a way to recoup the extra cost. Over the last 12 months, the city received $39,200.80 in franchise fees.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of October 6th were approved as presented by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
VISITORS: Liza Wilson stated there is a group that has been formed to get new park equipment for Pioneer Park. When they started the process, they didn’t know equipment was going into Lions Park; however they are working with the same company.
MaeLena Dalling thanked the Council for the beautiful park and playground at Lions Park. They played soccer all fall at the park. At Pioneer Park they would like to take out the existing equipment and replace it with new equipment while expanding the size. We have a great park here with the pool and it’s a hub for the community. They love the new pavilion. When designing the new equipment, they tried to have it appeal to a wider range of ages. They met with Bob, Tonya, Finley’s Tree Service and Green Acres. In the proposal, they have a larger structure that will appeal to the older age group and smaller ones for younger ages. They looked at the beautiful landscape in the park, and after having Finley’s look at the trees, it is recommended to keep the Sycamore as it is healthy and it offers a lot of shade. They are partnering with Innovia, who will take a 2% fee but they do all the tax forms, thank you letters and everything else needed. They talked to Grangeville Community Foundation and were told to apply for Kevin Zumalt funds and they will apply for other grants if needed, fund raise and hopefully have the equipment installed in fall 2026. They know bark is a maintenance problem but if they have enough funds, they may be able to set aside funds for 3 years. The old equipment would be removed and possibly auctioned off, depending on what the city would like to do. They will repurpose the existing benches and they would like to put them outside the playground area.
Amy Wright stated the quote for a complete installation with curbing around the play structure is $368,844-$373,864. Public Works Director Mager stated the existing curbing is very durable; it’s been there about 20 years. He asked how the music worked and if it required power. It was explained it’s all manual, nothing that requires power. Mayor Lester stated he sees older kids use the big swings. This one looks smaller than what we have. Liza explained the big ones are 10’ and the proposed are 8’. Councilor Andrews stated GEMS has 8’ swings and the teenagers use them too. Councilor Canaday was concerned about older kids not having things to do. Councilor Perry questioned the height of the big tower. It is 12’ tall but they think it is from the top of the slide. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the proposal for playground equipment at Pioneer Park pending grant and other funding. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: The following committee reports were presented.
• CITY ADMINISTRATOR: They have been working to update the fee schedule and the website with the new fees for the city including re-working forms that have the fee on them. Kennedy and Rowland attended the ICCTFOA Conference in September and it was a great conference with a lot of valuable information. They also attended the fall district meeting in October and found out there are some changes to the accessibility requirements for websites that will need addressed.
• PUBLIC WORKS: Public Works Director Mager stated they started cleaning drainage ditches on the north side and are moving south as they were sedimented in. They started on gravel road maintenance, adding rock and grading. Richard started crack sealing on Mrytle Street. Finley’s did some tree trimming on 4th street by the armory. All the playground wood chips are installed and they have a pile left that will be added in the spring. They’ve been broad leafing the parks now that the kids aren’t in the parks and spraying streets. They reseeded at Lions Park, the new fence is done and they have created additional new parking. They worked on culverts, cutting tall grass and trimming trees. They started sickle mowing, working on fall fertilizing and are sending trim your tree letters.
• LIBRARY MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Farris to accept the Library Minutes of September 18, 2025. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
• PLANNING AND ZONING MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Canaday, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Planning and Zoning Minutes of October 7, 2025. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
o On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to approve the variance submitted by Chris & Emily Schacher, 628 S A Street, to allow them to build a covered post and beam cover over the concrete steps at the front door which encroaches into the front yard setback. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
o On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Grant to approve conditional use submitted by Merrian Hanson, 208 E South 7th Street, to allow her to operate a one-chair salon in her home in residential zone A. Farris commented Scott Street is one way but you can park on both sides. She didn’t see a one chair salon impacting the traffic. Winkler stated she has off street parking for her salon. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
BILLS: The bills, in the total amount of $1,044,643.65 ((24-25: Financials $789,112.84, September Payroll $86,303.12) and (25-26: Financials $169,227.69)) 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.
MASTER FEE SCHEDULE RESOLUTION: City Administrator Kennedy stated she had an error in the fee schedule for Street Closures last month. It should have red $40/block not $40/event.
RESOLUTION NO. 309
(Resolution No. 309 in its entirety on file in the City’s Resolution File)
The following resolution was introduced by Councilor Canaday who moved for its adoption. Second by Councilor Winkler.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE ADOPTING THE AMENDED MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Winkler, Canaday, Andrews, Grant, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Resolution No. 309 duly approved and adopted.
RECORDS DESTRUCTION RESOLUTION:
RESOLUTION NO. 310
(Resolution No. 310 in its entirety on file in the City’s Resolution File)
The following resolution was introduced by Councilor Canaday who moved for its adoption. Second by Councilor Winkler.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE ADOPTING A CITY SALARY SCHEDULE.
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Winkler, Canaday, Andrews, Grant, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Resolution No. 310 duly approved and adopted.
HANDBOOK CHANGE SNOWHAVEN BENEITS: City Administrator Kennedy explained the revision changes “$50 food card” to “$50 gift card” and allows Ski Patrol members to purchase season passes for their spouse and dependent children for $50/person, which aligns with Snowhaven seasonal employees. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Perry to adopt the revised handbook change for Snowhaven benefits. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
AREA OF IMPACT: Attorney Jessup stated there will be two separate ordinances as the city and county will each adopt their own. The exhibits for deep wells and wellhead protection will be included as exhibits. The new law states it has to be reviewed every 5 years, has a 2-mile limit, has to be adopted by 12/31/25 and has to have a dispute resolution process.
Administrator Kennedy stated staff reviewed the current area of impact and what could be possibly annexed in the next 5 years. Staff recommended fixing the line on the east side of town at Extreme Auto and then extending the area of impact along Frontage Road and the mill area on the north side of Highway 95. Most of the properties along Frontage Road have water from the city. Public Works Director Mager stated as far as being able to provide service to properties, the railroad track is a barrier. Sewer ends at Whitehorse and beyond that could require pump station. On the south side of town, the Crooks spencer hired man property is the highest before another zone would need to be created and by the high school has the same issue. On the east side sewer could get out but water is maxxed out on pressure. No city sewer from the southeast to the cemetery. It is a private pressure line at the old forest service. Councilor Perry felt the mill should be included in the area of impact.
On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Andrews to have Attorney Jessup move forward with area of impact negotiations with the county. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION AGREEMENT: City Administrator Kennedy stated two corrections were made in the agreement to correct a date in the agreement and to change one of the signers from treasurer to secretary. On motion by Councilor Andrews, second by Councilor Grant to authorize signing of the Animal Rescue Foundation Agreement for 2025-26 pending corrections. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Farris, Winkler, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
TOWERPOINT PROPOSAL FOR 99-YEAR TELECOMMUNICATION EASEMENT: Council consensus was the purchase of the property was to provide annual income to the general fund and they are not interested in the proposal submitted by Towerpoint. Councilor Winkler stated he was not interested in any 99-year lease.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
