City Council met in regular session on September 16, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Scott Winkler
Wyatt Perry
Jared Andrew
Amy Farris
Beryl Grant
Councilmember absent: Dylan Canaday
City employees present were Public Works Director Mager, Ellie Kaschmitter and Chief Newman. City Administrator Kennedy and Attorney Jessup absent.
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the Council minutes of August 5th were approved as presented by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: Gabe Forsman, Snowhaven Manager, was present to ask the council to amend the Snowhaven assistant manager pay as well as bumping the employee food card from $25 to $50. Current Snowhaven Assistant manager will not be coming back this upcoming season due to health reasons. Gabe raised some concerns that the starting wage at $16 hour is not drawing anyone in to apply and is requesting it be raised to $24-$25. Bumping the pay rate would attract more applicants and keep them longer. Council raised some concern as to paying the assistant manager over the manager. Gabe brought up that the only ones who know how to run Snowhaven are in his family and if a family emergency occurred, Snowhaven would not be able to operate. By raising the assistant manager wage it would attract more people for the longevity. Councilor Farris raised questions on if we have advertised for the current assistant manager or not to see what the outcome would be. No advertisement has occurred. The Council raised some concern as to the unfairness it would be to hire someone that is being paid over himself. Gabe advised that they are sacrificing weekends, as Councilor Farris replied with it is a choice they make. Employee rollover is common in work environments these days. Gabe wants to raise the food card from $25 – $50. On motion by Councilor Perry, second by Councilor Winkler to allow Gabe to raise the Employee food card benefit from $25 to $50 ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Grant, Perry, Andrews. NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Public Works Director Mager stated Mountain View Trailer had been having drainage issues and now that the sewer was completed, it is paved back and they put in storm drains on either side of it. They have added a speed bump on the entry way to use as a backer board and the water is going into storm drains now. Park Wells system was redone last spring and is now finished so Eric Jones can access it with steel screening. Lions park wall is finished all the way down to the bathrooms. Mager will talk to Poe Asphalt and have them pave on top of blocks. He will work with an electrician to add a new electrical panel in bath house. He hopes to have it upgraded by September 30th with some remaining funds in the budget. The approved generator for the concrete reservoir is in and the pad will be in place by the end of the month, so the project will be completely done. He is assisting Knife River on the Cemetery project. A leak on College Street was fixed and the water service at the Catholic Church playground is in and will be used for irrigation. The Methodist Church alley is done as well as the approach and the Les Schwab project is down to new curb and gutter installed. Pavilion prepping has started, and slabs will be poured end of the week. The culvert behind the shop is in good shape and now the highway district just needs to replace their end. The sweeper is out at least November. Water is updated at Snowhaven; the well was shocked and tests came back clean. The second non-pot pump at treatment plant is going in as the first one has been proven reliable. Councilor Grant expressed her gratitude to Bob and his team for getting rid of the ditches in town and that they are looking very nice.
SEWER LINE PROJECT UPDATE: Knife River just finished through the alleyway between E North 4th and Nez Perce Streets by the old Roy Powell trailer park. The sewer main is right along the edge of the trailers so we have allowed them to store some of their stuff at Lions Park while we complete the work in front of the trailers. Myrtle at North Street will be closed to through traffic for quite a while as they work in that area. The CIPP crew will be here next Monday to start at Anderson Aeromotive over to the manhole at Green Acres. Then they will move up to Herman Kaschmitter along the creek. They should work for about 2 weeks in the city.
The Knife River pay request #4 for $362,935.63 is included in the bills.
On motion by Councilor Grant, second by Councilor Farris to authorize signing of Change Order #3 with Knife River in the amount of $28,284.66. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
FIRE MINUTES: On motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry to accept the Fire Minutes of 7/8/24 and 7/22/24. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
BILLS: The bills, in the amount of $848,219.61 (Financials $689,687.85, August Payroll $158,531.76) were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds, on motion by Councilor Farris, second by Councilor Perry. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
RESOLUTION NO. 301
(Resolution No. 301 in its entirety on file in the City’s Resolution File)
The following resolution was introduced by Councilor Farris who moved for its adoption. Second by Councilor Perry.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE ADOPTING A CITY SALARY SCHEDULE.
ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Farris, Winkler, Andrews, Grant, Perry. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Resolution No. 301 duly approved and adopted.
ITEMS TO NOTE: Northwest Management will be here Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for the watershed tour, meeting in the parking lot.
The meeting adjourned at 6:33 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
