City Council met in special session on July 12, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Mayor Lester presided:
Councilmembers present:
Scott Winkler
Mike Peterson
Beryl Grant
Amy Farris
Pete Lane
Dylan Canaday
City employees present were City Administrator Kennedy, Treasurer Rowland, Chief Newman and Public Works Director Mager,
Fiber Engineering Study:
David McKnight explained there are two buckets of money for broadband. He has a current grant application for Idaho and Lewis Counties where Grangeville and Cottonwood are specifically excluded from the grant. The State broadband division wants fiber in Grangeville. There is roughly $600 million coming out next year; Fiber in Grangeville would be about $4-$6 million. To apply for a grant in 12-18 months the City would need to have an engineering study. The study looks at the city, maps it out, provides the best route for fiber and provides a cost estimate. Grangeville will probably get fiber in the next 5 years; it would be best for Grangeville to have an open network so any provider can use it, rather than a specific carrier like ziply or centurylink to put it in. If the City wanted to own the line, the City could get the grant, contract with someone to put in fiber and then contract with a provider to use the line and contract with someone to manage the network. It’s important to get an engineering study done sooner than later. Bead is the funding coming up in the next 12 months and we would be more successful with the study. A provider could choose to “buy” the study to put in their application. The Bead application process opens around March 1st and might be open for 3-4 months.
WAGES
Administrator Kennedy explained Chief Newman and herself agreed to move the police admin position to the administrative assistant/utility billing step.
The council chose to accept the step proposal. The changes included Treasurer, Administrative Assistant/ Utility billing/Police Admin, Police-Officer and Police – Sergeant.
Salaries for department heads are Chief Newman $87,000, Public Works Director Mager $87,000 and Administrator $93,000.
COLAs:
Fire Chief and Assistants – 4% COLA
Mike Quintal and Paul Orgish will receive a 4% COLA on top of the salary schedule changes since they were maxed on the schedule.
Eric Jones – 4% COLA
BALANCE BUDGET
Library will use investments. Snowhaven will use investments and groomer should come out of ARPA funds.
The meeting adjourned at 7:41 P.M.
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Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
