February Council Minutes
February 6, 2024
Those Present: Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, Maintenance Hadley Wright, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Addison Ochsenbein of Sunrise Engineering
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Maintenance Hadley Wright
Mayor Waechtler was excused from the meeting and Council President Greg Kunz conducted the meeting. The Council entertained a motion from Councilor Tee Steadman to approve the published agenda and was seconded by Councilor Trenton Morrell. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from January 2, 2024, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Trenton Morrell made the motion to accept the minutes as read and Councilor Marty Nate seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Addison Ochsenbein of Sunrise Engineering came before the council to report that the City was awarded the LHTAC street grant for our roads that we had applied for in September. We received all $239,000 that we asked for and it is to be used to fix 6th, 5th, 3rd, East and Hayes Streets and completed by November 2024. Sunrise will do all of the prep for RFP’s and assist with the project. It was asked if we will widen the roads at all and Addison responded that we can add gravel shoulders to the roads. Councilor Trenton Morrell made the motion to approve Sunrise Engineering to oversee the project for $31,000, which was included in the price awarded and councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. Addison also reported that the drinking water loan letter of interest was submitted for repairs and upgrades to the water system at 1.4 million and if awarded we do not have to accept but every City is encouraged to apply so the state and legislature see the desperate need for more money to be awarded.
There was discussion on need for a new power pole by the sheds and update the power outlets in the park or if we can draw enough power off the City Hall or City Shop to get power in the sheds. The outlets and power cords in the park are at capacity especially during Twin Creeks and Movies in the Park and when we have all of the lights in the park for Christmas. Lynette asked Colton Smith at Rocky Mountain Power to stop by or what it would cost for a new pole. He said he would drop by when he is in the area and a pole would be a minimum of $6,000. Shane will reach out to Alice Hayes and see if she can stop by to give us some options.
The maintenance crew reported they did some research and were able to find backup generators at Gundersen’s for about the same price as Home Depot. They will get one on order to have here for spring/summer and we will need to hire an electrician to do all of the wiring.
We have a couple of councilmembers that are not able to contribute to PERSI because of already drawing their funds for retirement or will be soon retiring. When Marty was previously on the council we gave her a lump sum at the end of her term that would have been the amounts she was able to contribute and receive. The council agree to do that again for Marty’s term and to finish out Greg’s term when he starts drawing his retirement in April.
Councilor Marty Nate asked if the council had reviewed the color-coded cemetery map and all that it looks good. She will coordinate with Clerk Smith about printing a book to have available at the cemetery but in the meantime, we need to come up with a place to hold the book up there that can be protected from the weather. Lynette also reported that she reached out to Kim Harper about selling plots back to the City and she was interested in doing that and Lynette has issued a check to her for the council to sign tonight for $100 at $25 per space. Marty asked if we needed to look at chip sealing the other roads or if this project will be enough for this year. Shane and Hadley can look into, but this will likely take up most of their spare time this summer.
Councilor Tee Steadman reported that Cody Coombs would like to open a butcher shop in town again and would like to operate within City limits but has also spoken with the County Planning & Zoning and would operate in the County if we won’t allow it. He would like to continue to operate as a part-time job and butcher about two animals a month. There was discussion about his property needing to be rezoned to do that where it is out of the commercial zone and would not be out of his home. It would affect our comprehensive plan and he should need his neighbors approval to operate and input a new business of that nature whether in city or county limits. It was proposed for him to come to the next Council meeting with a plan and his intentions.
Councilor Trenton Morrell asked if the County has paid for the speed limit signs yet and Clerk Smith reported that they have not. She has emailed County Clerk Amy Bishop about them and has not received a response. Trenton will follow up with a commissioner about that.
Police Report: Sheriff Bart Heslington sent a report for January for the Council to review. They worked for 66 hours this month and made 62 contacts and issued 5 citations. Clerk Smith ordered more ordinance violation warnings for them to deliver and they are ready to be picked up.
Maintenance Report: Shane Clark gave their report for the month of January and stated that he and Hadley have spent some time plowing, had a grave open and closing, fixed the floats at the sewer ponds that were frozen, went up to the water tanks to check on things, shutoff water services at a couple of locations, delivered overdue notices to a couple of homes, though a pain to deliver in the snow, they are effective, and they also serviced the snow plow truck. Keller Associates has sent over a contract to be approved and signed to handle the seepage tests this summer for the other lagoons. Seepage tests must be completed every 10 years. Shane collected all of the data for the previous seepage test and will assist with this one as well. Councilor Marty Nate made the motion to approve the contract for $8,500 for Keller Associates to complete the seepage tests for the wastewater and councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Office Business: There are 12 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of January. The Bear Lake County Extension Office wants to come to the City Hall for a free pressure gauge testing for canning on February 27th from 1-3 pm. Lynette will advertise on the website and Facebook page for that. QuickBooks is expiring and support will be unavailable soon so Lynette will be updating and possibly doing the online version instead of a desktop version which would be a monthly fee but would have better support and storage options along with accessibility.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of January 2024 in the amount of $21,450.37 in the general fund, $24,267.68 in the water fund, and $66,201.12 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $111,919.17. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell that council adjourns from the February 2024 council meeting at 8:15 pm. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer