September Council Minutes
September 2, 2025
Those Present: Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Marty Nate, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Shane Clark & Hadley Wright, Addison Ochsenbein from Sunrise Engineering, Jordan Crane, Nic Higgins, Morgan Kidd. Tee Steadman was absent
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Hadley Wright
The council entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell to approve the published agenda and was seconded by Councilor Greg Kunz. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from August 5, 2025, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. A correction was made for the motion being seconded to sign checks and vouchers was Trenton Morrell and not Marty Nate. Councilor Greg Kunz made the motion to accept the minutes as read with the correction and Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Morgan Kidd and Nic Higgins came before the council to discuss the Fire Department budget and getting supplies for the fire truck. There is $13,300.00 in the budget through September 30th. They would like to get some flashlights, a Milwaukee set with blades, chainsaw with a demolition blade, some tools on the truck with a thermal camera to name a few items. Most items can be purchased on Amazon. There has been a new upgraded truck from Geneva received. They would also like to upgrade the water line hose, and can do a little at a time, up to 1,000 ft. Councilor Greg Kunz noted that it is important to have the right equipment and Mayor Steve said to get the tools and some hose now to stay within budget and we can address again in a few months after the new budget is in place and see what is still needed. Councilor Greg Kunz made the motion to get the fire department supplies needed and was seconded by Trenton Morrell. All were in favor and the motion carried.
Jordan Crane came before the council to discuss the farm lease at the cemetery and Kelly Bartschi’s. Discussion of moving the fence at the cemetery to the property lines. The cemetery needs to be expanded for snow removal and funerals are getting more crowded for parking, etc. The maintenance crew would like to start next month tearing out the old fence to the property lines to keep the cows out and replace with a 4-wire bar wire fence. They had talked about putting in gates for the pivots but after more consideration, we don’t want big tracks and trenches through the cemetery. There is an option to still farm with hand lines. Jordan said he had planned on plowing this fall but will leave as is. There is 5 acres and the original agreement was that Kelly could continue to farm until the City needed it. The City is not getting a profit from the land now. The City needs to plan for the future at the cemetery. Was discussed that we could work out an agreement, to try for a year, to tape off in the summer to be able to still farm for temporary parking because the expansion is mostly needed for the winter parking and snow removal. Councilor Trenton Morrell thinks there should be a farm lease there as well. The crew and Jordan will meet at the farm and cemetery and readdress.
Addison Ochsenbein with Sunrise Engineering came to give an update on the Transportation Plan. He said they will be putting up cameras throughout town this week and will have a chance to gather some data and report back at the next meeting. He has a meeting with DEQ this week and they are hopeful for more funding options and will report back at the next meeting.
Councilor Marty Nate made the motion to move out of the regular meeting and into Public Hearing for the purpose of approving the proposed 2025-2026 Annual Budget and was seconded by Councilor Greg Kunz. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: Marty – yes, Greg – yes, Trenton – yes. All were in favor and the motion carried. Clerk Smith made note that no public comment has been received regarding the new fiscal year budget. There was no public present for comment for or against the budget either. Councilor Marty Nate made the motion to close the Public Hearing and back into the regular meeting and councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: Marty – yes, Greg – yes, Trenton – Yes. All were in favor and the motion carried. Councilor Marty Nate made the motion to accept the 2025-2026 budget as published and was seconded by councilor Trenton Morrell. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Ordinance #115 – the Appropriations Ordinance for the 2025-2026 budget was presented to the council. Councilor Marty Nate made the motion to accept the Appropriations Ordinance and was seconded by councilor Trenton Morrell. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: Marty – yes, Greg – yes, Trenton – yes. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Councilor Marty Nate reported that she is making a public records request for the police tickets written and would like some more details than the spreadsheet given. The council feels like what we’re paying doesn’t match what we’re getting back. The Mayor and Marty attended the law enforcement meeting last month and Lynette received the recording and has passed along to the council. They are proposing a Unified Police Department and have done a lot of research. There would need to be a separate insurance plan at $45,000 per City in the first year and then it would drop to $22-25,000 per year after that. Our car would be worthless at this point because it and the equipment is too dated. The patrolling would be split 2 days per week per City, but the Officer would have no jurisdiction in the County and can’t speed for any emergencies through the cities he’s not contracted in. All Cities agreed it’s likely not feasible at this time and frustrated that the property taxes should be paying for this service already. They would like to meet with the County Commissioners and the other Cities and we would need 2 representatives to go to the Commissioners meeting. She had an idea for Officer Johnny Martinez, to plant a tree in the City with a plaque or bench in the City park and the Mayor also suggested having a plaque made to put in the City Hall also. The Mayor would also like to get a bench made in the park for Ralph & Nora Onstine for donating a tractor and the proceeds to go towards the new playground.
The Mayor was also approached about replacing a street light near Hyrum Critchlow’s with a low pollution light. Lynette reached out to Colton Smith at Rocky Mountain Power and he said that cities are moving towards installing LED lights and it would cost money up front to replace but would save a lot of money over time. The crew will find out how many lights we have in town and we will get more info for the next meeting.
Councilor Greg Kunz asked if we included the water and sewer increases in our new budget. Lynette responded that the coupon books mailed out are for two years at the current increase.
Police Report: No one was present to give a report for the month of August.
Maintenance Report: Hadley Wright gave their report for the month of August stating that he and Shane took water samples to the lab, mowed and watered the park and cemetery, checked on the spring, cleaned the tanks, fixed a sewer issue at Jordan Rasmusson’s, been spraying for bugs, put out mice bait, etc. They keep looking for a new snow plow before winter comes and would like a 4 wheel drive.
Office Report: There are 26 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of August. The guys delivered some door notices and was able to get a lot of accounts caught up again. The Mayor put No Parking signs on the mine drivers cars and it has helped tremendously. Superintendent Brogan is putting up school parking only signs in front of the school, he suggested putting no parking in our zones also. Clerk Smith announced the candidates running are Greg Kunz and Tony Price for Mayor along with Brooke Bruesch, Miles Cook, and Jordan Rasmusson for Council members. She also got the CCR Water Report completed for 2024 and it is available to view on the website, at the post office or in the City Hall. She also reported that some guys from Intermountain Gas stopped by this month and said our Franchise agreement is expiring soon. They would like to be on the agenda next month to review a new Ordinance and continue with 3% and 3 year warranties and are willing to do another 40 year agreement if that’s what the council wants to do. Lynette has forwarded the proposed new ordinance to all council members to review before the next meeting.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Marty Nate for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of August 2025 in the amount of $16,378.50 in the general fund, $11,170.19 in the water fund, and $22,364.25 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $49,912.94. Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Marty Nate that council adjourns from the September 2025 council meeting at 9:00 pm. Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith,
City Clerk-Treasurer