March 17th Special Meeting Minutes
March 17, 2020 – Special Emergency Meeting
Those Present: DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Doug Thompson, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Bishop Drue Smith, Bishop Wes Smith, Shane Clark, Ada DeClark, Manuel Figueroa
Meeting called to order: 6:30 pm Invocation: Mayor Steve Waechtler
The Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting. The council asked the Bishop’s of both wards to be here to come together and discuss how to protect the citizens as a City with this COVID-19 pandemic. Councilmember Marty Nate voiced that it’s harder when each entity in a community does their own things and the council wants to support everyone and support the safety protocols being put into place. Some of the safety precautions being mostly used are not to shake hands with anyone, keep 6 feet distance between each other, wash your hands often and don’t touch your face afterwards, etc. It was recommended to watch the Facebook Live by the School Board and listen to what the healthcare officials had to say.
Councilmember Marty Nate had asked if anyone had an update if any of the plants in Soda Springs or the railroad has been shut down yet. No one had heard any of that happening yet. She said that if it does happen, the City may need to look at being more lenient to the citizens on their water and sewer bills for the time being.
Doug Thompson wanted especially noted that as citizens are finding it harder to get toilet paper that some may resort to using paper towels or baby wipes. In that instance everyone needs to know to absolutely NOT flush those down into the system because they don’t break up like toilet paper and instead bind together and we will have larger problems in the City if our system is backed up.
The council also noted to remind everyone to follow their physician’s recommendations and stay home if you are feeling sick. Don’t assume that it’s the corona virus automatically unless you have an accompanied fever and feel short of breath. Keep calm in these situations and help your neighbors to stay calm as well. Be neighborly and watch out for the elderly whether it be for wood, food, supplies, etc. Citizen Manuel Figueroa said to not fear and put your trust in God.
Councilmember Marty Nate would like Lynette to put out a letter to each individual citizen because not everyone checks Facebook or the post office for notices. The City will follow suit with things being done in Montpelier and at the County offices. The door will be locked, and citizens can call for appointments of things that are pressing and need to be taken care of in a timely matter. Other than that, citizens are asked to mail all payments or pay online to eliminate the need to come to the office. Dog licenses will be extended through May 31st to also slow down traffic coming to the office. The April council meeting will be just for regular business and if anyone needs on the agenda we will wait until May to handle those. The meeting may also be cancelled if there isn’t anything pressing going on if this virus gets worse between now and then. Councilmember Marty Nate also said that she would like the employees to feel as though their job is safe if they happen to contract the virus and need to take time off to get better or help take care of family that has gotten sick as well.
Councilmember Tee Steadman voiced for everyone to treat as a real threat where we know so little about this virus and that being married to a nurse at the hospital that the fear is real as well. If everyone will stay home as we’ve been asked maybe we can help be part of the solution so it doesn’t spread near as badly in our valley and we can resume regular activities sooner than later.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer