March Council Minutes
March 10, 2021
Those Present: DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Valerie Hayes of News-Examiner
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Mayor Steve Waechtler
The Council then entertained a motion from councilmember Tee Steadman to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilmember DeLoy Kunz. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from February 9, 2021 were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilmember Greg Kunz made the motion to accept the minutes as read. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. The minutes from the February 16, 2021 special meeting were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilmember Tee Steadman made the motion to accept the minutes as read. Councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The Animal Control Ordinance Draft was discussed and Marty stated that she would add a paragraph about show animals to not deter those that want to raise an animal. The council discussed issues with pigs and asked to add in that pens must be kept clean and to limit a number on how many pigs or has to be kept to immediate family and not a business of raising and selling pigs. The draft was again tabled until the next meeting to review the changes.
The Mayor reported that Curtis McKinney is on the Emergency Preparedness committee for the community and has some new ideas there. He also has expressed his interest to the Mayor about being a backup operator for the water and sewer departments. The Mayor explained to him that we don’t have the money to pay for his training and he expressed that he would be willing to do the training on his own.
The Backhoe Agreement between the City and the Georgetown Irrigation Co was brought forth. Everything is continuing to work great for both and would like to keep the agreement moving forward. Councilmember Marty Nate made the motion to renew the agreement again for another year. Councilmember Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The City has to get new seepage tests on our sewer ponds done this year. This is something that is done every 10 years. Shane reached out to four different engineer companies for bids. The council reviewed the bids from each. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz made the motion to award the bid to Keller Associates because of their history and knowledge of our sewer ponds. Councilmember Marty Nate seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Councilmember Greg Kunz said that he has heard some talk about Montpelier not having City officers anymore and will hire the County to do the day-to-day. He wondered if it was something we should consider and that it may be cheaper than supplying a car, guns, bullets, fuel, trainings, etc. The Mayor suggested inviting Sheriff Heslington out to one of our meetings sometime to discuss our options and how frequent we could have someone out here. We need to explore our options before Officer Martinez is ready to retire.
Councilmember Marty Nate suggested installing camera’s up Stringtown to help our officer. The Mayor reported that he is having a meeting with Simplot and will ask about how they can help us with the traffic and see if they would help pay for some patrolling. He would like to sit with them and get a 10 year plan from them. Marty also suggested sending out some cleanup letters to a list of citizens. She will get the list to Lynette to notify them. She said she will get to planning on Twin Creeks and set a date for July 10th. The Mayor recommended including some younger members of the community on her committee as she would like to get someone to take over for her for the Movies in the Park and Twin Creeks.
Police Report: There were 16 contacts for the month of February.
Maintenance Report: Shane was excused from the meeting and was out all day due to a migraine. Although they were busy this past month with plowing snow, remodeling the City Hall, and they dug two graves where one was a cremation.
Office Business: There are 20 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of February. The guys are going deliver notes to everyone’s door and will begin doing shutoffs again now that the weather is turning warmer and snow is leaving. She reminded the councilmembers that their terms are expiring this year and that they will need to declare if they are re-running for Council or not. Councilmember terms expiring are Greg Kunz, Marty Nate and Steve Waechtler as Mayor. Lynette also got a call about if there is any community service available for someone to help with that lives here in Georgetown. The Council discussed things that could be done and then decided there wasn’t much to do that wouldn’t need some supervision and our guys try not to work on Saturday’s.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Marty Nate for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of February 2021 in the amount of $17,900.18 in the general fund, $14,369.35 in the water fund, and $18,844.27 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $51,113.80. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Marty Nate that council adjourns from the March 2021 council meeting at 9:00 pm. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer