July 2019 Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 20th, 2019July 2, 2019
Those Present: Matt Argyle, Greg Kunz, Marty Nate, Clerk Lynette Smith, Doug Thompson, DeLoy Kunz, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Matt Raczak, Joe DeClark, Matt & Aimee Kunz, Creed & Nathaneal Harwood, Valerie Ross of The News Examiner, Kevin Martin of Sunrise Engineering
Meeting called to order: 7:05 pm Invocation: Mayor Steve Waechtler
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Matt Argyle that the council approve and added agenda item of Nathaneal Harwood’s Eagle/Senior Project. The motion was seconded by councilmember Greg Kunz. The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Greg Kunz that the council accepts the published agenda. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Minutes from the June 4, 2019, regular council meeting were read. The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Marty Nate the council approve the minutes as read. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Matt & Aimee Kunz came and presented to the council their idea of installing a small convenience/grocery store at the top of Stringtown. It would be a premanufactured building that would have a drive-thru option. They would like to rezone their property to commercial from residential to do this. They would serve multiple items from small grocery store items to camping supplies, essential items, etc. Would like to include some historical background and call it Twin Creeks Market and would like to have open by April 2020 and water and sewer hookups already exist on the property. The council advised him that there would need to be a public hearing and notices to citizens and could be costly to rezone the property. Councilmember Nate also advised that our current Comprehensive Plan suggests all commercial activity should locate along the highway. The Planning & Zoning Committee will meet and discuss and get report back at the next council meeting.
Nathaneal Harwood would like to do a senior project/Eagle Project to add about 3-4 more benches to the City Park. He was advised that he would need to include other scouts to help with his project if it is a Eagle Project. The council approved his idea, but he needs to work out more details and they suggested that he use a composite wood to help last longer and less maintenance.
Sunrise Engineering presented their findings of options UV disinfection vs chlorine and it is significantly more expensive. We will have the pre-bid meeting on July 11th with potential contractors and the bid opening will be on July 18th at the City Hall. Kevin presented an option to capture the extra overflow. The cost of the project could be up to $38,000 plus an extra $1500 to alter the project. Councilmember Matt Argyle made the motion to spend the $1500 to add the alternate option and see if Georgetown Irrigation Company will help with the cost of the bypass/tank overflow. Councilmember Marty Nate seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. They reported on the hydro option but we would still need power there either way. There is an option to do a study to figure if its worth it but the turbine would need its own building from the chlorinator building. The cost of the study would be about $2200. The council decided to hold off on the study until we are more ready or serious to purchase a turbine. They also reported that ITD will put in the casing but not the pipe along the highway. The council decided to go ahead with the Rocky Mountain Power contract in the amount of $7,711.93 and to forego the $250 refund. Contracts were signed and Lynette will take into Kreg Roberts at the Montpelier office with a check asap.
Councilmember Greg Kunz made the motion to have the water and sewer funds payback the general funds in the amount of $14,866.96 from the water fund and $16,111.43 from the sewer fund from the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Audit. Councilmember Marty Nate seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried. Lynette will get checks prepared for the next council meeting.
The Twin Creeks schedule was reviewed and assignments finalized. The City’s building permit fees are super cheap and haven’t been increased or updated in quite a while. Marty will look into more fees of other City’s that our similar in size to ours and present at the August meeting. Lynette also suggested that a resolution needs to be prepared for the kennel permit fee that was voted on at the last meeting.
Councilmember DeLoy Kunz suggested maybe there was a typo in the new Dog Ordinance #97 in section 5C. Thinks it should read spayed or neutered and not just list neutered. Need to check with Adam to see if we need to reprint.
Councilmember Marty Nate reported of the meeting with DEQ and the Forest Service and they took a field trip to the Spring. The Forest Service Rangers will ask sheepherders to move past the spring fast and not bed at the Spring. They also noticed that the elk have been bedding above the spring all winter and there is a lot of feces built up. They said the earthquakes would have no effect on the water system because we would be noticing minerals and water color change if that were the case. The council has still been actively trying to find ways to get around not chlorinating and would like the Citizens to understand that. The forest service will help Matt with a device to help monitor the water every day and to see if surface water is affecting it. Steve Smith said that the source water protection plan probably needs updating and he will help when that comes due. She also got another bid for siding the City Hall from ABC Seamless and it is good for one year. The cost would be $18,749 to use a log siding or $17,167 to use a regular siding. We will look at including it in the next budget year.
Councilmember Greg Kunz stated the council needs to reach out to the Dairy Syncline Mine and write a letter in favor of the mine coming to our community. Mayor Steve will draft a letter and invite them to attend our Twin Creeks celebration as well.
Police Report: Officer Martinez has made 18 contacts for the month of June.
Maintenance report: Doug Thompson gave his report for the month of June and stated that they got the old police car up and running and they will get the stickers taken off so it can be used as a runner car if needed. Need to be looking at getting a newer service truck and look into grants like the City of Paris gets. They fixed a water line and took water samples to Pocatello. Anthony Valles submitted plans for a building permit to build a garage on his property with a small apartment in the top and the council approved.
Office Report: Clerk Smith reported that there are 24 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of June. The council suggested listing names and amounts of delinquent accounts in the newspaper as was done in the old days to help urge people to stay on top of paying their City bill. She reported that she completed the water report and asked if Matt could be eligible for Life Insurance since he is now a full time employee. The council approved. The Fire Department is requesting a donation for equipment. Money has been budgeted to help for equipment but nothing was decided. The next meeting date will be moved to Wednesday, August 7th because Lynette has a conflict with Tuesday evening.
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Matt Argyle the council approve checks and vouchers for the month of June 2019 in the amount of $26,907.43 the general fund, $8,573.83 in the water fund, $21,878.52 in the sewer fund with all funds totaling $57,359.78. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Matt Argyle that the council adjourn from the July 2019 council meeting at 10:05 pm. Councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith, City Clerk