Georgetown Idaho

CELEBRATE

With us

May 14, @ 6:00 pm

For a Parade down Stringtown Lane

To shout “Hooray”

To our 2020 Graduating Seniors

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 31^st 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

March 3, 2020
Those Present: DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Doug Thompson, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Valerie Ross of News Examiner, Bret Kunz of Insurance Advisors, Ferrel & Susan Dilworth, City Attorney Adam McKenzie
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Mayor Steve Waechtler
The Council entertained a motion from councilmember Greg Kunz to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilmember Tee Steadman. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Clerk Smith proceeded with reading the minutes from February 4, 2020 and councilmember Marty Nate 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.
Ferrel & Susan Dilworth came before the council to discuss purchasing cemetery plots for a friend of the family. Their friend has declining health and wants to be buried by them and will be cremated. They were requesting for a price change for non-residents to purchase for him or want to purchase two more plots at their resident price and designate to him and he will pay the $150 opening & closing fee to be cremated. The Council advised them to speak with Manuel Figueroa about possibly using one of his plots where they are fairly close to Ferrel’s plots already. They will talk to him and then let Lynette know what they decide to do.

Bret Kunz of Insurance Advisors came before the council and would like to know why they are unhappy and how he can change. The Mayor expressed he was upset and still feels like an Agent should represent us better. Bret feels it’s been a perspective and communication issue and says that ICRMP doesn’t want the agent involved in claims. Bret admitted to getting comfortable with the account and would like to do a better job in the future. The council felt there comes a time to shop for insurance and will be going with a different agent at this time.

Lynette emailed the Employee Policy to all of the Council with the updated changes as discussed previously and all had a chance to review before the meeting. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz made the motion to accept the new Employee Policy with the updated changes. Councilmember Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.

Police Report: There were 25 contacts for the month of February. He made a trip to Salt Lake and to Pocatello to get his camera and radios working with dispatch.

Maintenance Report: Doug gave his report for the month of February stating that he dug a grave for Margean Nate and Leland Hayes, he is working on getting the fire hydrants dug out, been plowing snow, filling the pop machine and we will be purchasing two-way radios for the maintenance department to use when someone goes up the canyon and doesn’t have cell phone service.

Office Business: There are 22 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of February. Clerk Smith also wanted noted in the paper that when citizens come to get their dog licenses that they need to be sure and show proof of their rabies vaccinations. The City is looking to purchase a video doorbell for the Clerk’s security when she can’t see who is coming to the door and if any other employees aren’t around to help if strangers come to the office. It was also noted that the ground the City leases at the sewer ponds is coming up for its yearly agreement Adam will prepare a general notice to put in the paper and we will open bids at our April meeting. The list of DEQ requirements will be available at the office if anyone has questions on how to farm the ground because if we put that in the paper it will be very costly.

Councilmember Marty Nate made the motion to go into executive session as per Idaho Code 74-206(1)(a)&(f) as listed on the agenda. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion and a roll call vote was taken and is as follows: DeLoy – yes, Greg – yes, Marty – yes, Tee – yes. Councilmember Marty Nate made the motion to go out of executive session and councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: DeLoy – yes, Greg – yes, Marty – yes, Tee – yes. Councilmember Marty Nate made the motion to hire Shane Clark as a full-time employee starting on April 1st and Alan Howell as a part-time employee starting on May 1st. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. The Mayor will extend the offer to each individual and then Lynette will compile letters to the other applicants after those selected have accepted the job offers. Councilmember Marty Nate also made the motion to have City Attorney Adam McKenzie draft a letter to be sent to Mark Hicken, the new owner of the duplex with the storage units about having to pay for two separate accounts with two separate apartment buildings. Councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.

Councilmember Marty Nate reported that the Twin Creeks celebration will be held on July 11th this year and that the Planning and Zoning committee has started a draft for the new and updated Ordinance. She also notified the council of citizens moving a camp trailer onto their property and wanting to hook onto City water and sewer services. The council discussed the issue and decided as per our minutes and other Ordinances that camp trailers must be in a trailer park and since we don’t have a trailer park the camp trailer can only stay for 30 days and will also be responsible for paying for turn on and turn off fees during that time period. Lynette will get the wording from the September 2003 minutes to Adam so he can amend our Ordinance for the next meeting.

Councilmember Greg Kunz reported about a dog that has been getting out and running at large at its neighbors. The Mayor said he was aware of the problem and has helped them to fix the fence so the problem should be resolved.

The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember DeLoy Kunz for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of February 2020 in the amount of $17,019.42 in the general fund, $13,851.85 in the water fund, and $19,427.20 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $50,298.47. Councilmember Marty Nate 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 2020 council meeting at 9:45 pm. Councilmember Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer