August 3, 2021
Those Present: DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, City Clerk Lynette Smith, City Auditor Gary Teuscher
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Councilmember Marty Nate
The Council entertained a motion from councilmember Tee Steadman to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilmember Greg Kunz. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from July 8, 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.
Councilmember DeLoy Kunz wondered about if Officer Martinez could stagger his time and work on weekends with the business of people camping right now and to help control traffic coming out of the canyon during those times. Councilmember Tee Steadman will speak with Martinez about a schedule that will work for him.
Councilmember Tee Steadman has heard about a lawsuit going on between a couple of citizens and wondered what part the City needs to be involved in, if any. He also would like the flags and signs posted with vulgar language to be taken down so our kids aren’t reading these. The Mayor said that he will go and talk to the citizen about taking down the vulgar signs.
Councilmember Marty Nate reported that Sarah Finkey and her family puts up the flags at the cemetery on the War Veteran’s graves. This will be their 35th year and then they would like to turn it over to the City to carry on. We will probably need to get more flags next year. Marty suggested turning it over to the church or see if another family would be interested in taking it over. She also would like to get a type of asphalt to put on the main road at the cemetery from gate to gate for now and then add a little bit each year for the other rows. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz said maybe we could get a hold of the asphalt when the State comes in and redoes the road in Bennington but that is still a ways away from being done. She had some more clarification for building permits and wondered where it falls under the 200 sqft doesn’t require a permit but what about the height. It was suggested that anything 12×12 or smaller doesn’t need a permit and there was no height limitations. We also have a citizen that has applied for a building permit and would like to get a variance from the neighbors about placement of the shed. She got a variance from the neighbor but the council did not approve it because when neighbors change or move away it doesn’t always work for the new owners. The council decided that the letter from the neighbor wouldn’t matter and that the application should be 8 feet away from the neighbor’s property and it would need to be changed before the permit would be given.
The Mayor spoke with Rick Phillips from Simplot to see if anything had been turned in through the County about plans for helping out with things in Georgetown. Nothing had been turned in yet from their meeting and so the Mayor will continue to follow up on it.
The Council then engaged in the budget workshop for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 with City Auditor, Gary H. Teuscher. The council approved a 5% increase for Shane Clark and Alan Howell and a 3% increase for Lynette Smith and Officer John Martinez. Lynette will get the notice prepared for the public hearing on September 7th with the budget numbers from Gary.
The Animal Control Ordinance Draft was tabled until the next meeting.
Police Report: There were 28 contacts for the month of July and a dog bite was reported and cited.
Maintenance Report: Shane gave his report for the month of July and stated that he and Alan have been getting the seepage tests started at the ponds. He found that the backup generator has been running and has had someone down to look at it to find out what made it kick on. He is going to set up a contract to have it checked and serviced once a year to make sure it is working properly. The pond at the Land App site has been pumped dry. He would like to put up some signs at the park to have people clean up after their dogs and the council agreed. He has hauled some dirt up to the cemetery and filled in some holes of the recent graves.
Office Business: There are 15 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of July. Lynette reminded council members that the declaration of candidacy is coming up for councilmembers to run for office. Lynette has been notified of some citizens that are still living in their trailers and they have already been warned by the Mayor and councilmembers previously. The Mayor said to have Officer Martinez go and give them a citation since they had been previously warned in person.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Marty Nate for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of July 2021 in the amount of $24,275.22 in the general fund, $42,268.77 in the water fund, and $84,369.12 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $150,913.11. Councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Marty Nate that council adjourns from the August 2021 council meeting at 9:15 pm. Councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer