January 11, 2022
Those Present: Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, Alan Howell, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Mark Parker, Gary H. Teuscher, CPA, Mauria Teuscher, Scott Milne of Dry Creek Pumping
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Councilmember Marty Nate
The Council entertained a motion from councilor Greg Kunz to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilor Tee Steadman. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from December 8, 2021, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to accept the minutes as read. Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Greg Kunz for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of December 2021 in the amount of $17,756.83 in the general fund, $8,854.48 in the water fund, and $19,002.48 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $45,613.79. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried.
Councilmember Marty Nate had some parting words and reminded the council to stay on top of the oil spill on Third Street and the Ordinances at Adam’s office. The Mayor and each Councilmember thanked Marty for all of her service over the years and her love for the community and its people. Her wisdom and knowledge will be greatly missed.
The Council then engaged in the swearing in of incumbent Mayor Steve Waechtler, incumbent Councilor Greg Kunz and new Councilor Trenton Morrell. Each took the Oath of Office and received certificates for their positions. The Duties of Councilmembers were reviewed and assigned. Councilor Trenton Morrell will take over the responsibilities that Councilmember Marty Nate had and the others will all stay the same. Councilor Greg Kunz was nominated to remain as the Council President and he accepted.
Councilor Greg Kunz made the motion to add Trenton Morrell to the bank accounts at Ireland Bank, US Bank and Zions Bank and to remove Marty Nate from all accounts. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The Bear Lake County Fire Chief Mark Parker came before the council and asked about the use of the property on Main Street located between Gary Thompsons and Brad Wells. The County would like to build a shed for vehicles to be put in on this side of the valley. The fire truck is already in the City Shop and a brush truck at Jacob Kunz. He said we are going to outgrow the buildings that we are in shortly because vehicles are all getting bigger and not smaller. It would be a 2-bay building and he thinks with the mine opening that it could bring in close to 250 people. He also stated that when the equipment is in other farmers sheds that they are not insurable by the County. Councilor Tee Steadman says it would free up more space in the City Shop to move the equipment out. The Mayor mentioned that that piece of property is outside of the commercial zone and citizens may object to the building up there. Mark would like to work out a donation of the property from the City or a 99-year lease. There are at least 7 people from Georgetown on the Voluntary Fire Roster. All of the councilors were in favor of having a shed built out here to keep equipment in. Details will still need to be worked out.
Scott Milne from Afton owns Dry Creek Pumping Tanks and came before the Council to ask about the opportunity to dump into our lagoons. He does a lot of business in Bear Lake and Afton is now limiting their capacity and will not accept them to dump from Idaho tanks and they can no longer dump in Paris either because they are making changes to their lagoons too. They brought in a significant amount of revenue to the City of Paris and paid $100 per load to dump and about $30,000 a year. They would like to just bring their Idaho loads for now. They can filter out any paraphernalia that they would get from porta potties. Shane will talk to our engineers at Keller Associates to see our capacity to be able to accept any truckloads and get back to the Council at the next meeting to make a decision and get back to Scott.
Gary H Teuscher and Mauria came to the council to report on the Financial Audit for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and the City is in good shape. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to transfer $18,572.67 from the water fund and $16,581.14 from the sewer fund to payback the general fund. Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Councilor DeLoy Kunz was excused from the meeting because of work but had called the Mayor previously about the roads. The Mayor and other Councilors have received a lot of calls about the roads, mostly up Stringtown. The guys have done all that they can do and have even sanded the stop sign heavily. The roads are just slick and scraped down as much as they can be. They Mayor suggested getting some flags or markers to put up along the road to know where the road is when there is a whiteout.
Councilor Tee Steadman suggested sending Officer Martinez to cite people for pushing snow across the roads and not cleaning up. It is also what has created our problems on the roads. He would also like to see some cars moved off of the roads better. He also wanted to give credit to the Maintenance guys for all the work they have done and keeping the roads plowed each day and all through the holidays.
The Mayor also said for next year’s Christmas lighting that he and other citizens would like to see Christ brought back into Christmas and gave permission for Clerk Smith to purchase a nativity scene Christmas light set. He also suggested to maybe put a friendly reminder on Facebook first to have citizens move their vehicles and if they need help moving snow back out of the way that he would be happy to help do it.
Police Report: There were 17 contacts for the month of December. Officer Martinez had an interaction with someone he pulled over had ended up being a wanted man and had to call for backup to the County. He is not equipped to arrest and transport anyone. The council agreed that Martinez needs to be equipped with what he needs to do his job properly and safely.
Maintenance Report: Shane gave his report for the month of December and stated that he and Alan had a grave opening and the Land App Report from Keller’s is finished and been submitted. They also pushed a lot of snow. They need a ride up to the tank this week. Councilmember Tee Steadman asked if we are still looking at purchasing a side by side? The Mayor said he has been looking and there is nothing out there to buy. It was suggested to get on a list for a new one. The Mayor will contact Frank May Ski Doo and get one ordered and find out how much would need to be deposited to be on the list. He figures it will cost about $25,000.
Office Business: There are 17 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of December. The Christmas Light Contest was a hit, and the winners were Tony & Chris Price 1st, Bryan Hartley & Ashley Millard 2nd, Tyler & Katana Sorensen 3rd place. The Rocky Mountain Power Grants were announced and we were not awarded this year but a couple other places in our valley were. We will apply again next year. Lynette got the W-2’s prepared for all the employee’s and the money from the hay lease was also brought in and recorded for the year.
The Mayor reported that he met with leaders at Simplot and the mine is looking at about 8-10 years away from operating. He met with County leaders as well and they said they will still help with traffic signs. They have also suggested removing the 35 mph signs coming out of the canyon and reducing to 25 mph all the way down Stringtown. Shane mentioned to go to all of the mines to help with costs of speed signs and other things because all of the mines will be using the roads.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Greg Kunz that council adjourns from the January 2022 council meeting at 9:15 pm. Councilmember Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer