October 5, 2022
Those Present: Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Tee Steadman, Mayor Stephan Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Kameron & Jessica Whitaker, Justin Smith
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Mayor Stephan Waechtler
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 September 6, 2022, and the special meeting on September 21, 2022, were emailed out ahead of time by Clerk Smith. Councilor Trenton Morrell suggested to change that, “he would provide a way to pump the sewer,” on the special meeting minutes. Councilor Trenton Morrell made the motion to accept the minutes with the change. Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Jessica Wright could not attend the meeting due to a conflict with Parent Teacher Conferences so Shane Clark brought up that the school would like the City to install a crosswalk at East Street and add poles with a sign to hold flags to walk across the road. The school will provide a person to man it if we will paint the lines on the road. Councilor Tee Steadman suggested putting a school crossing flashing sign on the highway by the church crossing too. We will have Councilor DeLoy Kunz check into it and repainting as well. Councilor Greg Kunz made the motion to put in a crosswalk by East Street and Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Justin Smith came before the council about his trailer situation. He plead his case about only sleeping in the trailer at nights when he is home and didn’t feel like that was actually living in the trailer. He is planning to leave around the 20th of October and won’t be back until next year late spring. Councilor Tee Steadman said we have a communication problem in the City and have too many people living in their trailers or looking like they’re being lived in. Trailers being lived in belong in a trailer park and Georgetown doesn’t have one. City Attorney, Adam McKenzie said the argument could be made that sleeping in a trailer is considered residing in it. There was lots of discussion from the councilmembers about doing away with the Ordinance and then fine people when their property gets to be too trashy with trailers; come up with a system of being able to live in the trailer for certain circumstances on a case-by-case basis during the summer months; make a Resolution of $500 temporary use permit after 30 days plus the cost of utilities. The fear amongst the council is that the issue will only continue to grow with the way the economy is going and the expense of owning a home vs a trailer and the mine going in and people wanting to come and park to live for the summer. Adam suggested amending the Ordinance to address those living in trailers with no intent to build and have a public meeting to alert people about the things we are trying to avoid and prevent; to pay a $500 fee after 30 days which does not include utilities and you can’t just move trailer away and start a new 30 days within a 6-month period. Adam will prepare an amendment for the next meeting. The council did not have a clear answer for Justin’s situation, he will be gone for the winter and then will have to readdress when they come back in the spring.
Kameron & Jessica Whitaker came back to the council to discuss their land being annexed into the City. They were getting their property surveyed and the County has since changed their requirements and want them to make more of a subdivision for the road width and add power and fiber to every lot. They would like the City to consider annexing all 20 acres instead of just the 5 earlier anticipated because they don’t want it to look or feel like a subdivision and want to keep it more like the country. They will sell off pieces of land but it will be to just other family or locals that are looking to build. They are open to putting stipulations on annexing for the City to not have to provide water and sewer services and they would take the power and services to the lots as needed vs having to develop everything up front. Jessica stressed that they want to keep things simple. Adam McKenzie said that there is a process to annexing property into the City limits and we would have to have a public hearing and pass an Ordinance and address the zoning classification in our comprehensive plan. The notice for the hearing has to be published 15 days prior to the meeting. He will need the legal description of the properties being annexed and then we will provide copies to the Tax Commission, County Assessor and County Clerk. Adam told the council to not commit to putting any restrictions or stipulations on the annex and when people apply for building permits it can be addressed if they can connect to City services at that time. If the City doesn’t have the capacity to provide for more homes within the City limits then the City can say we don’t have the water and you can’t build until you can find the water and you have to pay to do it. In essence, the City can say no on building within the City with just cause. Clerk Smith reported that she has reached out to our engineers at Sunrise to find out what our capacity is and where the City needs to be planning for upgrades and splitting the water line at the canyon to provide more water to it’s citizens. Kameron suggested drilling a well to filter back into the system to give us more water and pump into the system if needed but would also need to be chlorinated too. He also said that in the 14 acres the City will have a right of way for another water line to be installed. Adam will prepare the notices for the public hearing and Ordinance for the annexation .
Resolution #2022-01 for increasing delinquent water and sewer account fees was read aloud by Clerk Smith. This will raise the turn off/on fee from $50 to $100. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to accept Resolution #2022-01 to increase the delinquent turn off/on fee and Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The City will sponsor a Trunk or Treat again this year at the City Park at 5:00 pm on Monday night of Halloween. Lynette will prepare flyers to send home with the kids from school and post at the post office and the Facebook page.
Councilor Tee Steadman reported that he has spoken with Officer Martinez and he will be retiring at the end of the year. He has someone in mind that would do a great job for the City to replace him and will be bringing him around to meet everyone and go for ride-alongs.
Councilor Greg Kunz would like some flags and wreaths put up for the Veteran’s. He will get with Marty about putting up flags around the Veteran’s Memorial at the park for Veteran’s Day.
Councilor Trenton Morrell had a run in with a citizen about their neighbors shed being too close to the property line and parking in the right of way. Lynette will send him a letter explaining the issues. Trenton also would like to get a trench box purchased for the Maintenance guys and thinks he can find one under $10,000 which is well worth their safety.
Police Report: There were 26 contacts for the month of September.
Maintenance Report: Shane gave his report for the month of September and stated that he and Alan installed the water line at the top of Stringtown and they have been working on the shed and will be getting it finished up shortly. He has located and cleared access to all of the fire hydrants through the City and put new pressure valves on the PRV’s. He says they are not using the old Ford anymore and so we should auction it off at the next Council Meeting. We’ve received the speed limit signs and they will work on getting them put up this Fall.
Office Business: There are 12 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of September and Clerk Smith has ordered a Nativity Christmas Light set to add to our collection.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Tee Steadman for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of September 2022 in the amount of $17,375.43 in the general fund, $14,079.24 in the water fund, and $18,734.11 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $50,188.78. Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Tee Steadman that council adjourns from the October 2022 council meeting at 10:45 pm. Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer