December 7, 2022
Those Present: DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Tee Steadman, Mayor Stephan Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Tim & Merg Neuman, Tamalu Glende, Sam & Wendy Holder, Kam & Jessica Whitaker
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Tee Steadman
The Council entertained a motion from councilor Greg Kunz to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilor Trenton Morrell. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from November 9, 2022, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to accept the minutes as read. Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Ordinance #108 – An amendment to Ordinance #100 to clarify living in trailers no longer than 30 days and not within city limits was read aloud and discussion about snowbirds. Tim Neuman suggested having 5 requirements to meet to qualify for a hardship to live in a trailer; he also suggested reinstating the Planning & Zoning Committee and poll the community. It was also suggested that if you own property then you can bring a trailer on to the property as long as it has hookups. The Council then decided to just keep the Ordinance black and white and to remove the wording for the Council approval. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to accept and pass the Ordinance #108 an amendment to Ordinance #100 about living in trailers in City limits. Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: DeLoy – yes, Tee – yes, Greg – yes, Trenton – yes. Motion carried.
The Whitaker’s came to present a plan to the Council about their property up Stringtown and being annexed into the City. They are asking that the remaining half of their primary residence lot located off of Stringtown Road be annexed into the City, which is 2.5 acres. They also have another parcel that is about 15 acres at the end of Hayes Lane that connects to the other parcel that they would like to split off into 3 one acres lots and would like for those 3 lots to be annexed into the City as well and the remaining acreage would stay in the County. In exchange for annexing the property, they would provide an easement through their property for future use to the City for the updating or addition of utility lines. They would also like to extend their help and resources when the City is ready to expand the water or wastewater system in the future. Councilmember Tee Steadman said we would need a subdivision ordinance in place before annexing all of the property and not sure our infrastructure is ready for it. Jessica responded with saying they don’t want it to look like a subdivision and would have a private entrance and private driveway that they would maintain. Some garbage and snow removal options were discussed. It was also brought to attention that the irrigation line runs through their property and the Irrigation Company has a 25-foot easement on both sides of that line. Clerk Smith mentioned that the City can annex a portion of the property now and can readdress the remaining property later. It was just simpler for advertising and Ordinance purposes to do it all at once, but it is not necessary. The Whitaker’s said they would really just like the 2.5 acres for their primary residence to be annexed for their 1 house and barn with 1 dwelling and hookup for now. The public hearing will be on January 4th for the annexation and Lynette will make sure that Adam gets the notices published. No decisions will be made until the public hearing. The council appreciated the Whitaker’s coming and presenting their plans as well as the publics input that was in attendance.
The Christmas Park Lighting Event was well attended again this year. Sean, Jamie and Lori Bartschi love to help each year and serve the food. There was snow and it was colder, but people seemed to linger longer than previous years. There were a lot of compliments on the Nativity light set; some of the lights have quit and need to be replaced. Suggestion to get some KeyLix tubs from Greg to have more fires for people to gather around for next year.
Clerk Smith wondered if we would be having another Christmas Lighting Contest this year. It was decided to continue and do the same things as last year and if people won it last year, they can win again this year if they deserve it. Lynette will get flyers posted and the gift cards. First place will get $100, Second place a $75 gift card and Third place a $50 gift card. Judging will be on December 22nd. Suggestion for next year to have the councilmembers go caroling with Tee’s team of horses.
The Employee’s Christmas Bonus was discussed and was decided to get Johnny something extra for a retirement gift. Suggestions were to put his uniform in a glass container with his badge in a wood case that he can hang on the wall. Councilmember Greg Kunz made the motion to give Shane and Lynette $400 each; Johnny $375; Doug and Alan $200 each. Councilmember Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Councilmember DeLoy Kunz said that we can add our own flags to the crosswalk along the highway for kids to carry across the road. He also reported that in order to get the speed limit lowered and have it marked as a school zone that we will need to speak with Kory Krantz. Also need to talk to City of Grace for help with grants for flashing lights that we could add to the highway for a school zone warning.
Councilmember Tee Steadman inquired about if in the winter months we could move meetings up to 6:00 pm instead of 7:00 pm. It wouldn’t work for all of the councilmembers so it will remain at 7:00 pm. Tee would like to invite Chris Banks to come to our February meeting to discuss water grant options for municipalities to help with our water improvements needing to be made.
The Mayor suggested we get the Planning & Zoning Committee reinstated and invite the guy from Sugar City to help. He and the maintenance guys met with Simplot and Rick Phillips today at the Ranch Hand and they are going to be an asset to our community and are keeping our youth in mind. They will be keeping the northern access open and not using Stringtown for now. They are also a long ways out for the Diary Syncline Mine to be used and operating. They would like to take the 5th graders out to Simplot and do a safety course sometime in May. They are also going to help us pay for two of the speed limit signs we received and we should be getting a check for that shortly. All of the councilmembers are invited to go to their safety meetings and address speeding or any other issues we feel are because of their employee’s happening in our community at any time.
Police Report: There were 23 contacts for the month of November. Clerk Smith has the job posted for applicants and they are due back December 15th. Interviews will be shortly after.
Maintenance Report: Shane gave his report for the month of November and stated that he and Alan fixed some water issues on Hayes Lane and shut the water off on a Sunday to fix. They will need to replace some valves in the summer. Shane wondered about getting some pumps for the lagoons at the sewer ponds to have a spare and to have for emergencies. They cost around $11,000 and are 6-8 weeks out to ship. The Council gave Shane approval to find one and buy it to have a spare. The Council also approved having the Mayor sign the contract with Keller Associates for them to compile the Land App Report for the year.
Office Business: There are 13 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of November. She reported that the Public Hearing should be scheduled for Wednesday, January 4th for the annexation, monthly water rate increase and water and sewer hookup increase. Adam will get the notices prepared and Lynette will make sure that they get published on time. She also reported that Shane has taken his water license certification and passed the test. He is now certified to be the water operator and needs an increase in pay. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz made the motion to give Shane Clark a raise agreed upon by the council and was seconded by Trenton Morrell. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. He will get another raise as he gets his wastewater certifications.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of November 2022 in the amount of $13,536.90 in the general fund, $7,637.03 in the water fund, and $13,700.58 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $34,874.51. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell that council adjourns from the December 2022 council meeting at 9:45 pm. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith City Clerk-Treasurer