Georgetown Idaho

January 7, 2025
Those Present: Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Marty Nate, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Addison Ochsenbein of Sunrise Engineering, Realtors at Budge Realty, Nathan Finney
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Mayor Steve Waechtler
The Council entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell 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 3, 2024, were prepared by Councilor Marty Nate and read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Greg Kunz made the motion to accept the minutes as read and Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The realtors from Budge Realty came to the council with a Boundary Line Agreement to be signed by the City and the previous owners, Gary and Ruth Thompson. The Agreement recognizes the property the City has been using and occupying as such and is recognized by the existing fence lines. Councilor Trenton Morrell made the motion to sign and accept the Boundary Line Agreement and was seconded by Councilor Greg Kunz. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Addison Ochsenbein, from Sunrise Engineering came before the council to report on following up with including the sidewalks being fixed and it does fit into our scope for the Transportation Plan Study. It would cost an additional $6,000 to add in and complete the plan. The Grant is capped at $30,000 for the Study. The scope was emailed to the council before hand and they requested more time to review it. Addison also reported that he has a letter of interest ready to go to DEQ for the Drinking Water Loan for our infrastructure. Whether we are selected for funding or not, it is important to submit so the State can see there is a need for more funding. Addison is not real hopeful we will get funding, but he will get it submitted this week for us.
The fee increases for Ordinance #96 road encroachment fees and cemetery fees was tabled until the next meeting in February to ensure the notices get published in time for the Public Hearings.
Councilor Marty Nate spoke with Tim Christensen regarding our Boundary Line Agreement and said we will need a survey done on our piece of property next to the Thompson’s, to get a new legal description. She wondered about needing the old railroad right of way surveyed also. After discussion, most of it has probably already been surveyed in the last few years due to new owners all along there. Marty will follow up if there is a need to complete.
Councilor Greg Kunz said he spoke with Commissioner Wynn Olsen about doing the turn around up Main Canyon and he said they will follow up on it.
Police Report: Sheriff Bart Heslington was unable to attend the council meeting but emailed a report for the council to review for the month of December. They completed 63 hours and had 117 contacts resulting in 10 citations and 38 warnings and 36 traffic stops. Councilor Marty Nate said the Cities of Paris and Bloomington are looking into hiring an officer and have offered for us to join, so maybe we shouldn’t get rid of our police car just yet. We have a 5 year contract in place with the Sheriff’s Office right now. The councilors told her to look into more information about it. Councilor Tee Steadman stated he likes having the Sheriff’s Office because they are always on call and can enforce our Ordinances anytime something arises.
Maintenance Report: Shane Clark gave their report for the month of December and stated that he and Hadley have been plowing the streets. They lost a seal twice on the plow truck and it has been using a case of oil every time they use it and have replaced the hydraulic pump. They have taken the water samples to the lab and all were reported ok. They moved some piles of snow and attended online training, cleared the snow away from the fire hydrants and the ignition switch also got replaced on the plow truck. The Mayor and crew will continue looking for another snow plow.
Office Business: There are 24 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of December. Lynette reported that the Christmas Light Winners were 1st Place Jim & LaRae Ahrens, 2nd Place Marlin & Sandy Bartschi, 3rd Place Jacob & Angelia Kunz. Not all of the winners have came in and claimed their award yet. Lynette will get the W-2’s prepared by the end of the month. The County will be having a Public Hearing next Monday, January 13th during their Commissioners Meeting about the City Impact Area’s. At this time, their new ordinances shouldn’t affect Georgetown because our Impact Area is close enough to our City Limits, but Marty thinks we should look into including a clause in our Ordinances that the County is implementing, that states anytime someone develops or makes changes in the impact area, that the City must be notified and have approval as well. Lynette is ordering new payment booklets for the next 2 years to be mailed out to each homeowner and asked if fees are staying the same. The Mayor suggested that we should follow recommendations of implementing a 3% increase each year. It has been 2 years since we have increased the water fees and over 12 years since we have increased the wastewater fees. Less than 5% increase does not require a public hearing. Councilor Marty Nate said the citizens need to be aware that our infrastructure has some real upcoming issues that we need to be preparing and saving for to lessen a large loan for these updates. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to increase the water and sewer fees 3% and Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. Lynette will order payment booklets to be mailed out with water fees at $46.50 and sewer fees at $62.00 for a total of $108.50 per month.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Greg Kunz for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of December 2024 in the amount of $29,049.87 in the general fund, $21,120.68 in the water fund, and $66,159.10 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $116,329.65. Councilor Marty Nate seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Greg Kunz that council adjourns from the January 2025 council meeting at 8:15 pm. Councilor Marty Nate seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,

Lynette Smith,
City Clerk-Treasurer