City Plans for Fall Festival
Soda Springs City Council Report 9/4
A regular meeting of the City Council was held on September 4.The invocation was given by Councilmember Gritton, and the pledge by Council President Mitch Hart.
Director Hansen had probes and other equipment replaced at the hydro tank. Fuel tank system is up to code. The circuit beaker burned out somehow when the power outage happened back in July. There will be an expense for the hydro plant, and will cost over $8K to fix it. It is not
currently running.
Fall Festival
Request for a catering permit for Stockman’s for Fall Festival on
the 28th.
This is the third year that the city has taken the reins for the Fall Festival. As a result of the construction on Main Street, the Festival events are being held in the city park. Councilmember Gritton raised the issue of promoting an event under the authority of the city which would include the sale and consumption of alcohol.
After some discussion on the general issue, Council President Hart stated that the council has the prerogative to set any terms or conditions. Gritton’s concerns were that the city park was the premiere park associated with the city, and he felt that allowing alcohol consumption in the presence of children at an event marketed as one intended for the whole community was a problem. He clarified that he was excited about the event, but had the reservations outlined above.
Chief of Police Shaw was asked whether the police had any anxieties about the plan for alcohol sales from Stockmans at the event. He stated that the department did not have any particular concerns in that area, but would certainly be patrolling the event.
City Attorney Tom Smith was consulted on whether the city would be able to grant the permit to Stockmans with stipulations attached to it regarding location, hours, etc. Smith believed, upon reviewing the applicable areas of law, that the city was within its rights to do so.
As the council discussed the issue, they weighed the rights of the various stakeholders in the situation and ultimately agreed that some concessions to both groups—those who might avail themselves of beer and/or wine sales (the permit itself does not allow for liquor sales), and those who might wish to keep those sales separate from children in attendance—were in order to be fair to everyone.
Councilmembers Worthington, Carpenter, Gritton, and Hart, along with input from those in attendance, ultimately arrived at a motion to approve the permit with the following stipulations: alcohol sales would be limited to the hours from twelve noon to midnight; a designated area on the southwest side of the park adjacent to US Bank, not over 10,000 sq feet in size, would be set aside for the purchase and consumption of alcohol, in a manner similar to a beer garden.
The motion was approved.
Garbage resolution
To adjust the garbage rates effective Oct 1. MR&E requested a 4.9% increase, for the first time in a few years. The city has adjusted the charge for billing services, as reported during the previous council report. The rates have been adjusted with the increase, and rather than a flat charge, the city will charge 1.375% for billing services, or about $600. A motion to adopt the resolution 2024-4 garbage rates was made. Councilmember Gritton abstained, as MRE is a customer, but the council approve it.
Melissa Gallegos
Hope and Recovery South's Melissa Gallegos, representing the organization, asked for support from the city for their operations. She described some of the projects that the center helps with, which include recovery support for individuals and families. They are requesting $2500, plus an option for another $2500 if they can help with a community project. The center is Soda Springs based, with about 22 kids at and around 75 adults. Games and activities are generally held at the center. An activity once a month. Parents are involved. The center receives funding from the county as well for activities. The facility is grant funded, but just to maintain the facility. Ryan Carpenter motioned to support the funding, as well an addition $2500 if a project comes along that they can help with. The motion passed.
Projects update, Alan Skinner
Maintenance Shop. Greenfield shop bid and Greenfield shop foundation. $113,602.50 is enough to put in foundation and floor. It doesn’t need to be bid out because it’s under $200K. A motion to accept bid from Iron Man for equipment storage multi-use building for $113,602.50 was approved for foundation floor.
Director Hansen added that the building was donated, so it was wise to take advantage of it. His reasoning for needing it was that the newer equipment purchased by city needs to be stored inside so that it lasts longer. The overall cost of materials is lower as a result of donated structure.
Maverik is close to completion. The inspection from Health District was clean. 20 Sept is the target for certificate of occupancy. Councilmember Gritton asked about the strip of land next to the highway. It was clarified that it would be filled in with rocks and vegetation. Liberty Dodge is also nearing completion.
Main Street—total of length for water and sewer is roughly halfway completed. From Center street south can be pressured soon. Director Skinner was asked by Councilmember Gritton whether the Main Street project was on schedule, to which Director Skinner replied that it was. The entire project was roughly halfway done, which was close to the planned calendar. Two sewer connections are left, which may or may not need to be replaced. The city will look at tying roof drains to storm sewer instead of sanitary sewer.
President Mitch Hart asked Director Skinner to present an invoice to the county for their part of the Main street project.
Carpet was approved for city hall. Clerk Andrea Haderlie selected a color and the estimate is being generated. A mason has been contacted about the geyser building.
Hope Hansen spoke on behalf of the library to report at the council. The program Music and Movement has just started. A number of other projects have also just started. The numbers have been great, she says. Hansen reported that there have been no negative impacts from construction. A concrete pad in the back will have planter boxes added to them. Ryan Carpenter arranged to put a new paper towel holder up.
The presence of a semi parked downtown for multiple days was discussed. Chief of Police Shaw said he would look into it.
Justin Hansen
Hansen advised the council that there is a project at the geyser. They are working on some of the equipment up there on the spout, including the hydraulic line. At night they are leaving the geyser going, so the equip is being covered by a tarp. Hansen wanted to clarify that the tarp is not an indicator of a homeless encampment or anything like that.
A question about whether the geyser was actually higher recently was raised. Hansen stated that Dan Squires had helped wire in a new pump, and it’s possible that had increased the force of the geyser. He agreed that it seemed to be a bit higher.
Dan Squires
Pressure on the north end of town should be back to normal. About ten homes on 7th east don’t have shut off valves. The city might put them in.
Bayer
There is a meeting with Bayer on the 17th. They will be hammering out the water agreement with them. The city thinks that it’s a fair agreement. Should be final, subject to the lawyer’s blessing. The council felt that Bayer has been very good about this whole thing and wanting to see it move forward. No information was available about potential changes in Bayer’s staff, or staffing numbers. A future announcement will be made to clarify the situation from Bayer.
Misc
Ryan Carpenter spoke as a citizen to thank the dept heads for the project on Main Street. Specifically Dan Squires and Alan Skinner. He mentioned that Justin Hansen drives by often and honks and waves.
Rod Worthington shared with the council an incident that had happened at Thirkill. “I appreciated that our school resource officer was present at the elementary school today. There was a student who broke their arm. At the end of the day I was relieved as a principal to have trauma bags which came from a grant written by our local PD, and to have that officer, officer Phelps, right handy to help out as this little person was in pain.” The student was taken to received medical attention quickly. Councilmember Worthington also wanted to thank the police for their work “to help a very nervous staff put this student in the right place at the right time. We also had an able community member who has a long history in emergency repsonse. Our SRO is there for any need, and I would just like to say thank you to our local police, and it was really appreciated by this guy who was pretty panicked when he saw this little person in pain.”
