City of Grace Council Report September 18
Adapted from Official Minutes of the meeting, recorded by Deputy Clerk Loy Raye Phillips
The invocation was given by Councilmember Kathy Tillotson, after which Clerk Phillips led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The bills ($68,026.26) and Payroll ($12,168.40) were reviewed and approved following clarification of the monies paid to Keller and Associates for the bridge project, which involves a great deal of engineering, along with soil testing and boring.
Permits
Superintendent Riley Crookston presented permits for the following, which were approved:
#2024-21 Grace School District/Eliu Hubbard—high tunnel green house.
#2024-22 City of Grace Wastewater plant storage container for use during construction.
Councilmember Toone inquired further about the greenhouse at the school. Superintendent Crookston explained that there is currently a greenhouse on the back side of the Ag building, but that the permit was for a new greenhouse. Mayor Barthlome clarified that the greenhouse would be behind the old elementary school between Kurt Young’s house and Eric Bates, where the school owns a small amount of property.
Rate increase Resolutions
Resolution 2024-1 to increase the base water rate 3% was read in full, after which a motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilmember Larry Allen. The motion passed unanimously. Resolutions to increase sewer rates 3% (2024-2) and garbage rates 3% (2024-3) were also read and passed.
Phone System
Mayor Barthlome reported that Clerk Reeves has received a bid for the new phone system from the company Rytel. The mayor further informed the council that the City of Preston has been using the Rytel system and had a favorable opinion of it. The city’s current monthly phone cost was reported as approximately $280 for three lines including a fax machine and long distance. The startup fee with Rytel would be $345, including new phones. Afterward, the monthly charges would be $86.80/month for the same services. Councilmember Allen moved to accept the bid, and the motion was passed unanimously.
City Position
Mayor Barthlome informed the council that the city had received one application for the open position with the crew. The closing date for applications was September 13. The mayor further explained that there was some question about the fact that no health insurance attached to the position for families of employees. Only employees themselves are covered by insurance. It may be the case that the city will need to continue to work with the four maintenance employees that are presently employed until the next budget meeting to further investigate the costs of adding broader insurance coverage. The mayor expressed the belief that it was something the city needed to investigate, and Councilmember Allen suggested that the city needs to be competitive as an employer. The mayor state that the deductible on the employees’ health insurance is very high, and they need to investigate something can be pursued with the state or other entities to improve the situation. The position will continue to be advertised until it is filled.
Title/Code Revisions
The city is in the process of examining the City Code book for policies that are in need of revision, elimination, or combination due to redundancy. The following sections, among others, were discussed:
1-4-1 General Penalty: “Any person violating any ordinance of the city shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and where no other penalty is set forth in any ordinance shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.” Councilmember Toone asked about the weeds. Superintendent Crookston stated that there is a fee attached to the weed ordinance. The mayor stated that the fee in 1-4-1 covers anything that does not have a specific fee attached to it, and the council agreed with the policy.
1-6-6( C) Code Enforcement Officer: “No person of entity shall interfere with or obstruct the code enforcement officer in the performance of his duties.” Discussion was had on using both the penalty and confinement in the county jail.
The issue of updating the language in several codes to include him/her or he or she, rather than some older codes which only use the pronoun “him.” That change should be easy to institute throughout the codification.
Councilmember Tillotson noted that many of the dates of the code ordinances were 1981. The mayor stated that all code ordinances dated 2024 were codified for the codes that were changed, but that this year there has not been anything sent to the codifiers as there are not enough changes to warrant it. The mayor stated that once the ordinances are codified they are put online so that everything is current.
Chapter 7: 1-7-1 Civil Defense: Councilmember Toone asked whether there was a civil defense organization. Councilmember Allen stated that the city council acted as the civil defense board. It was pointed out the ordinance referred to a specific organization responsible for civil defense, instituted in 1959. A question about whether the ordinance was needed, or needed to be changed, was raised and the issue will be returned to.
Chapter 8 Area of Impact: Mayor Barthlome stated that the area of city impact is in the process of being updated. A general discussion of the AOI was held. The mayor stated that the airport was removed from the AOI because the city no longer owned the property in question. New regulations from the state define a two-mile radius for the city impact. The mayor stated that there would not be anything built in the area on the north side because the city cannot provide water or sewer to that area. She further stated that the city could go east for development. The impact area would remain at the Harwood Road, Two Mile Lane, River Road for future growth. Councilmember Toone pointed to 1-8-2 (1), which states that “no feed lot operations, dairy farms, pig farms, or CAFO operations or similar type operations shall be permitted in the impact area of within three miles.” A CAFO is a Consolidated Feed Operation. Mayor Barthlome stated that the city could be notified of what is happening in the impact area with feedlots or dairies within two miles of the city.
Mayor Barthlome stated that the city and county must agree on the impact area. If the county receives a permit, they will be forwarded to the city, after which Superintendent Crookston will review the permit for water or sewer impact and then sign and return it. The mayor reiterated that the east side is where the area of impact must be monitored. Councilmember Toone asked how a conflict between the city and county is adjudicated should there be a disagreement over an impact area issue. The mayor explained that the city can make objections, but that the county is the final arbiter. She stated that the two entities had a good relationship.
Chapter 10 Industrial Development Corporation: The question was raised as to whether the city in fact had such a corporation. A discussion about what the status of the committee/board/corporation was, and whether an ordinance about it was needed took place. Different viewpoints on the utility and necessity of the ordinance were expressed, from retention of the ordinance as it is, to complete elimination.
2-1-3 deals with elevation issues. Councilmember Toone asked for clarification. Superintendent Crookston explained that when a sewer line is being installed it needs to be six feet deep. The engineers consult the elevation, and not the fact that it is six feet under. The elevation is 5225.
Superintendent Crookston Report
Superintendent Crookston reported that there was some hot mix left over and the potholes were able to be filled on the bridge. He further advised that if the councilmembers were to receive any questions from men in orange trucks with a backhoe and vac trailer around on the east side of town, they are going to be potholing utilities so when the sewer project starts, they will have the information of what is in the ground.
Superintendent Crookston was asked whether he was happy with the sidewalks. He said that what has been done looks nice, but the project is not complete. Councilmember Toone asked why it was taking so long to do the sidewalks, and was told that the delay was due to the time required to obtain the cement. Councilmember Bingham explained that because there is only one mixing plant in the county, and there is only so much potash delivered, it is competing with others in the region. Councilmember Toone stated that the contractor should get cement from other places if necessary and finish the sidewalk. Mayor Barthlome stated that the bid price was achieved because the contractor had a specific vendor for the materials.
Superintendent Crookston informed the council that the chip sealing was completed.
Legal Issues
Mayor Barthlome stated that the trial over the issue of the storage container had taken place. The defendant had been found guilty, and fined for court costs ($150), as well as the following: 30 days jail (suspended), one year probation, $1000 fine (reduced $700), $50 probation, and 45 days (November 1) to remove the storage container. Failure to remove the container will result in a contempt of court charge.
Superintendent Crookston stated that a lesson has been learned from the incident: Make sure that conversations with citizens, especially about potential ordinance violations, should be witnessed by more than one person, and that a certified letter on the ordinance should be sent.
Misc
Mayor Barthlome reported that the AIC (Association of Idaho Cities) Fall district meeting will be held on October 23.
Councilmember Toone asked if he could cut down weeds on a property on Main Street. The mayor stated that permission from the property owner must be received first, but in the case that such permission was received, that would be fine.
