Minutes
(Minutes subject to council approval)
CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO
REGULAR MEETING
September 11, 2023
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO,
HELD ON September 11, 2023.
PLACE: Training Room, Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street. Time: 7:00AM
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY MAYOR BATEMAN AT 7:00A.M.
PRESENT were Councilmembers Steve Bateman, Tyler Nelson, Mike Jensen and Kimberly Ingram, Fire Chief Dave Kuther, Maintenance Supervisor Craig Cardwell, and Clerk/Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt. Absent was Cm. James Zenner. The guests present were resident Patrick Pomber and JUB Engineer Amy Uptmor.
PUBLIC COMMENT
MINUTES of the previous meetings of 8/11/2023 and 8/28/2023 were approved as emailed upon a motion by Cm. Nelson was seconded by Cm. Ingram, motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:
The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report dated September 11, 2023, was examined, and approved, showing the following:
Funds on Hand $164,806.48
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon a motion by Cm. Ingram and seconded by Cm. Nelson in the total $586,164.14 check numbers 17146 through 17186. Receipts since the last meeting were shown as $160,806.48. Checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well as all signed the Claim Approval Report for September.
BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED
1. WW Land Ap Project Update – Tree Grant: Engineer Amy Uptmor reported that an Emergency Action Plan needs to be developed or incorporated into the current Sewer Emergency Plan. Amy will also be coming to a meeting in the future to present a contract for construction management. Engineer Colt Skelton has been coordinating with ITD on the access road permit. They continue to work with DEQ regarding compliance. The control building is the only thing to be constructed this year as they are hopeful to get Phase 1 out to bid yet this fall for construction in the spring. Cardwell is informing PHD and neighbors regarding a Cedar Street access road to the land app property on the south side. Cm. Nelson is going to complete a grant this month to purchase trees so would like to know the size of the areas for the trees. Note: Amy will be at the November meeting as she has a conflict in October.
2. Variance Application: Patrick Pomber explained why he is asking for a variance for his property to build a fence and shop. The overhead electrical line and the underground water service line to his residence would be extremely costly to relocate and cut his backyard in half plus 7th Avenue hugs his property line to the north so when traffic turns onto 7th vehicle lights scan through that side of the home. Both issues have caused hardship to the homeowner. Cm. Nelson moved to accept the variance request and schedule a public hearing for the October 10th meeting; Cm. Ingram seconded the motion. This public hearing will be scheduled with 2 other hearings at 5:30PM.
3. Fees for Variance, Conditional Use and Subdivision: Cm. Nelson made a motion to charge a fee of $100.00 for applications for variances, conditional use, subdivision, rezone and vacation applications plus fees sufficient to pay the cost of any notices, publications and inspections required by law or otherwise deemed necessary to process the application. Cm. Jensen seconded the motion, motion carried.
4. VOIP Quotes: Clerk Schmidt read the quotes received. Verizon provided a quote for $195.00 monthly and new phones for $910.00; T-Mobile provided a quote for $120.00 a month and $630.00 for new phones. The T-Mobile quote is for a Dialpad license as we would have to use computers and headsets as the new desktop computers do not have speakers. T-Mobile is coming to this area as the closest tower is 10 miles away. The third quote was from a company called Voxtelesys and there was a set up fee of $69.72 and would $99.19 a month with a cost of $1,340.00 for new phones. Following discussion Cm. Nelson made a motion to go with Verizon, Cm. Jensen seconded the motion, motion carried.
5. Huggins Property Purchase: Clerk Schmidt informed the council that because the Lewis County Planning and Zoning Commission was not included in the purchase of the Huggins property and were not informed of a property split the property purchased was put back into Huggin’s name at the Assessors office. Clerk Schmidt called the office and asked to get on the September P & Z agenda. Schmidt will provide all the paperwork from the transaction to inform them of why the purchase was completed. Schmidt also spoke with 2 different commissioners on the P & Z and it was suggested that the city move forward with annexing the property into the city limits. Cm. Nelson made a motion to move forward with the split with Lewis County P & Z and annexing the property into the city limits. Motion was seconded by Cm. Jensen, motion carried.
6. Election on November 7th: Since there is only one petition for mayor and one petition for a council seat there will not be an election. The state legislature has changed the code and made city elections into special elections. Clerk Schmidt explained that we (the city) will need to find someone to fill the open seat and the council will have to vote them in at the January meeting.
7. Equipment Quote for Mini X: Maintenance Cardwell received 3 quotes for mini excavators. The quotes were from Bell Equipment, Caterpillar and United Rentals. Included in the United bid was a skid steer. So, the city can get 2 pieces of equipment for what Bell and Caterpillar wanted for a mini excavator. Both pieces of equipment are used and are 5 years old; Cardwell has inspected them, and they met his expectations. Following discussion Cm. Nelson made a motion to go with Untiled Rentals, motion was seconded by Cm. Ingram, and carried.
8. Stormdrain Project Update: Cardwell reported that the catch basins and pipe are in. They will finish grading for sidewalks and Herco will be back to pave. There were only a couple of hiccups with the project, but things are going well.
9. Parcel Combo Request: Clerk Schmidt explained that Samantha and Chris Altman have two parcels adjacent to each other and would like to combine the parcels into one with one property tax bill and parcel number. Cm. Ingram made a motion to allow the combination of the Altman parcels; Cm. Jensen seconded the motion, motion carried. Clerk Schmidt will write a letter to the Altman’s of the council decision and send a copy to the Assessors’ office.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
1. Maintenance
Park Vandalism: There have been a couple of different groups of kids in the park causing issues. Cardwell has spoken to a few children and Clerk Schmidt has contacted a couple of parents. Schmidt received 2 letters of apology. Following discussion, it was decided that in the future the city will contact parents and invite them to a council meeting to discuss the vandalism issues. Community service can be doled out to the children committing vandalism.
Gravel: Cardwell informed that the rest of the gravel ordered will be delivered in October.
2. Clerk:
ICRMP: Clerk Schmidt informed that ICRMP has gotten rid of the city’s insurance agent HUB International. She was given 3 names of agents ICRMP will work with, but ICRMP has hired their own agents and the city can go directly to ICRMP. Following discussion, the council decided to go directly to ICRMP and ask them if doing so would there be a discount to the city?
1. Fire Department – No report
COUNCIL COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT
Other/Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Council Meetings: October 10th and November 13th at 5:30PM
Idaho Rural Water Training in Moscow at Best Western: September 13th and 14th
ICCTFOA Conference: September 18-21 in Boise
Lewis County Fair: September 28th through October 1st
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
__________________________ ________________________
Steve A. Bateman, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt, Clerk-Treasurer