Minutes
(Minutes subject to council approval)
CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO
PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR MEETING
July 11, 2023
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO, HELD ON July 11, 2023.
PLACE: Training Room, Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street. Time: 6:30AM
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY MAYOR BATEMAN AT 6:28A.M.
PRESENT were Councilmembers Steve Bateman, James Zenner, Tyler Nelson and Kimberly Ingram, Fire Chief Dave Kuther, Maintenance Supervisor Craig Cardwell, and Clerk/Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt. Absent was Cm. Mike Jensen. The guest present was JUB Engineer Amy Uptmor.
PUBLIC COMMENT
MINUTES of the previous meeting of 6/12/2023 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 July 11, 2023, was examined, and approved, showing the following:
Funds on Hand $368,461.88
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon a motion by Cm. Nelson and seconded by Cm. Ingram in the total $88,526.34 check numbers 17033 through 17088. Receipts since the last meeting were shown as $54,568.18. Checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well as all signed the Claim Approval Report for July.
BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED
1. WW Land Ap Project Update: Engineer Amy Uptmor met with the council to inform them of the status of the reuse permit. DEQ has reviewed and responded to JUB’s responses to DEQ’s initial review. DEQ has asked JUB for a plan and supporting justification for reduced buffer zones as they are concerned about drifting irrigation. They would like to know how the city plans to create a buffer zone between the crop and neighbors. DEQ is also worried about the uptake of nutrients and wants to know that a crop is effective in using the nutrients and preventing the breakthrough into groundwater so are asking for field samples. A field sampling plan will need to be developed to monitor through the first permit cycle to determine this crop’s efficacy through proper site management. DEQ is also worried about chlorination and are pushing for additional disinfection at the storage lagoons. Lastly, DEQ is asking for the installation of an emergency generator in the case of power loss. Adding another chlorination system and a generator bumps the overall project cost into using a million or more of the bond monies. DEQ is reviewing the drawings currently then the drawings go to the Corps for review so we could possibly go to bid by the end of August.
2. Fire Mutual Aid Agreement: This new agreement allows the first arriving unit in a jurisdiction to make the decisions in the case of future fires or medical events. Cm. Zenner moved to sign the agreement; motion was seconded by Cm. Nelson, motion carried.
3. iNet 12 Month Subscription: This gas meter will be upgraded and monitored by Industrial Scientific. If anything goes wrong, they will maintain the monitor and it will always be upgraded. This meter is vitally important to the health and safety of every agency in the city, and we are lucky that we haven’t had an emergency before now. Following discussion Cm. Nelson made a motion to subscribe and get the meter, Cm. Ingram seconded the motion, motion carried.
4. FYE 2023 Engagement Letter: Before the council was the 2023 audit engagement letter in the amount of $12,000. Cm. Zenner moved to accept the letter and sign it; Cm. Nelson seconded the motion, motion carried.
5. VOIP Quote Update: Clerk Schmidt informed the council that she has picked up one more quote from Voxtelesys in the amount $1,340.00 for phones and a monthly service of $99.19 with a set-up fee of $69.72. Compared to the Verizon quote which was $910.00 for phones and $195.00 a month. Cm. Ingram suggested the clerk contact T Mobile for the third quote.
6. Fair Board Requests: Clerk Schmidt asked the council to approve shutting down the road from Oak Street to Pine Street on 5th Avenue for the Lewis County Fair. The fair administrator plans to put the vendors on 5th in front of the new livestock barn and wants to be prepared if the vendors run over into the street. She wants fairgrounds signs installed at 5th and Oak and both entrances to town. The council had no issue with the fair’s requests.
7. Medical Renewal Rates: Clerk Schmidt read the renewal amounts for the plan the city has, and no one wanted a change. Cm. Ingram moved to keep the same plan as last year, Cm. Zenner seconded the motion, motion carried.
8. Office assistant job opening at City Hall: As everyone has heard there is an opening at city hall, advertisement for the position has taken place and there has been one application already.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
1. Maintenance
Employment: Speaking of employment Mayor Bateman asked how the new hire is doing and maintenance Craig replied that Rieman is doing great. Bateman then asked Craig if Ben can step up if needed and Cardwell wasn’t able to work. Craig stated that Ben knows the day-to-day stuff well, needs more experience in the grader and has two licenses. Cardwell described his medical condition, so the council is aware of the upcoming procedure scheduled for September 7th but hopefully he gets in sooner.
Parks: Prairie Day is over, and the bathroom at the tennis courts has been torn down. Summer help will be painting the library today.
Water: Cardwell informed that he received the new monitoring waver so there should be less testing in the coming year.
Streets: Cardwell described an issue with the street sweeper as it needs to be repaired. Maintenance will be working on hot patching streets while Cardwell grades the industrial area getting ready for mag chloride on Thursday. Cardwell will get started on the storm drain installation project on 5th Avenue to have the work completed so that Herco can pave it back in when they are working on the airport project in August. Cardwell informed the council that when the rock comes in the fall, he wants to rent a cat and have the trucks unload base rock on Ash and 8th so that we can get a good foundation on the road down before graveling. We need to purchase a mini excavator and a skid steer for all the extra projects. Cardwell informed that the laser is on its last leg so will have to buy one soon.
Willow Street Development: Clerk Schmidt reported that a potential buyer in Willow Development is working to install several manufactured homes. The sewer line extension project has been drafted and is under Cardwell’s review. We need to get that project going.
Property Tax: On July 25th the city will receive the second half of taxes.
Banking: Clerk Schmidt informed the council that Kim Johnson Ingram has resigned, and the position is advertised in the Herald. Therefore, Kim will be removed from all city bank accounts and when someone is hired to replace her that person will need to be added to the accounts.
No report.
COUNCIL COMMENT
Cm. Ingram suggested commercial toilet paper holders in the RV Park bathrooms.
Mayor Bateman informed that people suggest the need for more tents for shade. It was discussed that the number of people in attendance at the Prairie Day parade and Saturday night dance were down. Friday nights barbecue fed just the right number of people.
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 7:45AM
Other/Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Council Meetings: Monday, August 14th at 7AM; Monday, September 11th at 7AM; Monday, August 28th at 8AM will be a Public Hearing for the FYE 2024 Budget and to amend the FYE 2023 Budget.
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be on Monday, August 14th at 7AM at City Hall.
__________________________ _____________________________
Steve A. Bateman, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt, Clerk-Treasurer