Minutes – City of Nezperce, Idaho

(Minutes subject to council approval)

CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO

REGULAR MEETING

October 14, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO, HELD ON October 14, 2025

PLACE: Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street. Time: 5:30PM

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY Mayor Tyler Nelson at 5:30 PM

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT were Councilmembers Tyler Nelson, Jim Zenner, Kelby Heartburg, Mike Jensen, and Maintenance Supervisor Craig Cardwell, Clerk/Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt, and H Leigh Ross via Teams. In attendance were Steven Schramm with JUB, Wyatt Lux, President of the Lions Club, Mark Hand and Jim Freeman. Fire Chief Dave Kuther and Cm. Ingram were absent.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Jim Freeman is impressed with the work being done on Mr. Gehrke’s place; it looks great; stay on it. Ms. Epeldi’s property will be getting a roll-off soon so cleanup can begin on her place. Mr. Mark Hand thanked the council for financial support for the teen center over the last couple of years. That meant a lot to them. Due to the center’s nonuse, Mr. Hand stated that they will most likely list the property for sale and feels ethically that they should kick some of the money back to those who supported the center.

MINUTES of the previous meetings of 9/8/2025 were approved by a motion by Cm. Zenner, motion was seconded by Cm. Heartburg, motion carried.

TREASURER REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:

The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report dated October 14, 2025, was examined and approved, showing the following:

Funds on Hand $ -574,272.71 (City is expecting $987,687.36 in grant reimbursements)

All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon motion by Cm. Jensen and seconded by Cm. Zenner, motion carried. Disbursements totaled $1,070,274.56, which included grant disbursements of $987,687.36, check numbers 18308 through 18368 with check number 18335 voided. Receipts from the last meeting were shown to be $56,942.55. Checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well, and all signed the Claim Approval Report for October.

BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED

Lions Club Lease Agreement: The council informed Wyatt Lux that the arena looks great after the Lions cleaned it up following the tough truck competition. Regarding the lease Wyatt wanted to verify that the city doesn’t have a laundry list of items to be completed in the building that the city expects the Lions to complete once the lease is signed. Cm. Jensen made a motion that there is no laundry list of issues for the Lions Club to complete to be in compliance with the lease. The motion was seconded by Cm . Zenner. Motion carried, and all parties signed the lease. Mr. Lux acknowledged that he is aware of water drainage issues around the building.
Change Order Phase 1 #5 and Phase 2 #3 and #4: Motion to accept change orders as read and reviewed by Cm. Jensen, seconded by Zenner, motion carried.

Ordinance 251: Clerk Schmidt explained to the council that Ordinance 251 was passed in 1961 but had never been recorded as it abandoned 18 inches of the alley behind the Only Store. Schmidt was unable to find a signed copy of the ordinance but found that it had indeed been published therefore we need to ratify the ordinance and record it with Ordinance 2026-1. Mayor Nelson asked for a motion to suspend the rules; Cm. Heartburg made a motion to suspend the rules, motion was seconded by Cm. Jensen, motion passed with the following role call vote.

Cm. Zenner; Aye

Cm. Heartburg; Aye

Cm. Jensen; Aye

Cm. Ingram not present.

Cm Heartburg then made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-1, Cm. Jensen seconded and the motion was approved with the following roll call vote.

Cm. Zenner; Aye

Cm. Heartburg; Aye

Cm. Jensen; Aye

Cm. Ingram not present.

Alcohol License Transfer Request: Mayor Nelson read a request to transfer the alcohol license for the Only Store from the prior owner to the new owner of the Nezperce Market. Motion made by Cm. Jensen to approve the license transfer, seconded by Cm. Zenner. Motion carried.

Avista Agreement: Maintenance Supervisor Cardwell explained that this agreement is for an electrical ped at the airport, the city had everything in place just had never hooked it up. Aecon will pay for the hookup and the monthly bill until the completion of phase 1 of the fiber project; thereafter, the bill will revert to the city to pay. Cm. Jensen made the motion to sign the agreement, which Heartburg seconded, and the motion carried.

Land App Project Update: Steven Schramm from JUB gave the update for the project. He informed that we are waiting for IDWR to give their approval to fill the reservoirs to perform a leak test. He added that the NPDES outfall point is not included in the current discharge permit but will be included in the new permit. Project contract extension and additional change orders coming. Sprinklers are in and most have concrete. 60 % of the valve structures are in; the old weir is out, and new weir is in. The building is coming along waiting for siding; Avista will get power hooked up; the west field is done while the east side is getting worked on. Pressure testing is nearly complete. The contractor is busing backfilling and cleaning up. Conversation regarding decommissioning the well and getting water to the property was discussed. Cardwell added that water is no big deal, but sewer is another issue.

Fiber Project Update: Cardwell provided the project update. The fiber in Nezperce was bored in and is completed for Phase 1. While digging footings for the building next to the EMS building, they ran into the city’s storm drain system. The cost to move the storm drain system will be $26,000 then the provider building can be constructed. Phase 2 in Nezperce will be a challenge to get the fiber out of town because of the direction they plan to go; Cardwell will follow up with the engineers on that.

Arbor Day Project – School Trees on 2nd Avenue: 2 bids should be coming in, one to clean up the trees and the second to remove and replant. The council would prefer to remove and replant. We will need to coordinate with the school.

Nuisance Property Update: The council agreed that Gehrke’s property on 5th is looking better and that he moved items off the right-of-way. Jeremy Montgomery has made no effort to abate the nuisance on his property. The council would like to know the cost that was expended on the last declaratory judgment, before they make the decision to move forward with Montgomery. Clerk Schmidt left a message with Kris Ann regarding removing her personal property from the Methodist Annex building as it is time to get that building down before it falls and Schmidt suggested asking Bryce Ingram to complete the removal. The retaining wall of the Lyons’ has not been completed, and they have received two letters requiring the wall to be done. The council would like to move forward by declaring a public nuisance if they do not get the work completed by 10/31/2025.
Idaho Gem Grant Award – Review and Approve: Motion to accept the Idaho Gem Grant Award. This award is for the rehabilitation of the alley behind St. John’s. Cm. Heartburg moved to approve and sign the grant paperwork, Cm. Zenner seconded the motion, motion carried.
RV Park Restroom – Auto Door Locks: The council likes the idea of installing auto locks on the bathrooms to protect them from vandalism. Bathrooms would be open during the day for regular use and RV patrons could be given a code to enter. The restrooms need new garbage cans, baby changing station and paper towel holders. Also need to replace a dog station. Georges Lock and Key was suggested for the auto locks.
Christmas Party: December 13th was the date scheduled for the city party at the Legion Hall. Planning will commence.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

Maintenance

Water: 3 meters were installed this month with one more to go.

Sewer: Cardwell informed that we are getting a price to extend the sewer on Beech and 6th to Ash as those lots are for sale and we expect hookups for homes. Cardwell added that he priced out a valve opening tool for $6,100 that will be needed once irrigation starts.

Streets: Maintenance will be getting the snowplows going and finishing the sidewalk on Pine. Cardwell explained his plan to run a new culvert across 6th and down Pine along the sidewalk so that we will be able to mow it. Cm. Jensen asked about installing a culvert in front of Dan Johnson’s to help clean up that area as well. We are stock piling topsoil to be used around town as needed.

Miscellaneous: Craig wants the council to know that has been asked to be the back-up operator in Craigmont until they can get someone licensed.

Clerk:

Legion Hall planning meeting: There will be a planning meeting to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms at the Legion Hall on October 23rd at 5:30PM that anyone can attend.

Fire Department: No report
Code Enforcement: No report

COUNCIL COMMENT/OTHER:

ADJOURNMENT: Cm. Zenner moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:04PM, motion was duly seconded by Cm. Jensen, motion carried.

Other/Upcoming Events:

Upcoming Council Meetings: December 8th and January 12th at 5:30PM

Closures: November 11, 27, 28, December 25th and January 1st

The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be on Monday, November 10th at 5:30PM at City Hall.

_______________________ __________________________

Tyler R. Nelson, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt, Clerk-Treasurer