Minutes
(Minutes subject to council approval)
CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO
REGULAR MEETING
April 14, 2025
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO, HELD ON April 14, 2025.
PLACE: Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street. Time: 7:00AM
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY Mayor Tyler Nelson at 7:00AM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRESENT were Councilmembers Tyler Nelson, James Zenner, Kelby Heartburg, Kimberly Ingram and Mike Jensen, Maintenance Department Craig Cardwell and Ben Mauer, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Bateman, Fire Chief David Kuther, and Clerk/Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt. Visitors were residents Michelle Lyons, Jim Freemen, Dave Gates, Sean Crème, Terry Perrine, Wayne Barnett and JC Hudson. Special guests were Amy Manning Executive Director of the III-A, Sheriff Jason Davis and Auditor Jordan Zwygart.
MINUTES of the previous meetings of 03/10/2025 were approved by a motion by Cm. Heartburg, motion was seconded by Cm. Ingram, motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:
The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report dated April 14, 2025, was examined, and approved, showing the following:
Funds on Hand $489,172.76
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon motion by Cm. Jensen and seconded by Cm. Ingram in total of $114,798.84 which included a grant disbursement of $12,187.59 check numbers 18034 through 18088. Check numbers 18057 and 18058 and 18082, 18083 and 18084 were voided. Receipts from the last meeting were shown as $43,666.59. Checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well as all signed the Claim Approval Report for April.
BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED
- LC Sheriff visit – Sheriff Davis: Sheriff Davis informed that he is beginning the budgeting process for the upcoming annual contract and asked the council if they would like to participate. He explained that they are in the process of a county communications assessment to address the areas of the county that have little or no service. The department is working to update equipment as the oldest equipment goes back to 2011 and the newest equipment is from 2018. They are upgrading car radios as well. Davis informed us that all emergency management funds are on hold due to the federal government. He made the council aware that there will be items repossessed from the Hamilton property so he anticipates that those staying in the house will leave.
- FYE24 Audit Report – Jordan Zwygart: Jordan provided the annual report highlighting the areas of the audit that need reviewed by council. Overall, he informed that the audit is compliant with GASB standards. Following the report Cm. Zenner moved to approve the audit as presented, Cm. Heartburg seconded the motion, motion carried.
- Nuisance Report: Clerk Schmidt informed the council that after the last meeting several letters were sent to residents asking them to abate their nuisances, other letters were sent asking residents to mow, remove vehicles in the right-of-way and finish a retaining wall project that began last fall. She added that she looked at those properties and can tell that a few residents have been working on their issues but that several haven’t. Schmidt is working with the person in charge of the Methodist Church property who agreed to having and paying for the annex building removal. A question came up about whether those types of buildings can be burnt as training for the fire department. Chief Kuther stated that the tribe doesn’t allow those types of burns any longer. Steve Bateman informed that he is working with those who are making an effort to clean up and with those that are not receptive to letters from the city. He would like to see the city get a dumpster for tires only as several residents have a surplus of tires that need removed. Jim Freeman asked, “what’s the main issue: tires or property cleanup?” The Lions club would rather assist in a community wide cleanup day than pay for dumpsters. The residents were present to find out what the council is doing about nuisance properties. Michelle Lyons informed that the weather hasn’t cooperated with the retaining wall project and that they have physical ailments that make completing the project difficult; JC Hudson added that he isn’t in great physical shape but is working on his property.
- City Attorney Lewis: Lewis provided an email to the council on the subject: Declaratory Judgments and their application to Nuisance Properties. The email explained that the council can file a case against a property of nuisance and receive a judgement. The homeowner would be responsible for the cleanup with the judgement and if they don’t follow through themselves then the city can force a cleanup at the city’s expense. To recover costs after the abatement by the city we would have to file a lien against the property. Following discussion Cm. Ingram moved to deem both properties of Arnold Gehrke and the property of Jeremy Montgomery as nuisance and to file the appropriate paperwork against Arnold Gehrke’s 202 5th Avenue for a Declaratory Judgement. Cm. Zenner seconded the motion, motion carried.
- Records Retention Resolution R2025: Motion by Cm. Zenner to approve Records Retention Resolution R2025-8, motion was seconded by Cm. Heartburg, motion carried.
- III-A Annual Report – Executive Director Amy Manning: Amy gave the annual III-A report and highlighted the areas of growth of both the trust and membership. There are a total of 114 agencies with a total membership of 6,440 and of that 2,448 are employees. The annual budget of the III-A $37,686,976. The City of Nezperce is one of the founding members of the agency.
- JUB General Services Contract: Mayor Nelson reiterated the city’s issues with the contract which held up the signing of the contract. Let it be noted that the motion to approve the contract with the city’s requested changes was made at the March council meeting. The contract was signed.
- Senior Center Bldg. Lease Proposal: President Wyatt Lux informed the clerk that the Lions Club decided to rent or lease the building long term plus expenses if the council agreed. The council discussed insurance for the building; Mayor Nelson will follow up with Wyatt. The Lions could then put their cash towards improvements.
- Fair Housing Month Proclamation: Jensen moved to make April Fair Housing Month in Nezperce and sign the proclamation, Cm. Heartburg seconded the motion, motion carried.
- “Just for the Hill of It” Donation: The council agreed to donate the $40 as they have done in previous year.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Maintenance
Water: Cardwell reported that the electrical conduit is run for Well #4 and has a call into Live Wire to hook it up.
Verizon: Cardwell was contacted by Verizon as they are upgrading their antennas on the water tower.
Sewer: Cardwell informed the council that we had a surprise visit from the EPA for a sanitary survey. Cardwell added that he is expecting to see a report from the EPA officer any day.
Land Ap Project: The new control building at the lagoons has been framed, metal for the outside is ordered. The contractor plans for the building at the reservoirs have arrived. Cardwell is getting bids on the building. Cardwell added that the contractor mentioned the hoist for that building will cost $40,000.00 to pull the pump once a year and wondered if it wouldn’t be better to rent a boom truck annually.
Summer Help: With mowing season in gear maintenance will be looking for summer help.
Streets: Cardwell is gearing up for chip sealing and he thinks it is best to tackle one side of town at a time and this year plans to seal coat the east side of town. He asked the council if he could get started on getting the gravel from Arnzen’s hauled in as needed instead of having it done all at once and having to rent equipment to pile it. The council agreed.
Stormdrain Repair: The project at Columbia Grain was completed.
Sidewalk: Cardwell is going to contact the homeowner with the sidewalk between 5th and 6th on Pine and offer to pull the sidewalk for the installation of a new sidewalk.
Other: Cardwell met with John Marshall regarding building a tiny house or putting a 5th wheel on his pasture property on Willow asking what he would need to do. Water service is in close proximity while the sewer would need to run to Birch Street. He sold his house.
Arbor Day: This year the Arbor Day project will be stump grinding followed by a council hosted barbecue at Memorial Park for the community on April 25, 2025.
- Clerk
IIIA Training: There will be a training in Nezperce in May for employees, and we get to pick the topic for the training.
Neighborhood Party: Clerk Schmidt read an email from the resident planning a block party for Monday, June 2nd 5-8PM. The resident asked for the road to be closed so that the group could mingle in the street for a few hours. The council agreed to the road closure request.
Site Visit: Tony Tenne from the Idaho Department of Commerce will be in Nezperce to view the Land App project on April 22.
AIC meeting in Moscow: Rhonda and Leigh will attend the AIC meeting while Bridget will man the office from 9AM to 1PM.
Lead and Copper Training: There will be training for staff in the Lead and Copper Rules on April 17th; a circuit rider from IRWA will be present for the training.
LEPC Meeting: Clerk Schmidt attended the LEPC April meeting in the training room and found it very informative.
- Fire Department
Chief Kuther informed the council that the Fireman’s Dinner Fundraiser was well attended as they made over $12,000 in donations. With this event as it is today, they take away more money as there are little expenses compared to the Fireman’s Dance event they had previously. He added that he has had two motors repaired.
- Code Enforcement
Earlier in the meeting Steve reported on the residents that he has been working with and those who aren’t receptive to his visits. He stated that tires are an issue in town at several residents and would like to see a dumpster come to town for tires only.
PUBLIC COMMENT
All public comments were made earlier in the meeting under the Nuisance Report.
COUNCIL COMMENT/OTHER
ADJOURNMENT: Cm. Heartburg moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:25AM, motion was seconded by Cm. Jensen, motion carried.
Other/Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Council Meetings: May 12th and June 9th at 7AM
AIC District Meeting – April 23rd
CEDA Annual Meeting – April 24th
Arbor Day – April 25th
Community Wide Yard Sale Day – May 10th
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be on Monday, May 12th at 7:00AM at City Hall.
Tyler R. Nelson, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt, Clerk- Treasurer