Minutes
(Minutes subject to council approval)
CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO REGULAR MEETING
April 8, 2024
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO, HELD ON April 8, 2024.
PLACE: Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street. Time: 7:00AM
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY Mayor Tyler Nelson at 7:02AM
PRESENT were Councilmembers Tyler Nelson, Mike Jensen, James Zenner, Kimberly Ingram (by phone), and Kelby Heartburg, Maintenance Department Craig Cardwell and Ben Mauer, Clerk/Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt. Visiting was JUB Engineer Amy Uptmor.
PUBLIC COMMENT
MINUTES of the previous meetings of 3/11/2024 were approved as emailed upon a motion by Cm. Jensen was seconded by Cm. Heartburg, motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:
The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report dated April 8, 2024, was examined, and approved, showing the following:
Funds on Hand: $398,895.14 (Approximate no Pool Received as of meeting)
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon a motion by Cm. Zenner and seconded by Cm. Jensen in the total $158,837.84 check numbers 17483 through 17531. Receipts since the last meeting were shown as $91,220.04. 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
- WW Land Ap Project – Project Design Decision: Engineer Amy Uptmor was present to make sure that Kelby was up to speed following the project meeting held on Thursday, April 4th; and to address any concerns the council may have with the findings. Amy provided the project design update and explained the options to the council for their decision. Following the Thursday meeting the council was looking at option 1 & 5 closely. Option 5 includes a center pivot with big guns in the unreachable areas of the pivot while option 5 has a change in zoning (from 3 zones to 1) and includes lines and big gun sprinklers. Amy explained that the downside to the pivot is that it will get stuck and keep the agricultural planes from flying. They are looking closely at the cost savings and those refined costs will be beneficial to the project. The electrical side with a change to the pivot is in the works. Amy further explained that choosing options 1 & 5 is not a half a million dollar savings more like $150,000. She went on to explain that she is running down additional funding from 3 different sources and will be researching more on those options. The Rural Development option comes with an increase in rates of $110.00 or more and the city is eligible. Amy explained that they had a project ready to bid thus the work they are doing now is out of scope of existing contracts. Maintenance Cardwell then stated that we are doing this project once and we want to do things right and would like to look at putting in a pivot on the eastern side of the field instead of option 5 and use the big guns in the unreachable area of the pivot arch. Discussion followed involving having a pivot manufacturer actually look at the sight to rule out the pivot idea on the east side of the field. Cm. Zenner moved to have a pivot manufacturer visit the site with our engineer before making any further decisions, Cm. Ingram seconded the motion, motion carried. Amy will send the clerk the information required for additional ARPA funds. Amy will be working up a contract for the additional work. A pre-construction meeting for Phase 1 is scheduled for Thursday, April 11th at 2PM. Let it be noted that the meeting was moved to April 15th at 1:30PM due to scheduling conflicts.
- Personal Policy Update/Review: anniversary review date, anniversary date of hire date to line up with budget review. Probational period set but still get benefits.
- Fair Housing Proclamation: The annual Fair Housing Proclamation was approved by a motion by Cm. Zenner and seconded by Cm. Heartburg, motion carried by unanimous vote.
- Arbor Day Grant – Celebrate on May 3, 2024: Planning is underway to plant 150 trees in the burn strips of the wastewater reuse project. Lunch for the community will be provided by the city at noon. The city was selected to receive a $350.00 Arbor day grant this year. Let it be noted that Mayor Nelson has a scheduling conflict with the 3rd so Arbor Day will be moved to another day.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
- Maintenance:
Water: Maintenance installed a new meter for Bell Equipment which will be a 6 on 6 off and meters were read for the first time after estimating all winter.
Sewer: Maintenance provided some information to Crea Construction for the sewer line extension. Cardwell asked if putting grindings in the wheel tracks of a pivot would be beneficial to the farming side of planting and harvesting as it would be beneficial to the getting stuck issue. Cm. Zenner (a farmer) offered that he didn’t think that would be practical. The council would like to be present when a pivot professional is on site for a consultation.
Street: Maintenance will be filling potholes and completing street improvements as weather allows.
- Clerk:
City Code: Clerk Schmidt informed the council that they have sent the information to the codifiers.
Firm Map: Clerk Schmidt attended a flood firm meeting recently. The first webinar was in 2016 and this meeting was the follow up to that meeting. Things are moving forward and there should be some information out in the fall.
Notary: Schmidt informed that Leigh recently became a notary as Schmidt’s notary is good until 2026 and she will not renew it.
CEDA Annual Meeting: Attending the annual meeting will be Mayor Nelson and his wife Ashley, Clerk Schmidt and Deputy Clerk Ross.
- Fire Department: No report as Chief Kuther was not present, but this weekend is the NRES Fundraiser and dinner.
COUNCIL COMMENT/OTHER
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Nelson adjourned the meeting at 8:07AM following a motion by Cm. Zenner and seconded by Cm. Jensen, motion carried.
Other/Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Council Meetings: May 13th and June 10th at 7AM
NRES Fundraiser/Dinner – April 13th
CEDA Annual Meeting – April 25th 5PM LCSC, Williams Conference Center
Tax Commission Budget Workshop April 29th in Moscow
Arbor Day – May 3rd
Community Wide Yard Sale Day – May 11th
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be on Monday, May 13th at 7 a.m. at City Hall.
_______________________ __________________________
Tyler R. Nelson, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt, Clerk-Treasurer