Minutes
(Minutes subject to council approval)
CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO
REGULAR MEETING
October 15, 2024
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO, HELD ON October 15, 2024.
PLACE: Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street. Time: 5:30PM
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY Mayor Tyler Nelson at 5:30PM
PRESENT were Councilmembers Tyler Nelson, Mike Jensen (via cell phone), James Zenner, Kelby Heartburg, Maintenance Department Craig Cardwell, and Ben Mauer, Clerk/Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt and Fire Chief Dave Kuther. Visiting was resident Candice Starkweather and 3 guests with Legacy Beef, LLC Miles Hatter, Larry Hatter and Clay Groom. Councilman Kimberly Ingram was absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Candice Starkweather brought up an animal problem. Kirkland’s dogs are always in her yard and has killed a chicken previously so this last time she made a formal complaint. Junkie yards is her other issue. She has personally contacted her neighbors asking them to clean up their yard as she feels that the condition of their property is keeping her from selling her house. Mayor Nelson informed that there is only so much the city can do and are thankful that that neighbors talk to neighbors. Nelson added that we are encouraging those folk to build a fence. Dog issues need to be directed to Sheriff Davis.
MINUTES of the previous meetings of 9/9/2024 were approved as emailed upon a motion by Cm. Zenner was seconded by Cm. Heartburg, motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:
The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report dated October 15, 2024, was examined, and approved, showing the following:
Funds on Hand $ 92,502.72
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon a motion by Cm. Heartburg and seconded by Cm. Zenner in the total $1,083,927.66 which includes grant disbursements of $1,012,121.76 check numbers 17769 through 17824. Receipts since the last meeting were shown as $806,542.75. Checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well as all signed the Claim Approval Report for October.
BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED
- Land App Project Update and Phase 2 Contractor Award: Mayor Nelson informed the council that 5 bids were received for Phase 2 of the Wastewater Land Ap project. The bids were reviewed by the engineer it was pointed out that JUB found the LaRiviere, Inc. bid “unresponsive” and advised that the bid results should be reviewed by the city attorney; so, when Nelson received the information, he forwarded everything to Attorney Lewis for her opinion. She made her recommendation in writing on 9/30/2024 that based on state code LaRiviere, Inc. cannot be considered qualified because they were “unresponsive” to the bid. She added that the city must award the bid to the qualified bidder with the lowest responsive bid. Cm. Jensen made a motion to accept the lowest responsive bid on the recommendation of legal counsel. Cm. Heartburg seconded the motion, motion carried. JUB will inform LaRiviere of the council’s decision. Minutes corrected on November 18, 2024.
- Miles Hatter – Speaking on ag industry business to Nezperce: Miles Hatter, Larry Hatter and Clay Groom were present to speak to the council about a business opportunity. They are with Legacy Beef LLC and are looking for a community to take a beef cutting facility with an upgraded wastewater system. They added that they are looking at Nezperce and Craigmont as we are currently in the upgrade process. JUB has done some groundwork and knows the impact that this company will have on a system. The business needs a facility approximately a 40X100 with holding pens and will employee 7 or 8 employees; they have an agreement with Cloninger’s chain for the meat. They would need a maximum of 4,000 gallons of water a week. They have discussed containing the blood and shipping it to a facility so it wouldn’t go through the system. Maintenance Cardwell asked if there is a document or information on how to treat the waste in a facultative lagoon system; he added that we will need to have things reviewed and approved as we are just getting our feet on the ground with a reuse facility. The consensus of the council is that we are acceptable to new business, especially to grow our city. Clerk Schmidt provided a city zoning map as this type of business would be classified industrial.
- Fiber Building Location Discussion: Mayor Nelson informed the council that the fiber project representatives have been looking for a property to construct a building for internet provider equipment; including a generator. The representatives really like the location here at the EMS building. They are proposing a 12 X 20 fenced area and discussed the northwest corner of the building. Chief Kuther suggested that they use an unfinished room inside the building and put in an exterior access door for the providers. It was agreed that we would like to take advantage of this offer and will inform the engineer of the option of building inside.
- Update to Phone Service Provide: Clerk Schmidt informed the council that Nezperce Ag has successfully gone to a (VoIP) voice over internet service and were able to successfully pull their numbers from CenturyLink. Schmidt is getting more information on what company they contracted with but is nervous about making the change prior to the fiber coming to Nezperce. Currently the internet gets weird when there are several uses going on at the same time. Cm. Heartburg said that the school is going to a VoIP also and will get us the information so that we can get a quote from them.
- Legion Hall Purchase Suggestion: Schmidt informed the council that she had a conversation with Mart Thompson of the Legion about the 25 feet the city was trying to purchase and Mart suggested we have fundraisers to cover the costs to the city. He suggested that Schmidt pull all the costs together for a survey and an appraisal so that we know the actual cost for the purchase. Mayor Nelson added that he will check with JUB as they have a survey crew to see what they would charge the city for a survey.
- Birch Street Extension – 7th to 8th Ave.: Maintenance Cardwell informed the council that he is planning to extend Birch which will include a culvert installation, tree removal and gravel. He would like to hire Cody Osburn to haul the rock with his belly dump for a day or two. The council agreed to the work.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
- Maintenance:
Water: Cardwell reported that the lead and copper samples came back fine last month. Maintenance will be reviewing a water utility survey implemented by DEQ to identify lead and copper lines. The survey is due this month.
Hydrants: Cardwell is working on coming up with a day to test hydrants and plans to do a section at a time.
Sewer: Maintenance completed a root ball repair on Maple Street last week. The service line was nearly packed full of roots. The retaining wall at the lagoons is done and maintenance will begin working on the building they will construct. He had to move away from that project to remove a retaining wall at 212 Oak Street, which is completed. Cardwell briefed the council on the activity at the reservoirs stating that the liner is done, Crea is working on the access roads while the subcontractor is putting up the fence. Phase 1 should be wrapped up this coming month.
Sidewalk: Cardwell informed that the sidewalk on Pine Street hasn’t been torn out to be replaced. Either Schmidt or Ross will speak with the homeowner next time he comes to pay his utility bill.
Misc.: Maintenance has begun winterizing around town. Plans are underway to make a trailer to haul equipment around vs driving it; planters need cleaned out as well as cleaning up around the trees in the buffer strip all before the weather turns.
- Clerk
The DEQ reuse permit was received following DEQ’s review of JUB’s comments. Clerk Schmidt has not had time to read it as it was just received.
Schmidt added that the codification was received, and she is reviewing it; she found a few things that need addressed thus far and will talk with the City Attorney about revising a couple water ordinances since we are taking a good look at ordinances.
- Fire Department:
Chief Kuther told Cardwell that he has a trailer he can borrow for hauling equipment. Unfortunately, the city doesn’t have a 5th wheel hitch. Kuther added that EMS training is starting, and they will be using the training room on Monday and Wednesday nights so council meetings will be in the chamber. The fire department is planning on doing something for Halloween for the kids.
- Code Enforcement:
Cm. Zenner wants the city to move forward on Arnie Gehrke for failing to comply with the request to cleanup at his two properties. Mayor Nelson added that we need to those nuisance properties to build fences. Clerk Schmidt informed the council that she learned at conference that cities that performed cleanups on private property have not been able to put the cost spent on the tax rolls for reimbursement even though ordinances state so; therefore, before we initiate a clean -up we should check with the county to see if they will allow us to put the cost of cleanup on the tax rolls.
COUNCIL COMMENT/OTHER
ADJOURNMENT: Cm. Zenner made a motion to adjourn at 7PM, motion was seconded by Cm. Heartburg, motion carried.
Other/Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Council Meetings: December 9th and January 13th at 5:30PM
Rhonda Vacation – September 28th thru November 7th
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12th at 5:30PM at City Hall.
This meeting has been moved to Thursday, November 14th.
Tyler R. Nelson, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt,
Clerk-Treasurer