Grace City Council Report--May

On May 1, the Grace City Council met for a regular meeting.  After the invocation and pledge, minutes and bills in the amount of $141,672.42 were accepted. 

Fire Chief Peck reported that he had received 14 new radios that were ordered and paid for with a donation received from AgWest.  

Superintendent Crookston presented permit 2024-06 for Ed Chappell’s metal carport and extension to roof, which was approved.

Zoning Commission member Kyle Bingham stated that the zoning commission was starting to go through the zoning map to update it and make the changes requested by the city council. 

Fire Chief Peck reported that since he had received the new radios, he had been handing them out and talking to each fireman about their service.  There are three firemen who are potentially planning to step down soon.  Peck had three applicants to take their places lined up—Mike Boyd, Adam Millian, and Kyle Bingham.  A motion to approve the three men as new firefighters was passed by the council.  It was also reported that Shadrick Zulu was interested in staying on through the summer.

Superintendent Crookston requested that he be allowed to purchase 10 commercial sized garbage cans for $4500.  A motion to approve the purchase passed.

A permit for 5 chickens from Dustin and Jasey Hagen was ultimately approved by the council.  In the run-up to the approval, however, the council investigated the topic of restrictive covenants which govern such matters in neighborhoods with covenant committees.  It turns out the Monte Vista estates does have such restrictive covenants, which are overseen by a covenant committee.  However, it was determined that no such committee was currently operational, or capable of weighing in on the issue, leading to the approval of the permit.  The council agreed to approve the permit, but also inform the homeowners that the covenant was technically in place.

Mayor Barthlome reported that she had discovered that according to state statutes, planning and zoning commission members are only allowed to serve two consecutive terms.  As Dave Pristupa was noted to be serving his third term on the commission, the mayor suggested that the council ask him to step down in order to abide by the state statute.  A motion to do so passed.  Pristupa could serve again after an intervening term by someone else.

Superintendent Crookston reported that the cows will be coming into the wastewater treatment plant pasture next week.  The plymer pump at the wasterwater treatment plant needs to be replaced.  A stump removal company will be in town soon to remove remove stumps in the alleys.  A SCADA system operator has agreed to meet with the city and provide further instruction on running the system more efficiently.  The city will need to purchase a new laptop or computer to interface with the system.

The mayor asked council members to go through the ordinance book and look at the fees that are charge to determine whether they need to be changed or updated.  The ultimate goal will be to make them more consistent.

The mayor thanked service missionaries for helping with yard work in the city recently.

Gloria Peck reported that the concert to be held July 6 will be on the junior high school practice field.  The chamber received a donation that will allow them to provide double the amount of food at the event.  

On May 15, the Grace City Council met for a regular meeting.  After the invocation by Councilmember Tillotson and the pledge, the minutes of May 1, and bills in the amount of $131,673.90 were approved.

The following permits were approved: 2024-07, Alvin Richards temporary carport and permanent carport; 2024-08, Jackie Barthlome new home and fence.

Names were submitted to the city council by Zoning Commission member Ralph Spackman to replace Dave Pristupa.  The mayor would be contacting the nominated individuals to determine whether they were willing and interested in serving on the PZ Commission.

Andrea Christensen introduced herself as the assistant communications director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Grace, Idaho stake.  She explained that she would be the point of contact with the city for the church for media issues, and any natural disaster or emergency.

Councilmember Allen made a motion to approve the transfer of $60,000 from the sewer fund money market account to the checking account to cover the expense of the the grit removal system.  The motion passed unanimously.

Superintendent Crookston reported that the sensors for the low-level alarms at the water tanks had gone bad, and were sending out false alarms.  He received a bid for $3000 to have them installed.  He was asked whether the city could use the sweeper on the school parking lot after school was officially let out for the summer.  The city council approved the request to do so.

The school cleanup day would be taking place the next day.  The council discussed the events of the cleanup day with Crookston, which would include a small group sweeping sidewalks and picking up debris on Main Street, as well as throughout the community, concentrated in the downtown area.  

Mayor Barthlome reminded the city council to continue to work on going through the ordinance book for fees or other elements currently on the books that might be in need of updating or removal.  Many sections of the code have not been changed for years.

Councilmember Tillotson made a motion to hire Paden Lester for a summer help position.  The motion was econded and approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.