Soda Springs City Council 1/22

The Soda Springs City Council met for the second meeting of January on the 22nd

Councilmember Rod Worthington, Council President Mitch Hart, and Attorney Tom Smith joined the meeting through Zoom. 

Kelly Park

Sherrie Deiter spoke during the Citizen Input section of the meeting, raising the issue of signs at Kelly Park about trail resources.  Deiter questioned the provenance of the signs, and explained that she had concerns about their directions for use of the park facilities.  The signs generally advise trail users to avoid disrupting or destroying the groomed cross-country trails that run through the park on both the west and east sides of the parking lot.  “I don’t feel like others of us are disturbing the skiiers,” Deiter noted.  The council and city offcials said they would look into the signage issue.  

A related issue concerning a camera on the trail was raised.  The camera is not a city device, and because it is on public property there may be an issue with it.  Anecdotally, the camera was said to have been put up to catch users of motorized vehicles on the trails.

The signs are at the entrance to the trails, and during the meeting the council examined pictures of the sings and camera and  agreed that something needed to be done to clarify the situation.

It was discussed that any signs that are put up on city property need to be approved by  the city.  

The balance between cross-country skiiers and the other users of the trail system is something that the council expressed optimism about resolving.  

Kaylee Peck—Bayer

Kaylee Peck from Bayer, along with Ethan Walthermeier, updated the city council on the Caldwell Canyon mine project, which has recently reached a settlement with groups that had filed suit against the company.  As reported the previous week to the County Commissioners, a settlement was reached with the plaintiffs regarding the primary issue, which was the protection of sage grouse habitat in the proposed mine area.

In the settlement, Bayer agreed to provide $5.1 mill for sagegrouse habitat restoration and $300K for population surveys.  Some other concessions include procedural, such as a plan to limit rail usage before April 27, and moves to limit noise before lekking.  [If like me, the word was new to you, a “lek” refers to the breeding grounds of the sage grouse.  Leks are the areas where the male performs dances to attract mates.  Excessive external noise is reported to interfere with the process.]. Another part of the settlement involves the outlay of $2.43 million for land purchases to support sage grouse habitat restoration and preservation.  As was noted in the Commission meeting, the land might not be in Caribou County, or even in Idaho.  The conservation groups involved will determine what they see as the most efficient/effective location for land to support to bird populations.

According to the proposed timeline, a comment period for the project will last until Feb 3.  Bayer requested that the city council consider the issue and potentially provide comments to the federal authorities on the issue within that timeframe.  Peck expressed Bayer’s hope that the project will be fully ready to proceed by the end of 2025.  

President Hart made motioned to have the mayor sign the letter on behalf of the council and submit it to BLM, which was approved.

Trent Clark notes that members of the public are welcome to submit letters.  The link will be provided to the City Clerk on the city website for citizens to post/make their comments.  

Projects

City Engineer Alan Skinner noted that there was “not a lot of construction going on this time of year,”  but that bids for a contract for a pedestrian grant on 1st E to 3rd E will start when weather changes.  

Chamber of Commerce

A discussion about the Chamber of Commerce continued.  At the last meeting, the CoC requested the participation of the city, along with a membership commitment. President Hart noted that the city had been provided with information about the different levels.  

President Hart motioned to become a member at the level of $2000, and that a member of the city should be selected to represent the city at the Chamber meetings.  

Councilmember Paul Gritton, who is also a member of the Chamber as a business owner, noted” “From the onset of the Chamber of Commerce’s creation, it was a wish of mine that the city not have any executive control over the chamber.  Should we for the record declare exactly what that representative from the city’s role would be in the chamber? I don’t think it wise that the city have any executive control in the chamber.”

President Hart agreed with the suggestion, stating, “I amend my motion to make the representative a member, but without any executive function.  We have a voice, but we do not want to—real or perceived—have it seem the city is running the chamber.”

Tamara Henesh and Kent Loosle of the Camber board were present for the discussion.  Loosle welcomed other businesses and organizations to join the explore and consider joining the Chamber of Commerce.  Henesh reported that so far more than 30 businesses had become members.

Ender Brownfield Grant

President Hart reported on a grant from the EPA through Granite Peak  to review and accept certain sites, buildings, facilities, etc to be evaluated as a precursor to apply for Brownfield Redevelopment grants.  SICOG encouraged screenings to be submitted for Enders and the Hooper school.  They provide a baseline of potential issues to be remediated.  Once they are identified, another grant can be applied for to address them.  Scott Muir has been spoken to, and has agreed to have the Hooper School in the queue.  

President Hart is motioned to allow the mayor to sign a document allowing participation in the screening process to evaluate Enders and set the stage to secure a potential grant for one or both of those facilities.  Enders has not had a phase 1 or phase 2 evaluation done, to Mitch’s knowledge.  

Councilmember Gritton asked why Enders was being put forward for this evaluation, when its future with the city has not yet been decided.

President Hart gave the reason, “Because these assessments will provide a potential buyer more info, whether good or bad, about what they’re buying.  I think some entities would be reluctant to buy without that information available.”

CM Gritton noted that the document “says that SICOG would have permission to perform enviro assessment and cleanup.  Will that create a conflict?”

President Hart pointed to the discovery of something like asbestos, which he noted would have to be addressed whether the building was kept or not.“

It was clarified by Councilmember Ryan Carpenter in discussion that the assessment was a separate issue from any kind of cleanup, which would be up to whomever became the building’s owner.  A subsequent grant, which necessitates the evaluation, could then be pursued with regard to that cleanup.

The council voted unanimously to pursue the grant.  

Main Street

A list of utilities installed and the billing for the work on Main Street businesses during the Main Street project was completed, according to Director Skinner.  Some business owners on the street expresses dissatisfaction throughout the process with the city’s billing for the services, which primarily involved connections to the new sewer and water lines.  The issue will be returned to in future meetings, as the billing is now sent out.  Longer term financing was briefly discussed at the meeting, but will presumably become a part of the ongoing discussion. 

Justin Hansen

A sales agreement on a John Deere 44M tractor has been arranged.  Adjustments to the street sweeper are being made, which should improve the efficiency significantly.

Dan Squires

Members of the Fire Department will be attending annual fire training that takes place in Burley.  Feb 15-16. 

Squires reported on a call recently where a sprinkler in the assisted living center had caused flooding in the building.  The Fire Department stayed late into the night to help clean up the water.  

Painting at treatment plant is ongoing, as well as routine maintenance.  

There have been a number of issues over the last 3-4 days of extremely cold temperatures.  Pipes have burst in several homes and businesses.

The Fire Department is making preparations for the Valentine’s Dance on February 14, which is planned to be held at Tigert Middle School, and will be open to adults, and kids 16 and up.  

Hope Hansen--Library 

Library Director Hope Hansen reported that the linrary is looking into adding a Spanish storytime.  The parents of some of the storytime’s attendees noted that they had friends who would be interested in helping to develop a storytime led by fluent Spanish speakers, which they felt would be a popular program at the library.  “I will not be reading—I am unilingual,” Hansen laughed.

Clerk Haderlie

Clerk Andrea Haderlie will be taking a vacation soon, but otherwise the office is still working on year end items to close out 2024.  

Attorney Tom Smith

At the last meeting, the issue was raised of rules limiting city employment to city residents.  Smith has reached out to other attorneys throughout the state, and is beginning to received some information back on the subject.  He will advise the council on the matter when sufficient information on it is available. 

Nikki Hansen—Recreation

Director Hansen was not available for the meeting, but it was conveyed that there will be a consensus about what is going on as far as the recreation department’s activities covering competitive events on the one hand, and learning activities on the other.  It was also communicated that the city needs volunteer coaches for many of the offered sports.  So far, the rec department has had a hard time setting up gym time at the schools during the busy basketball and wrestling season.  

Citizen Input

Tamara Henesh of the Main Street Café asked for the list of who will be billed on Main Street, which was presented.  She requested to be on the agenda for next time, because “I’m going to need a lot more than 3 minutes for what I have to say.”

Industrial Park Meeting

Minutes approved from Feb 21, 2024.  

Mayor is president, Clerk Haderlie is Secretary, and Rod Worthington is the VP.  Approved.  

Meeting adjourned.

*The Industrial Development Corporation is one of these "on the book" oddities.  It was created by state Code 50-27, and requires an annual meeting to "locate, construct, and maintain industrial development facilities."  The corporation can issue revenue bonds for financing those facilities (which require an election).  It can only incur debt that will be paid by revenues received from users of the industrial facility or proceeds of the revenue bonds.  The city can accept US Government grants for the Public Corporation but cannot five or lend any funds or property to it.  It was formed in Soda Springs in 1988, and most meetings are purely statutory.