Bancroft City Council meeting discusses mobile banking, other issues
May 2025
This report is adapted from the signed minutes recorded by City Clerk Debbie Swensen
Present: Council President Rick P. Hatch, Jessica M. Vawser, Eric Christensen, Nate W. Eiman,
Mayor Spencer, and Clerk Swensen
Others in attendance: James Ackerman, James Simpson, Jamie Simons, Dusti Spencer, Val and Megan Eddins
Councilmember (CM) Jessica Vawser made a motion to approve the accounts payable with the exception of checking the charges from Craig’s backhoe service before mailing a payment.
Pre-Budget Workshop
Council discussed scheduling the budget workshop following the June council meeting and the pre-budget hearing following the July meeting.
Connections Bank-James Sampson & Jamie Simons
James Sampson is the supervisor for Connections Bank mobile unit. Sampson explained that the purpose of the mobile bank is to offer full banking services without the long-distance travel. They offer the same types of accounts as a regular banking institution. He invited the council and community members to tour the mobile unit following the meeting.
CEO Jamie Simons introduced herself and handed out brochures with contact numbers for branch managers and associates. She talked about the various types of accounts that Connections Bank offers. Some of the accounts are municipality specific and offer a higher dividend return rate. Connections Bank also offers money market accounts that are tiered and based on account balance. There are several certificate account options for municipality and larger corporations. One of those options is an 18 month or longer certificate that has a one jump option. This account would allow a one-time jump to the higher rate without a penalty. If the city is looking to invest excess funds into a certificate account, there is a 12 or 18 month on up to a five yr. term certificate option. Connections bank will do their best to tailor certificate accounts to match the needs of the city. Council was given a sheet showing the different types of accounts and how they work. Jamie explained that the money market account is liquid, which would allow the city to invest money or pull the funds when needed. The city would have fuIl access to the account. Jamie explained that there is an option for scan deposits directly to the account using the mobile unit.
CM Eric Christensen asked if the city could invest the money that is used to pay the water bond payments twice a year. Simons informed council that the city can put the money into an investment account and pay from that account.
CM Jessie Vawser asked how often the mobile unit would be in Bancroft. Simons explained that it would depend on how much interest they get from the surrounding communities. They intend to be in Bancroft once a week for a couple of hours. Council suggested that Connections set up somewhere close to the city office or at Teuscher Square for easy public access. Sinmons asked council members what they thought about having an ATM in town. They would need to place it in a secure and covered location. Council discussed different locations for the ATM machine. Simons explained that they currently have ten branches and serve l6 counties. Their main headquarters are in Pocatello. This business chartered in 1937 but were previously called Potelco Federal Credit Union. Clerk Swensen asked if the mobile unit has the capability of scanning a large quantity of checks from utility payments. Jamie replied that the mobile unit can scan those checks but it would be a process. Jamie suggested that a better option would be for the bank to provide the city with a scanner and the city would scan the checks as needed. The credit union will provide the scanner for the city.
North Gem Cowboys in Action Event
On May 19th Nate Eiman will be bringing a large group of school students to do projects around town. They will work for most of the day with a lunch break around noon. There will be approximately five teachers and the superintendent to supervise the students. Maintenance worker, Jim Page suggested having the students paint the crosswalks and angle parking lines on Main Street. Mayor Spencer would like to have the students clean the garbage out of the north side ditch and then do some painting and staining at the city park. Council President Hatch suggested putting eight students in a group and having five groups doing different projects. Mayor Spencer asked maintenance to make sure there are plenty of paint rollers and brushes available. Cm, Vawser asked if the students will be cleaning the gravel out of the rodeo grounds. The school will be providing meat and buns. Cm, Vawser asked if the city has purchased the chips and soda pop. Clerk Swensen has purchased the items from Costco and will take them to the students at Teuscher Square where they will meet for lunch. The school will provide meat and buns. Mayor Spencer suggested maintenance take the cities skid steer to the rodeo grounds and haul the rocks out as they are raked up.
Damages to Airport Road
Mayor Spencer informed council that a local farmer dug up a portion of the road with his farm equipment by accident but will need to cover the cost of repairs. Mayor Spencer asked if council had a chance to go see the damages. Last year the cost of cold mix was around $1,200 without the delivery charges. Delivery is approximately $300-$400. Mayor Spencer asked what the council would like to do with the road at this point. Some of the options include tearing the whole road out and putting down gravel or repairing the section recently torn up. CP Hatch felt that the road needs to be chip sealed at some point either way.
Mayor Spencer asked whether council wants to continue tearing out the road in sections like they are doing on the conjoining road. CM Vawser suggested tearing the whole road out and putting down gravel due to the heavy use of large farm equipment and multiple accidents in the last few years. Mayor Spencer suggested having the farmer cover a portion of the repair cost caused by the damages. One of the options to contain dust would be to use mag chloride and have the farmer cover some of that purchase cost. Council agreed that tearing the road out at this point is the best option. Mayor Spencer will ask the county if they would help out with tearing out the road, reshaping, and forming a crown with their graders. Council would like to get a bid on doing some chip sealing. Mayor Spencer will work on getting a bid from a local contractor and talk to the county about bringing in a roller. If the county is busy, the city may need to rent a roller.
Sidewalk Repairs
Council would like to get bids to replacing the rest of the sidewalk in front of City Hall due to a recent injury.
Council and Staff Reports
CM Jessie Vawser asked what the city council would like to do regarding the residents that continue to park on the new Main Street sidewalks. Mayor Spencer asked code enforcement to give the residents a warning followed by citations and fines according to city code.
CM Vawser would like to contact the city attorney regarding the course of action for the residents that received cleanup deadlines a few months ago.
CM Vawser has noticed a couple of deep pot holes around town and has concerns about injuries. Mayor Spencer asked maintenance to look at the dips and see what is going on and if they are manholes. Mayor Spencer suggested renting a concrete lift to raise them up to a safe level. The city may need to purchase a concrete ring and other supplies to complete the project.
CM Vawser advised that the resident with community service has completed the project he was assigned at the city kennel. The clerk has signed off on the residents’ hours log.
Maintenance Page asked what the council has decided to do with the park sign that has old prices on it. Mayor Spencer suggested getting measurements and making vinyl stickers to place over the old pricing.
Maintenance Jim Page asked about getting portable surveillance cameras for shop to monitor spring cleanup dumping and then other areas of town after the project is over. Council agreed to get the cameras before spring cleanup and watch the bins to make sure the proper items are disposed. Maintenance will get online and find the cameras that will work best.
Mayor Spencer checked prices for bentonite for the sewer ponds. It will cost $1,169 per bag unless we order a truck load, then it is $969 a bag and $13,895 for two full truck loads and with tax approx. $14,700 with free shipping. Mayor Spencer will contact the vendor and get a quote on the material needed. Mayor Spencer will ask about the city filing for a tax exemption form to reduce cost.
Mayor Spencer will get some road patch coming in so the city can start doing road repairs.
Mayor Spence informed council that the dog running lose a few weeks ago was claimed. The owner lives outside of city limits and was on night shift. He picked the dog up as soon as he woke up and realized it was gone.
Mayor Spencer has been looking at the north canyon property lines due to another adjoining piece of land being sold and some discrepancies on borders had come up in the past. There was concern at some point that the cities spring was on another owner’s land. Cm, Christensen remembers this being an issue years ago but is not sure what ended up happening. Previous maintenance worker James Ackerman doesn’t think it was ever resolved.
CM Eric Christensen thinks that the city owns 135 acres up North Canyon.
Previous maintenance worker, James Ackerman thought the city owned 160 acres. Clerk Swensen will request current maps from the Farm Agency that will show boundaries and how many acres each land owner has.
Resident Val Eddins informed council that he is doing improvements on his shop and has been trying to clean things up. He received a cleanup letter and heard that it was just items along the back alley that needed moved. CM Vawser explained that it is the garbage, carts, and other items along the building that need to be cleaned up and organized. CM Vawser is also concerned that the trailers parked on the public roads are a hazard. Val informed council that he has brought his large tractor with a mower attachment over in the past and helped out mowing Toolson’s lot and the alleyways and enjoys doing this service for the city.
Mayor Spencer explained that the 20 foot right of way in the alleyways needs to be open and maintained so utility companies with large trucks can get through to do their jobs.
Resident James Ackerman informed council that he has recently retired and will have a lot more time to work on his place. James feels like the kids in the community that ride motorcycles are well behaved but he has a problem with people getting into things on his property and breaking his windows. James wants to point out that parents have a responsibility to respect others peoples’ things. James commented that someone threw boards with nails in them on his property and he was upset but cleaned them up. A few weeks ago, James saw kids riding motorcycles in the canal so he videoed them. James wants everyone to know that what might be junk to them is not always junk to the owner. James has a trailer full of engines worth about $1,500 each that he is concerned about and wants people to respect his property.
Mayor Spencer reminded everyone that Spring Cleanup is scheduled from May 29th to June 4th.
