Grace City Council, August 20
The City of Grace held a public hearing on the park and property vacation, and a regular meeting on August 20. This is an adaptation of the approved minutes recorded by Clerk Shelley Reeves. There is some editing for length and clarity.
Present at the public hearing were: Jackie Barthlome, Riley Crookston, Kimi Lowe, Kathy Tillotson, Curtis Toone, Tyler Butikofer, Shelley Reeves, Sherry McCurdy, Chris Banks, Stanley Christensen, Nate Mortimer, Eileen Farnsworth, Jake Wright Rowdy Larkins, Mark Christensen, Christie Christensen Mayor
Mayor Barthlome stated that the purpose of the public hearing was to hear comments on upgrades to the park, and opened the floor for comments.
Eileen Farnsworth stated: “There's three things that I think need to be addressed. One is the sand around the kid's things because the weeds grow up in it and they are the kind that kind of bite you when you walk on it and kids take their shoes off, so I think that needs to be addressed. My second one is the big tires, I think they need to be removed because they are used a lot for outdoor bathrooms, all the time, and maybe other things toо that can't be seen, but outdoor bathrooms I definitely know about, and I think they need to be removed, they are a health hazard for kids to be climbing in and out of those. And the other one is lifting up the benches that are over by the swings, I'm kind of old and I have a hard time sitting on those benches watching the grands because they have sunk down so far and I just think they need to be raised up and put on cement or something so that everybody can use them not just the young people. Those were my three concerns.”
Councilmember Toone asked if Mrs. Farnsworth lived close to the park. She stated that she did live fairly close, 2 blocks away, and she takes her grandkids there quite often in the summer. Mayor Barthlome called for comments from the council. Councilmember Tillotson stated that the benches do need to be raised and strengthened. They need to be lifted up. Councilmember Lowe stated they need a cement pad. Mayor Barthlome stated that when the new bench that was put in they dug a hole and then they poured cement in it, and then they put a plate that the bench sat on, and it was level with the grass. Another had been done as a girl for her senior project, the grizzly bench over by the merry-go-round. Councilmember Lowe stated that something like that would probably keep them from sinking. Councilmember Butikofer stated that he didn't know if they were sinking or if the ground was raising from the sand. Councilmember Toone asked Mrs. Farnsworth if it was the sand or the weeds that she was concerned about? She stated both, he asked if we got rid of the weeds and there was sand. She stated that you still have cats that come and use it and maybe there is other stuff that could be put in.
Councilmember Butikofer stated that wood chips are a good option. Mrs. Farnsworth stated that she wasn't sure what Soda had at their park but they have some kind of rubber. Councilmember Butikofer stated that the rubber gets hot. Mrs. Farnsworth stated that the sand gets hot also. Councilmember Butikofer stated that the rubber is a different kind of hot, that it kind of cooks you, where the sand gets hot on your feet, but it doesn't cook you. He said that he would say no to the rubber. Councilmember Toone stated that we needed to do something besides sand.
Mrs. Farnsworth agreed and said that the weeds that come up have those prickly vines on them and they hurt and what do you do in the summer when they come back? You have to be careful spraying because there are kids there off and on all the time. Mayor Barthlome closed the public hearing at 6:07 p.m.
A second public hearing was then held to hear comments /on vacating city property. Mayor Barthlome called for comments on vacating city property. Stanley Christensen was asked by Mayor Barthlome why he wanted the city to vacate the property. He stated: “Why do I want to conform with the rest of the street? Because the other landowners to the south have gone through the very same process is that right? So that when the city does their mowing and everything like that there so it's in a straight line with the property and in with conformity with the rest of the landowners there and along the north.”
Mayor Barthlome called for comments from the council. Clerk Reeves stated that when the surveyor sent the legal description he also sent one on the alley because when you look at Mr. Christensen and LP Propane's legal descriptions they own the alley, so they will be deeding the alley property back to the city and the city will be deeding the property to the west to them. Councilmember Toone stated that he thought it was a good idea. Mayor Barthlome then closed the public hearing.
The Mayor then called to order the regular meeting.
Mayor Barthlome reported that the fire department had responded with Caribou County to a baler fire. There were 2 trucks and 3 men respond.
Zoning Chairman Sherry McCurdy reported that the zoning commission had some concerns about not changing the zoning of the area north of Center Street from 4th East to 6th East that have animals to an agriculture zone. Mayor Barthlome explained that it would have split some of the property lines and that the landowners that have animals are either grandfathered in or have done the necessary paperwork to keep animals on their property.
The zoning commission was also concerned with changing the zoning of the block south of Center Street from 1st West to 2nd West to an R1 residential zone since there is the medical/dental clinic and an apartment building on that block.
Superintendent Crookston presented the following permits that were approved: #2025-11 - Todd Kap -carport & roof extension #2025-4 -Cody & Annie Brower - added fence to existing permit.
Councilmember Tillotson moved to approve to vacate the city property on the east side of 4th West from Center Street south to 2nd South and to split the cost of the survey with Stanley Christensen. Motion passed unanimously.
Chris Banks with Conservation Basics and the Soil Conservation District reported that he has been actively seeking grants to help with the work that needs to be done at the springs, there haven't been any awarded yet. He contacted Pheasants Forever about them fronting the cost of the project and the city pay it back over time. He will contact them about coming to talk to the city council in the future.
Nate Mortimer from Southeast Idaho Council of Governments (SICOG) presented the results of the survey about park upgrades. He spoke with the city council about what upgrades they would like to make to the park and made a list so that he could start to get pricing to know what can be included in the grant application. Mr. Mortimer will attend the next city council meeting to present paperwork and resolutions for the grant.
Rowdy Larkins the Caribou County building supervisor asked the city if they would be willing to help the county with the stormwater issues at the new event center on 1st West. There has always been a problem with the stormwater in that area and when they built the building there it exacerbated the problem.
The city council told Mr. Larkins that they are aware of the problem and agree that something needs to be done and the city is partially responsible. The city is willing to work with the county and help, but because this was not presented in time to add to the budget the city would only be able to help minimally. Superintendent Crookston reported that he will be ordering cold mix and chips to build up the city's supply instead of doing any paving this year. After more work they found that the SCADA system can't run off a cellular system because there are too many things running off it. The alternative is to build a 30 foot tower or ask some citizens to cut down their trees. The city council didn't think it was a good idea to ask citizens to cut down their trees and would prefer that he have a tower built. Superintendent Crookston will work on getting prices on a tower. He also reported that the new digger toys had been ordered for the park.
