Grace City Council Report, Nov 19
This report is adapted from the official minutes recorded by City Clerk Shelley Reeves.
Bills in the amount of $141,345.00 and payroll in the amount of $16,739.22 were reviewed for payment approval, which was
unanimous.
Superintendent Crookston presented the following permit: County Permit #2025-074BF Kyle & Megan Hannan - New home. Zoning Chairperson Kladis reported that the zoning commission held the public hearing on the zoning map amendments. There were a lot of concerns from the public that attended the meeting. The zoning commission didn’t make a motion to accept or deny the zoning map amendment and made no recommendation to the city council. Mayor Barthlome opened the meeting to discuss the zoning map amendment changes. The city council discussed each area to be changed individually starting with the commercial block that goes from 3rd North to 4th North and Main Street to 1st East. After discussion with homeowners who live on the block, and the city council pointing out that if the block is left commercial someone could put a business on the block and the city would have no right to tell them they couldn’t. The city council agreed to go forward with changing the block from a commercial zone to an R1 residential zone.
The city council discussed the area that goes from Center Street to 4th North and 1st East to 4th East. The city had asked for the public hearing to change that zoning from R1 Residential to R2 Residential. The city council discussed the changes and what they would allow in the area with the property owners in attendance. After the discussion, the city council decided not to make any changes to that area and to leave it zoned R1 Residential.
The city council discussed the area from 10th to One Mile Road on the west side of the highway. There was discussion in previous meetings about changing the zoning from R1 Residential to Agriculture due to the area having few homes and the homes that were there having larger lots. In a previous meeting it was decided to change it from R1 Residential to R2 Residential which does allow animals if the property is over 1 acre, but the property owner must apply for a conditional use permit and the city is able to determine what will be allowed on the property. After the discussion during this meeting the city council agreed to go forward with changing the zoning from R1 Residential to R2 Residential with Councilmember Toone voting against the change.
The next area discussed was the ½ block in the Turner Subdivision from 1st West to halfway through the block from 10th South to 9th South. It was explained that the rest of the block and the Turner Subdivision was already R2 Residential so this change would bring the block into conformity with the rest of the subdivision. The city council agreed to go forward with changing from R1 Residential to R2 Residential. The last area discussed was the block from 2nd West to 3rd West from Center Street to 1st South. The block is currently zoned commercial but there are only residential homes on the block. The city council agreed to go forward with changing from commercial to R1 Residential. These changes will be sent back to the planning and zoning commission, who will have to redo the public hearing and make a recommendation to the city council before any changes take place officially.
Councilmember Butikofer moved to approve a $500.00 donation to the Caribou Historical Society, which was approved unanimously.
Mayor Barthlome told the council about an opportunity for a grant that has been made available because the United States of America will be 250 years old in 2026. The grant is to help communities do something to help recognize the anniversary in their city. Mayor Barthlome was approached by the Rotary Club in Soda Springs and asked if Grace would be willing to apply for the grant and then if the grant is received to donate it to the rotary club so that they can bring the traveling Vietnam Memorial to Soda Springs during the summer of 2026, which will benefit the entire county. Councilmember Toone made a motion to approve applying for the grant and if received, donating it to the Soda Springs Rotary Club. Councilmember Tillotson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Lowe moved to approve the purchase of a TV and stand for the council room to be used as a projector for training and meetings, which passed.
Councilmember Toone moved to approve a $250.00 Christmas bonus for the employees. Councilmember Lowe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Superintendent Crookston reported that employees has been busy training on the new equipment at the wastewater treatment plant. The heater inside the generator room has also gone out and a fire almost started. That heater and the heater in the chlorine room are both very old and need to be replaced before the next meeting. Councilmember Butikofer moved that the city council pursuant to Idaho Code §74-204, amend the agenda for this meeting to approve the purchase of heaters at the wastewater treatment plant. The good faith reason being the problem was just found today. Councilmember Lowe seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Tillotson moved to approve the purchase of new heaters for the wastewater treatment plant. Councilmember Butikofer seconded the motion. Motion passed
unanimously.
Superintendent Crookston informed the council that Intermountain Gas suggested that the city make an ordinance requiring a winter construction shutdown where no digging for water or sewer is allowed except in the case of an emergency. This will be discussed at a future meeting. Mayor Barthlome thanked the employees for putting up the Christmas lights. She also thanked Clerk Reeves for her work on the audit.
