City and Fire Department Reach Understanding; WCMEDC Forum
Three council members were present at the regular meeting in New Meadows on August 26, plus the mayor, clerk, deputy clerk, the city’s attorney and City engineer. Fourteen people attended in the audience.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll-call and the reading of the city’s mission statement, the mayor asked if anyone had something they wanted to bring up to put on a future agenda. Two people inquired about the streets. Mayor Good stated that because of a staff shortage, Public Works has not been able to try the method that GMCO Corporation suggested. If that doesn’t work, the city will ask for a discount. The dust abatement cost is $25,000 a year.
Doug Buys brought up a potential problem between the Fire Department and the City that was discussed with him by two city council members who are also firemen on the New Meadows Fire Department. After hearing Doug’s concerns, the mayor stated that she and the city have no issues with the Fire Dept. and/or Chief Buys and expressed her appreciation for Doug’s input and the Fire Department’s work in the community. Chief Buys stated he has no issue with Public Works asking him for advice and the Mayor explained that she had discouraged repeated requests for Doug’s time and consultation out of respect for the fact that he was no longer a paid employee of the City. The Mayor expressed her desire that the two entities communicate more efficiently, especially after the recent implementation of inspection fees by the Fire Department which need to be part of local development conversations.
Moving on to the mayor’s report:
Meadows Valley Days and a city wide yard sale will be Aug. 31 and Sep. 1.
A groundbreaking event will be held after Labor Day for the Daycare/Preschool/Youth Center. Everyone needs to be thinking of a name for that facility.
The mural project is on track for the west wall of city hall. There is a credit at C&M Lumber from YAC for the paint. The Historical Society will exhibit the mural submissions that come in.
A potential local option tax is being reviewed. This tax is for resort communities and New Meadows may not fit that definition, although Donnelly and Crouch both have a local option tax. Further research will be done since there is a golf course and ski hill nearby which are destinations.
Two city streets, Heigho and Commercial, qualify for federal funding. The City Engineer is helping to create a list of grants to apply for.
The City will be applying for DEQ’s Stormwater Grant and a Wastewater Facility Plan Grant.
A developer’s agreement is being finalized with Finite Concepts and will be presented to the council once it is complete.
Next, Lindsay Harris, Executive Director of the West Central Mountain Economic Development Council explained that the WCMEDC is a nonprofit that serves Valley and Adams Counties. They are a resource connector with a board of directors, two of which are from our community. They help with things like grants, housing, small businesses, broadband, health care, education and whatever communities need. They’re having an Economic Summit on Nov. 4 that everyone is welcome to attend. They are also just finishing a comprehensive housing needs assessment that will provide much needed information for local agencies.
The council went on to discuss the ChildCare/Youth Center project noting that a Conex container will be placed by the skate park parking area, temporarily, to store preschool furniture and supplies.
Park Use items discussed were: possibly having separate areas of the park that could be used simultaneously, reservation applications with a cleaning deposit for non-local entities and out of town individuals using the park, enforcement, electricity and water charges.
The monthly report for Brown’s Mountain Recycling was reviewed and it was noted that one of the items previously showing 100% completion had not been done. This was discovered when the City Council had their field trip to the site at a previous meeting.
Under Action Items, the City Council voted to hold a public hearing to determine if Brown’s Mountain Recycling’s CUP should be revoked since they are in violation of their contract. The public hearing will be held on September 23, 2024.
The removal of the fence on the southeast corner of the park and a Workforce Development Council Childcare Grant Agreement were approved.
Attorney Dick Stubbs and Engineer Grae Harper will review the Dalrymple Construction Contract. There will possibly be a Special City Council meeting to approve this.
After an Executive Session, the City Council approved an employment contract with Jessie Wallace. The Consent agenda items were approved. Future agenda items include the park use ordinance, local option tax and a field trip to the proposed subdivision on Peterson Memorial.
