Discussion on Local Option Tax
During the discussion portion of the New Meadows City Council regular meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025, Mayor Julie Good emphasized that the Local Option Tax discussion “is a preliminary discussion. The group in this room cannot make this happen without a vote of the people in town being 60% or more in favor…this is not a done deal.”
All four City Council members were in attendance along with Mayor Julie Good, City Clerk Kyla Gardner, Deputy Clerk Sonya Brodhecker, and three community members. Attending via Zoom were Sherry Iverson and Roger Sherman of the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund (ICTF), City Attorney Richard Stubbs, City Engineer Grae Harper, and two reporters.
The Mayor’s report began with appreciation for all of the input received so far regarding the Local Option Tax discussion. Her report noted intent to meet with Ziply Fiber along with local inspector John Stone and Kirk Kundrick. She also mentioned that the city received a letter from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) that the city is back in compliance with wastewater. DEQ conducted an inspection in November and Kundrick has worked to resolve the issues brought up, some of which date back from before he began contracting with the city. Mayor Good said she really appreciates his work.
Mayor Good said she received some information and updates from Stibnite on their project including possible community impacts saying Stibnite is looking to begin construction as early as July.
The Mayor expressed thanks to Councilmember Traci Foster for her work on the volunteer policy including sourcing information and arranging the document to be reviewed and edited by the council. She said she appreciated Foster’s diligence on this in bringing the vision to life.
Some reports of large water bills due to broken pipes after being frozen have been brought to the Mayor’s attention. She presented this to the council due to the number of reports even though historically the city has not given discounts in cases of extra water usage due to weather related issues.
Staff reports were seen by the Council. These are published monthly and included in the City Council meeting agenda packet posted to the city website. Reports are done by the City Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and both Public Works staff members. Public Works staff noted they have been working on the roads and streets continuously and dealing with complications of winter weather. Hunter Brown has done an impressive amount of training hours between National Rural Water Association apprenticeship training and schooling as noted by the Mayor. The new Deputy Clerk is going through lots of training and the city is happy to have her on the team.
The Parks & Rec committee meeting minutes were reviewed. They are still looking for more committee members. One new member was added at the recent meeting, but one member resigned. Upcoming they will be working on Easter events and hosting the egg stuffing party on April 12 from 9-11:00 a.m. They are preparing for baseball season and searching for coaches. Coaching positions would require around five hours of work per week.
Councilmember Shiloh Ryker introduced Sherman and Iverson of ICTF noting that she is passionate about child abuse prevention and supporting families. Ryker’s work with Ignite Idaho involves collaboration with ICTF programs and she was happy to again bring to the Council’s attention the month of April as Strengthening Families to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect Month. Sherman, who is the Executive Director of the ICTF, the state affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America, explained the organization’s mission to strengthen families in order to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs by focusing on ensuring families have the support they need. The organization works to bring awareness as well as provide skills to parents and caregivers.
Iverson, Executive Director of the Idaho Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics as well as a board member with ICTF, added on the importance of having a “Crying Baby Plan” for families and caregivers of children aged 0-3 years old. She noted that during Covid they saw an increase in child abuse and neglect that often stemmed from isolation and lack of support for families. Their goal is to give support, resources, and education to families to keep children safe and thriving. The Crying Plan helps caregivers know how to best soothe each child and puts plans in place for when providers need a break and a reset if situations become overwhelming. Iverson also discussed Stewards of Children, which is a child sexual abuse prevention training program.
During the month of April, ICTF sets blue pinwheels around the state symbolizing support for children and a belief that children deserve a carefree childhood. At the next City Council meeting there will be a proclamation recognizing the month of April as child abuse prevention month as well as a proclamation for the city’s annual Week of the Young Child.
Sherman said he has been impressed with stories he has heard about the Youth Center plans and thinks it will be a great resource for the community saying “we are all responsible for all the kids.” Mayor Good invited ICTF to attend a future meeting with the Meadows Valley Early Learning Foundation and said they would love to find out more about support options.
The council then moved forward to discussion items beginning with the New Meadows Youth Center. Currently, the hope is for a soft opening in June or July. Mayor Good reported that the work continues on construction and that it is moving along quickly. An additional inspector reviewed the framing in the building last week including reviewing all written concerns from the previous framers. He said everything looks good and gave approval to continue. Good said this was an extra inspection done to make sure everything in the building process was in good shape. On Friday another walk through is scheduled with Harper, the Mayor, and the architect. On April 28, the Blue Cross Foundation of Idaho board will be touring the youth center and learning about the partnership between the city and the school as well as their foundation’s impact on the Goldline Bus route expansion, the crosswalk signs, and the Mehen Memorial Skatepark.
“I have been very impressed with the Meadows Valley Early Learning Foundation,” said Mayor Good, noting they are currently working on schedule and operation policies and will be preparing to develop their personnel policy. The group will do a walkthrough of the Youth Center on April 2 along with Cambria Williams of Southwest District Health.
Donations and support continue to come in for the Youth Center. Sherwin Williams will be donating half the cost of paint for the project and an additional twenty gallons of paint. Krahn’s Furnishings in McCall has been helping the City with discount flooring options. Tates Rents has offered another donation by way of a discount on forklift rentals. A Lakeshore Learning representative called very interested in providing some curriculum supplies. “It is amazing to see how many organizations are coming together to give to this project,” said Councilmember Ryker.
The Council then discussed the volunteer policy adjusting for definitions, levels or categories of volunteers including deciding which volunteers would need background checks or insurance coverage and making further edits. The final policy draft will be sent to City Attorney Stubbs for review and hopefully approved at the next meeting.
An extensive discussion followed on the Local Option Tax including much addition of community input received and further research done by councilmembers. Mayor Good also noted that the LOT changes happening in McCall are very different from what New Meadows is considering. Noted discussion items included that the numbers raised would not be very high, for example, if a 1% tax was only added for hotels/motels, the city would only raise around $5,000 per year to go into city improvements. Taxing meals and other non-food grocery items would only add around another $4,000. Good brought up input that much of the hotel/motel use is by seasonal workers and laborers and not necessarily vacationers. The council discussed the question of what would really benefit this community and if this sort of tax would negatively impact certain community groups. Councilmember Foster brought up the questions of how the city can promote tourism growth first. Affirmation was strong that focus needs to be on the end goal of benefiting the community and improving the city.
The conversation moved to planning conversations with the public to tell about the goal and purpose of the tax or similar option and to receive feedback and have informative discussions. Councilmembers would personally invite community members to small, casual meetings and plan a larger public meeting potluck event.
Later on, the council approved a tentative date of Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. for the public meeting potluck. The Mayor will confirm location availability and then plans may move forward.
An action item to approve Public Work staff Jessie Wallace’s attendance of the Idaho Rural Water Association Spring Conference April 2-4 passed unanimously. New Parks & Rec committee member James Slettum was officially appointed for a one year term and member Joe Sullivan was re-approved for another three year term.
The council then broke for an Executive Session.
A change in Employee Status/Wage for Clerk Brodhecker was unanimously approved moving her position from probationary status to regular employee and approving a $1.50/hour raise effective Monday, March 10.
The Consent Agenda including Paid & Pending Claims, February 24th, 2025 Meeting Minutes, and February 2025 Payroll was approved unanimously
Future meeting topics include action to approve dates and talking points for community gatherings aimed at discussing funding opportunities for city improvements, finalizing the volunteer policy, approval of the youth center logo, proclamation of Strengthening Families to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect Month and proclamation for the Week of the Young Child, an update on Brown’s Recycling, correspondence with previous tenants of the industrial park complex, a possible report from the roads and streets committee, and a discussion on the city’s emergency response plan.
The next regular New Meadows City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
