City of Buhl | minutes | meeting 2026-03-09 | March 9, 2026 source: https://www.cityofbuhl.us/uploads/4/7/1/1/47114749/minutes_3.9.26_approved.pdf COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING March 9, 2026 203 Broadway Ave N PRESENT: Douglas Howarth Mayor Marla Sisson Council President Ryan Loos Council Member Fred Bartlett Council Member Cortlin Runyan Council Member Chelsea Popplewell Clerk/Treasurer Shayne Nope City Attorney Jason Scott Public Works Director Concerned Citizens PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM: Chelsea Popplewell confirmed a quorum. CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes of February 23, 2026– Working Session 2. Claims for Payment 3. Department Head Report – Public Works, Engineer, Fire, Planning & Zoning 4. Commission Minutes – Airport, Housing Authority 5. Clerk/Treasurer Report Marla moved to approve the consent agenda. Cortlin seconded the motion. There was no discussion. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. NEW BUSINESS: Review and Consideration of Audited 2024-2025 Financial Statements: Chelsea Popplewell presented the audited financial statements that were included in the Council packet. The auditor was unable to attend the meeting and Chelsea did not serve as treasurer for the 2024-2025 fiscal year so she let the council know any questions they did have, she would find the answers out and bring them back to a future meeting. Marla asked about the current reserves and how we compare to other cities. She also wondered about some specific line items that were over budget. Fred questioned the grant line items that had not been used. There was no further discussion. Marla moved to accept the audited 2024-2025 financial statements. Ryan seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. There was a roll call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of 2026-2027 Budget Schedule: Chelsea presented the proposed 2026-2027 budget schedule. Marla mentioned she would prefer to hear from department heads first and then have Council share their priorities. There was some discussion regarding having the future needs discussions and Council priorities on the same night. Marla moved to approve the 2026-2027 Budget Schedule with moving the fee schedule from the 27th to the 13th and moving future needs down to the 27th. Cortlin seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. There was a roll call vote. Cortlin voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes, and Marla voted yes. The motion passed. Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendations: Marla moved to approve Nick Popplewell and Rodney Netz to be on the Planning and Zoning commission. Ryan seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. There was a roll call vote. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Howarth read the below statement. We need to make sure that we comply with the law regarding employee privacy issues. If a member of City Council would like to discuss any issues pertaining to complaints, discipline, etc., of a city employee, those will first need to be discussed with the mayor, who is the chief city administrator per Idaho Code 50-602. After review of the complaint, discipline, etc., if it needs to go before City Council, it will be listed under an executive session on the upcoming meeting agenda. Cortlin noted that today was the first day of the Burley Avenue project. Jason Scott noted that even though the City got the grant, the City isn’t really involved in the project. Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) is the lead on the project. Cortlin asked how long it was supposed to take and Jason said it is a 120 day project. CITIZEN COMMENTS: Margaret Gray, Buhl, brought up several concerns that she had sheets of paper and gave to Council. She started by asking Council to speak into their microphones more. Marla asked a clarifying question on the outside audit. She wondered where the auditor was from and Chelsea said he was from Twin Falls. She commented on the airport and wondered why the citizens are being taxed for it when the average citizen doesn’t use it. Mayor Howarth said that he will find the answers and bring those to Mayor’s comments in two weeks. Amanda Hawkins, Buhl, asked for an update on the parking ordinance. Mayor mentioned that we are looking at updating a couple other codes at the same time so we do not have a timeframe just yet. MEETING ADJOURNED –Marla moved that the meeting be adjourned; Cortlin seconded the motion. There was no discussion. All voted yes. The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 PM. Minutes prepared by Chelsea Popplewell, City Clerk