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minutes meeting date 2026-08-19 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 9646 characters · official file · plain text
Page 1 of 3 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO, HELD AUGUST 19, 2026. ROLL CALL SHOWED THE FOLLOWING PRESENT: Paul Gritton, Mayor Mitchell J. Hart, Council President via Zoom Ryan Carpenter Paige Byram Daniel Larsen EXCUSED: ALSO PRESENT: Dan Squires, Director of City Services Andrea Haderlie, City Clerk Thomas Smith, City Attorney Melissa McDowell, Deputy Clerk Cejay Golightly, Police Chief Kip Browning, Parks Director Hope Hansen, Library Director Brandon Hall Brock Byram Chris Robinson Stewart Ward Beth Ann Cherriett Kim Lindstrom Rob & Kelly Hansen L.T. Erickson Daphany Medina Charles Fryar 1. Roll call & Additions to Agenda: Mayor Gritton called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. All council members are present, and Councilman Hart is via Zoom. Councilwoman Byram led the prayer, and Mayor Gritton led the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Review & Approval: Councilman Hart motioned to approve the minutes of the past meeting and dispense with the reading thereof. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Councilman Carpenter motioned to approve the accounts payable for August 1-17, 2026. Councilman Larsen seconded the motion. Councilman Larsen questioned PacifiCorp pass-through charges tied to the Caribou Medical Center modular offices, and Councilman Carpenter questioned the port-a- potty rentals for the Fourth of July and fireworks. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 3. Appointments: Mayor Gritton introduced Kip Browning, Parks Director. Director Browning introduced himself as the new parks director. He is happy to be on board and is working to upgrade and beautify all of our parks and trying to get them up. I know we've been a little hard. That's all I'm trying to do. I will have a much better report on our next meeting. Still finding sprinkler heads and things like that. It's been busy. So thank you for having me. And he said he would provide a fuller report at the next meeting. 5:05 PM Mayor Gritton opened the public hearing for the proposed FY2027 budget. Clerk Haderlie stated that no written or public comments were received. Mayor Gritton asked for any public input from those attending. There was no input given. Mayor Gritton closed the public hearing at 5:07 PM. Mayor Gritton asked for discussion from the City Council and staff. Councilman Carpenter noted the proposed budget is almost $13 million. Councilwoman Byram moved to approve the proposed FY2027 budget. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. Councilman Hart commented that we are pulling about $1.75 million from reserves. If you dive down into the budget, that number consists of three parts. The first part is from the power fund. We have budgeted a fair amount of capital upgrades to our system, the substation distribution system, to the tune of about a million, 1.1 million. The other two parts come out of streets. We will draw down that fund balance with planned projects for the next fiscal year, and the other part comes from the general fund. Page 2 of 3 The general fund consists of many parts and pieces. It's the administrative part of the budget, as well as parks, recreation, and the library, and everything flows through it, so everything's planned. We've got the money in the bank, even though we're drawing down from those fund balances. $1.7 million. They're attributed to key projects and items we have identified that need to be addressed, so he wants to highlight that. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 5:10 PM Councilman Carpenter introduced Ordinance 722, the annual appropriation ordinance for the Fiscal year October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027. Councilman Carpenter motioned to adopt Ordinance 722, the annual appropriation ordinance, totaling $12,795,462 for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, and that the rules requiring the ordinance to be read on three separate occasions be dispensed with and that the ordinance be read once by title only. Councilman Hart seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Those voting aye: Councilman Larsen, Councilman Carpenter, Councilwoman Byram, and Councilman Hart. Those voting nay: None. Absent: None. Clerk Haderlie read the Ordinance by title only. An ordinance entitled the annual appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2027, appropriating the sum of $12,795,462.00 to defray the expenses and liabilities of the City of Soda Springs for said fiscal year, authorizing a levy of a sufficient tax upon the taxable property and specifying the objects and purposes for which said appropriation is made. Councilman Hart then moved to approve the adoption of Ordinance 722. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. Those voting aye: Councilman Larsen, Councilman Carpenter, Councilwoman Byram, and Councilman Hart. Those voting nay: None. Absent: None. 5:15 PM Councilman Carpenter motioned to approve the L-2 tax levy form and authorized the mayor to sign it. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 5:17 PM Beth thanked council for its support of the library upper-floor refresh project and requested use of the Enders Building for the 2026 Festival of Trees. Beth requested use of the Enders Building for the 2026 Festival of Trees. Council supported the proposed November 13 to 14 setup, preview event, November 21 festival and Santa Story Time, and Monday pickup, with city fees proposed to be waived because the fundraiser benefits the library. Discussion covered tentative scheduling, the city fee waiver, completing the rental agreement requirements, building logistics, snow removal, lights, and the unknown impact of the Enders feasibility study. 5:23 PM Councilman Carpenter motioned to approve the FY2027 wage plan. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 5:25 PM School district representative Rob Hansen requested final approval of a gymnasium height variance. Staff said the building will be sprinklered, include a fire lane and nearby hydrant, and does not create fire department concerns despite the normal 25-foot limit. Director Squires said the gym will be sprinklered and supported by improved fire access. Councilman Carpenter motioned to follow recommendations from our P and Z to approve a height variance for Thirkill Elementary School of 30 feet 8 inches. We appreciate you guys opening that up for community members. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 5: 35 PM Chris Robinson gave an overview of the plat and said it addresses all concerns. All staff at Keller and Associates, City Attorney Smith, and Planning and Zoning President Fryar have reviewed the plat. Council reviewed and approved the final plat and signatures for the condo project so individual units can be sold. Councilman Larsen moved to approve the final plat as presented and approve the appropriate signatures of the Mayor and Planning and Zoning for the condo project discussed previously, Highland Way, now Soda Heights, allowing sale of individual units. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 4. Citizen Input Lennart Theodore Erickson the third, LT Erickson. He is the new superintendent in the school Page 3 of 3 district. Really excited to be here and to work with the city on different things. He knows we have athletics in our buildings, and he looks forward to working with the city and collaborating. He had a chance to get to know a lot of people in the city and the district, and He has been very impressed with everyone he has met. He wanted to introduce himself and say we look forward to working with the city in any way we can, because he thinks that partnership is really important, and he has been so impressed with the staff and the parents he has met. Just the dedication. Some of those work for the city, and it's just a great community. It's been really good to be here. He used to drive through here when he was an athletic director; he always thought it was an amazing place. Now he is fortunate enough to live here with his wife. Thank you. 5. Unfinished Business: Mayor Gritton updated the Council after Director Squires was called to a fire. Project updates covered the evolving Second South Highway 30 work led by the Idaho Transportation Department, about $46,000 returned from a DEQ wastewater study grant, progress at Ledger Creek Trails with Nutrien kiosks, a 30-day extension on the electrical analysis, airport lease revisions, and a planned DEQ and EPA Soda Creek tour on September 2. 6. New Business: There were no new Director reports. Clerk Haderlie presented a revised records retention schedule for review, with formal approval planned for the next meeting. Chief Golightly had no issues with what was presented, and it covers what he needs. Clerk Haderlie will bring it back for approval September 2, 2026. 7. Citizen Input: Mayor Gritton opened the floor for citizen input (none was received). Councilman Larsen motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2026. _________________________ Paul Gritton, Mayor ATTEST _________________________ Andrea Haderlie, Clerk
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