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minutes meeting date 2026-06-17 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 14220 characters · official file · plain text
Page 1 of 4 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO, HELD JUNE 17, 2026. ROLL CALL SHOWED THE FOLLOWING PRESENT: Paul Gritton, Mayor Mitchell J. Hart, Council President Ryan Carpenter Paige Byram Daniel Larsen EXCUSED: ALSO PRESENT: Dan Squires, Director of City Services Andrea Haderlie, City Clerk Thomas Smith, City Attorney Brandon Hall Brock Byram Jeff and Amy Mansfield Laura Lind Cody & Melissa Thompson Kym Passey Adam Hayes Reid Blackburn Via Zoom Randy Corder 1. Roll call & Additions to Agenda: Mayor Gritton officially called the June 17, 2026, Soda Springs City Council meeting to order. All council members were present. Councilman Larsen led an opening prayer, expressing gratitude for the community and the recent rainfall, and asking for guidance in the council's decisions. Mayor Gritton followed the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Gritton addressed housekeeping items, reminding visitors to sign in and outlining meeting decorum. 2. Review & Approval: The council reviewed the minutes of the June 3, 2026, regular and special meetings, as well as a presentation from the Greenfield Environmental Trust at the special meeting. Councilman Hart motioned to dispense with the reading of the meeting minutes. Councilman Carpenter seconded the meeting. All were in favor, and the motion carried. The council then reviewed payables for the period June 1-15, 2026. Several line items were discussed in detail, including recurring cylinder rentals, a facilities plan with Foresgren Associates (partially grant-funded), and payments to the Utah Association of Municipal Power Districts. Councilman Hart explained the city's power purchasing and scheduling arrangements, and the council discussed the value of ongoing contracts. Other payables, such as Rail Pros and publication expenses, were clarified. Councilwoman Byram abstained from voting on the payable for Point S, and Councilman Carpenter abstained from voting on A+ Contractors due to conflicts of interest with specific vendors. Roll call vote Councilman Hart yay, Councilman Larsen yay, Councilwoman Byram yay, and abstained her vote for Point S, and Councilman Carpenter yay and abstained his vote for A+ Contractors. The payables were approved. 3. Appointments: The council then heard a presentation from Reed Blackburn of Docutopia on a proposal to rent a specialized large-format document scanner (the "Mantis") to digitize the city's historical records. Blackburn described the technology, its advantages for fragile documents, and provided case studies from other municipalities. He discussed rental and purchase options, file formats, and the possibility of Docutopia staff performing the scanning. Council members asked about contract flexibility, costs, and OCR (searchable text) capabilities. The council agreed to explore options further and communicate their needs to Docutopia for a tailored proposal. Councilman Hart asked Clerk Haderlie to email the council’s internal options and recommendations for using the Docutopia scanning unit to the Docutopia representative after the council has reviewed the proposal. The Council reviewed the Docutopia scanning options and recommendations and responded to the Docutopia representative with the Council’s feedback and preferred approach. Page 2 of 4 Council considered a conditional use permit (CUP) application from Adam Hayes for a used car sales lot at Smith Filter and Service on Hooper Avenue. Clerk Haderlie summarized the planning and zoning commission's recommendation for approval, noting the applicant's plans to improve the lot and the CUP's consistency with zoning and the comprehensive plan. Council members expressed concerns about the lot potentially becoming a junkyard and about traffic visibility at the intersection. Attorney Smith clarified that the CUP does not exempt the business from other city ordinances. The council approved the CUP with the understanding that code enforcement would address any future issues. Councilman Hart moved that we accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and, as a council, grant the conditional use permit to establish a used-car/vehicle sales lot at the designated location. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Randy Corder requested an amendment to his existing roadway easement to allow for a utility easement (for underground power) across city property at Ledger Creek. Mr. Corder explained the history and purpose of the easement, and council members discussed the complexities due to the property’s status as a wetland mitigation area under Army Corps of Engineers oversight. The council agreed to consult with the Corps before proceeding and to keep Mr. Corder informed. Mr. Corder also raised a property boundary issue, which the council deferred to a future discussion, as it was not on the agenda. The council recognized Cody Thompson of A + Contractors for his donation of paving services for new pickleball courts at the city park. Mayor Gritton read a statement of appreciation, and Thompson expressed his gratitude but noted he did not seek recognition for his contributions. 4. Citizen Input Cody Thompson stated he appreciated the recognition, but he did it to make our community better, and it needed to be done. 5. Unfinished Business: Director Squires provided project updates: the Second East water line bore was completed and is awaiting testing; paving was finished; and the new water line will soon be operational. Turn on the RV dump station once the water test results are received, restoring service to the city. The Second South water and sewer line project was progressing well. The city was working with the Friends of the Park to secure funding for the new pickleball courts. Coordinate with the Parks and Recreation team to stripe the basketball court on the 23rd or 24th, as planned. Additional improvements were underway at Ledger Creek Trails, including new parking lots and sand improvements. Tree planting efforts continued, with plans to dedicate staff to maintenance as the number of trees increased. Continue watering the newly planted trees along the Ledger Creek Trail using the purchased tank and pump to support their establishment. Continue planting trees along the Ledger Creek Trail system, using the tank and pump to reduce watering time and increase planting capacity. Communication with the Idaho Transportation Department was improving regarding ongoing projects. Clerk Haderlie presents the proposed changes to the rental rate for the Enders building. Council members discuss the cost of hourly rentals and the need for clear language in the rental agreement. Councilman Carpenter suggests keeping the rate modification separate from the rate schedule for flexibility. Councilman Carpenter motioned to approve the Enders rental rates. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Mayor Gritton informs Adam Hayes that the council has approved his conditional use permit. Council members emphasize the importance of maintaining the property and ensuring it does not become a junkyard. The council advises Adam Hayes to comply with all zoning ordinances and to address any violations promptly. Director Squires explained that the city is considering entering into a General Services Agreement (GSA) with Keller Associates as an alternative to hiring a full-time project coordinator or planner. This approach would provide the city with greater flexibility, access to licensed engineers, and the ability to Page 3 of 4 have plans and plats stamped in-house, potentially resulting in cost savings. Attorney Smith and Council members discussed the legal aspects of the agreement, with Attorney Smith noting a few minor tweaks needed before approval. Council members expressed a general inclination to proceed with the agreement for 15 months, covering the remainder of the current fiscal year and the next, with budget targets and specific task orders to be negotiated as needed. Jeff Mansfield from Keller Associates clarified that the agreement would not create a financial obligation until specific task orders are issued and that billing rates would be adjusted periodically based on costs. Send Attorney Smith the council’s additional comments and concerns on the Keller Associates general services agreement so he can incorporate them into the draft contract. Revise the Keller Associates general services agreement to incorporate the council’s minor legal comments and return the updated draft to the city for council consideration. Implement the approved Keller Associates general services agreement and prepare the first task order for July 1, once the council has approved the final agreement. The council then moved on to consider quotes for repaving the Hooper Springs parking lot, which is in poor condition and heavily used. After reviewing two bids and discussing budget allocations, the council voted to accept the lower bid from Liddil Paving, with work to be completed in July after the Fourth. The council also clarified that the project would include both the loop and the parking lot areas. Coordinate with the Hooper Springs paving contractor to schedule and complete repaving of the specified areas of the Hooper Park parking lot by July, including any necessary prep work—Councilman Larsen motion to accept the bid from Liddil Paving. Councilman Hart seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Next, Council President Hart provided background on the city's involvement in commissioning the USS Idaho submarine. The city had previously donated $2,500 to support the submarine's commissioning and received a commemorative plaque and memorabilia in return, making it the only city in Idaho to contribute. The council agreed to display the plaque in a public area. 6. New Business: Clerk Haderlie reported that the group approached to take over the fall festival had declined, and the council discussed possible alternatives, including involving the Chamber of Commerce or local businesses. Clerk Haderlie also presented quotes for a new double-sided digital sign for the community, which was more expensive than anticipated. The council agreed to consider the sign in future budget discussions and explore grant opportunities or partnerships to help fund it. The council then discussed the naming of the Ledger Creek Trail System. Mayor Gritton suggested soliciting name ideas from the community and possibly involving local schools in a fall naming competition. The council agreed to revisit the topic in August, allowing time for broader community engagement with the school being in session. 7. Budget Budget review was a significant portion of the meeting. The council reviewed budget sheets for the airport, liability insurance, recreation, and library. They discussed increasing airport hangar rental rates to align with regional norms and clarified how budget deficits are managed using savings and investments. Clerk Haderlie explained the process for preparing the preliminary L-2 form, including the impact of state-imposed caps on property tax increases due to new construction and annexation. Council members expressed concern about the long-term effects of these caps on city finances and infrastructure funding. The council also reviewed the capital projects plan for FY 2026 and FY 2027, discussing priorities for streets, utilities, and major equipment purchases. They noted the importance of maintaining healthy fund balances for emergencies and future projects, and discussed the challenges of long-term capital planning given fluctuating costs and priorities. Regarding employee compensation, the council debated between a 3% and 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for city employees, ultimately approving a 3.5% increase to help keep up with inflation Page 4 of 4 and retain staff. Councilman Larsen moved to approve a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Council reviewed rate increases for city services: 3.5% for garbage and water, 1% for power, and 4.75% for sewer, citing the need to maintain fund balances and prepare for future capital needs. Councilman Larsen motioned to approve rate increases for city services: 3.5% for garbage and water, 1% for power, and 4.75% for sewer. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Additional budget discussions covered executive, legislative, and legal accounts, community and public relations, and building and housing inspection. The council considered reallocating certain salary expenses and discussed hiring a dedicated parks supervisor as the city's trail system expands. They also reviewed the use of endowment funds for trail development and the allocation of staff resources for park maintenance. 8. Citizen Input: Mayor Gritton opened the floor for citizen input (none was received). 9. Executive Session Councilman Carpenter moves to enter executive session, Idaho Code 74-206(a) (b), to consider the hiring of a public officer or employee with Chief Golightly, Director Squires, and Clerk Haderlie remaining. Roll call vote, Councilman Hart yay, Councilman Larsen yay, Councilman Carpenter yay, and Councilwoman Byram yay. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Councilman Carpenter motioned to adjourn the executive session at 7:46 PM. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Councilman Hart motioned to adjourn the regular council meeting. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 1, 2026. _________________________ Paul Gritton, Mayor ATTEST _________________________ Andrea Haderlie, Clerk
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