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minutes meeting date 2026-05-06 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 16540 characters · official file · plain text
Page 1 of 5 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO, HELD MAY 6, 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 CeJay Golightly, Police Chief Jeff Young, Director Morgan Rowland, Recreation Director Celeste Schneider, Deputy Clerk Thomas Smith, City Attorney Brandon Hall Brock Byram Aaron Thompson Amber Torgesen Trevor Robbins David Torgesen Beth Ann Cheirrett Becky Petersen Kate Lauck Fiona Katrine 1. Roll call & Additions to Agenda: Mayor Gritton calls the May 6, 2026, Soda Springs City Council Meeting to order. Councilman Larsen leads the prayer. Mayor Gritton led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Gritton conducted roll call, with all members present, including Council President Hart, who participated via Zoom. 2. Review & Approval: Councilman Carpenter motions to accept the minutes from the April 15, 2026, meeting. Councilman Larsen seconds the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Councilman Larsen motioned to approve the April 14-30, 2026, payables and the April 2026 payroll. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. Councilman Larsen questions a $1,500 line item related to the railroad spur maintenance agreement. Director Squires explains the maintenance agreement and its annual cost. Councilman Carpenter inquired about line item 11291, which is for library bathroom work. Director Squires confirms the work was on the bathroom, and Councilman Carpenter asks about fence poles. Director Squires confirms the fencing is complete on the first parking lot for the Ledger Creek Trails. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 3. Appointments: Magistrate Judge Aaron Thompson introduces himself, detailing his background and current role. Judge Thompson discusses his experience in various legal areas, including trial attorney and appellate work. He highlights his work with Bannock County's magistrate court and his role in the statewide committee on guardianships and conservatorships. Judge Thompson expresses his interest in running for a district court position and his plans for the future. David Torgesen and Amber Torgesen propose continuing open mic nights at the Enders hotel lobby through May and moving to the city park amphitheater in the summer. They request the use of city equipment and the ability to rent the park without cost. Council members discuss the logistics of using city equipment and the potential for food trucks to participate. The council agrees to allow the use of the city's sound system and to waive the fee, provided the equipment is returned in working order and approved for use in City Park. Council agreed to revisit the issue in September for the fall schedule. Introduction of Trevor Robbins for the Ledger Creek Planting Project. Trevor Robbins introduces himself as the arborist hired for the Ledger Creek planting project for the Hispanic Access Grant. He discusses his background in tree care and planting projects, as well as his involvement in a similar project Page 2 of 5 in Malad City. Trevor explains the challenges of the Ledger Creek project, including soil compaction and nutrient deficiencies. He outlines a plan to plant trees, involve the community, and emphasize long-term care for them. Friends of the Library's Phase Four Request Beth Cheirrett and Kate Lauck present a progress report on the library's upper-floor refresh. They request permission for phase four, which includes installing window coverings, adding storage and a counter, and replacing the railing for safety. Councilman Hart motions to approve the request and to increase the city's contribution by $5,000. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. The Friends of the Library express their gratitude for the community's support and plan to host an open house to showcase the renovations. Fiona Katrine's Proposal for an Immersive Dance Performance. Fiona Katrine introduces herself and her background in dance and teaching. She proposes an immersive dance performance of Alice in Wonderland at Kelly Park, with set pieces and audience interaction. Fiona requests permission to place set pieces along the walking path, use ATVs for transportation, and contract porta-potties. Council asked Fiona to work with Director Young to determine the exact placement and setup of the portable toilets for the Alice in Wonderland performance at Kelly Park. Arrange mosquito abatement services for the Kelly Park area around the August 15 Alice in Wonderland performance date. Councilwoman Byram expresses concern about potential liability for damaged items during an event. Attorney Smith advises including liability waivers in the registration process for participants. Councilman Carpenter inquired about the budget and donations for an upcoming event. Mayor Gritton mentions the city's past funding for mosquito abatement and the positive feedback from recent activities. Fiona requests a donation of $6,282 for an upcoming project, proposing a specific amount of $1,000. Mayor Gritton suggests the council might be more comfortable with a specific amount. Councilman Hart motions to donate $500.00 plus in-kind support up to $1,000.00, including providing porta-potties, mosquito abatement, and allowing her to use ATVs, with additional support from the city as needed. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Councilman Carpenter advises Fiona to approach county commissioners and local businesses for additional funding. Councilwoman Byram and Director Squires mention the potential for support from local businesses. Mayor Gritton and Councilman Carpenter encourage Fiona to update the council on the project's progress. Conditional Use Permit, the City of Soda Springs, Kelly Park Ice Rink. Director Squires explained that the city is applying for 2-20 ft shipping containers at Kelly Park for ice rink storage during the summer months. That way, we don't have to continually move the rink from the city shop location back to the ice rink and set it up every year. We can restore everything on site, secured, and locked. Director Squires applied for the Conditional Use Permit in accordance with the City code. There were no written or formal objections to that. Councilman Carpenter motioned to approve the Conditional Use Permit. Attorney Smith explained that, as with any other applicant, the city applies the criteria outlined in the Planning and Zoning recommendation starting on page one, the criteria for approving a conditional use permit and that city code section 17.68.020, those are just the things you should consider, if you could just review those and just make sure, when you decide whether to approve it or not approve it, that it just it complies with those if you decide to approve it, that it complies with those conditions or those factors. Councilman Carpenter motioned that, after a thorough review of the criteria for allowing a shipping container to be placed, found that we are within the parameters that we have set for ourselves, that we approve following the planning and zoning commissioners approval we allow a conditional use permit for the City of Soda Springs to place 2-20 foot shipping containers that will be removed of signage and look as presentable as possible at Kelly Park. Councilman Larsen seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 4. Citizen Input Councilwoman Byram mentioned the park cleanup day, 2-4 pm, June 8. 5. Unfinished Business: Page 3 of 5 Director Squires provides updates on various projects, including the Hwy 30 and the city will not have to pay for the compact testing required, the Second South waterline replacement is ahead of schedule, and the bore is scheduled for May 18, 2026, and Sunrise is gathering data for the electrical efficiency grant with an aggressive schedule to complete. The wastewater facilities planning study raises questions about stormwater runoff, requiring an addendum from Forsgren. The PRV study requires an environmental review to qualify for SRF funds, with Sunrise working on a proposal for the review. Director Squires mentions completing a parking lot for the Ledger Creek Trail, with a ribbon-cutting to open the trails to the public on May 9 at noon, and upcoming cleanup letters to residents. Streets crew is installing the Main Street holiday lights to a steady (non-flashing) red, white, and blue pattern for the upcoming holiday season. Councilman Hart questioned a hole on Main Street that will need to be repaired. Director Squires mentioned that they are currently waiting to see how far ITD will repave along the easement at the intersections. Councilman Hart also mentioned there is some confusion about the name of the new trail system at Ledger Creek and suggested that we have a naming contest for the new trails. Councilman Carpenter introduced Ordinance number 718, an ordinance of the city of Soda Springs, Idaho, amending the zoning map of the city of Soda Springs to reflect the change in zoning for a land parcel from R2 combined residential to C2 community, commercial, and providing that the clerk shall cause an amended zoning map of the city to be prepared and to reflect said reclassification. Councilman Hart motioned that we dispense with the reading of that ordinance on three separate occasions and approve it by title only. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Councilman Council President Hart aye, Councilman Byron aye, Councilman Carpenter aye, and Councilman Larson aye. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Clerk Haderlie read by title only for the Ordinance number 718, an ordinance of the City of Soda Springs, Idaho, amending the zoning map of the City of Soda Springs to reflect a change in zoning for a land parcel from R2 combined residential to C2 community commercial, and providing that the clerk shall cause an amended zoning map of the City to be prepared to reflect said reclassification. Councilman Carpenter motioned that we approve the adoption of Ordinance 718, and Councilman Larsen seconded that motion. Roll Call, Council President Hart aye, Councilwoman Byram aye, Councilman Carpenter aye, Councilman Larsen aye. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Councilman Hart introduced Ordinance number 719. Councilman Carpenter motioned that we dispense with the reading three times thereof, and that the ordinance be read by once by title only. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Council President Hart aye, Councilwoman Byram aye, Councilman Carpenter aye, and Councilman Larson aye. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Attorney Smith read the title only for Ordinance 719, an ordinance of the City of Soda Springs, Idaho, annexing approximately 12.84 acres, described more fully in Exhibit A, depicted on the map in Exhibit B of this ordinance, and zoning the annexed land is C2, community commercial, and providing for the amendment of the official zoning map. Councilman Carpenter motioned that we approve the adoption of Ordinance 719, and Councilman Larsen seconded that motion. Roll Call, Council President Hart aye, Councilwoman Byram aye, Councilman Carpenter aye, Councilman Larsen aye. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Attorney Smith brought the new council members up to speed on the ordinance. He explained that the applicant had two parcels. The first one you just approved is located within the city, and it was to rezone that to C2; they also then filed an application to annex this parcel, which is just adjacent to it, there's a map so you can see, because that was outside the city limits. There are two steps that must occur upon annexation. First off, the City Council approved the annexation during the previous meeting, back in November 2025. That's step one. The second step, then, is to decide how it should be zoned upon getting annexed into the city, because otherwise it would be unzoned for a period of time. That's where the C2 was the Council's decision. Next, the ordinance, which actually brings that into the city once. Once Page 4 of 5 that's approved, it needs to get published in the newspaper, and then it has to get sent to the Idaho tax commission, because they're the taxing authority and so forth. And if they approve it, it will be annexed to the city and occasionally zoned C2; the tax commission doesn't prove it. In this case, there has been some back-and-forth with the applicant to obtain the legal description, and he doesn't see any problems with it. The map provided a record of a survey. It's probably going to be okay with the state tax commission. But occasionally they do send these back, and then the applicant will just have to submit a new map. That just gives you some background on what you're approving. Roll call vote: Council President Hart, aye. Councilwoman Byram, aye, Councilman Carpenter, aye, and Councilman Larson, aye. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Council reviewed the Budget Calendar. Clerk Haderlie asked if they would like to schedule additional budget meetings. Council agreed they will proceed with the calendar and schedule as we move forward with the budget. 6. New Business: Mayor Gritton introduces new Recreation Director Morgan Rowland, who shares her goals and current participation numbers for Baseball, Coach Pitch, and Itty Bitty Ball programs. Councilman Carpenter and Mayor Gritton praise Morgan's dedication and efforts in the community. Morgan mentions upcoming events, including a pickleball tournament on the 3rd of July, and Celeste will be volunteering for the Fourth of July celebration basketball. Director Young mentioned he will be conducting interviews for the seasonal help. He is installing the lights on the light poles on Main Street for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. The City street sweeper is repaired, and they continue to sweep the streets. Chief Golightly discusses the upcoming seat belt grant and the acquisition of a new training vehicle from the Idaho State Police for a $1000.00. City code enforcement is working with 13 properties under the junk ordinance, with one already cited for noncompliance. Chief Golightly emphasizes that residents should take advantage of the city cleanup to avoid citations. Director Squires stated that the new fireman turnout gear has been delivered. He mentioned that the water PFA testing invoice will be issued soon and that it is costly. Attorney Smith stated he is all caught up. Clerk Haderlie stated that she is currently preparing the budget. Clerk Haderlie presents a quote for replacing the drive-up window at City Hall, including the cost of removing and reinstalling the window framework. Councilman Hart makes a motion to proceed with the replacement up to $14,000.00, based on change orders with a contingency for termite damage. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Clerk Haderlie will order the new drive-up window for City Hall and schedule the contractor to install it, allowing approximately six to eight weeks for delivery, estimated. Direct Communications Pole Agreement. Attorney Smith explains the proposed First Amendment to the pole agreement with Direct Communications, extending the term to July 7, 2031. The agreement allows Direct Communications to use city poles for internet service. Councilman Larsen makes a motion to adopt the First Amendment and authorize the mayor to sign the document. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 7. Citizen Input: Mayor Gritton reminds the public about the trail grand opening ceremony and the 250 celebration. Councilman Carpenter motions to adjourn the meeting. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Page 5 of 5 PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 20, 2026. _________________________ Paul Gritton, Mayor ATTEST _________________________ Andrea Haderlie, Clerk
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