Sentinel Media records · public agendas and minutes, text only, refreshed nightly from each body's own site · not a newspaper
minutes meeting date 2026-09-16 · fetched 2026-10-13 · 9055 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 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026. ROLL CALL SHOWED THE FOLLOWING PRESENT: Paul Gritton, Mayor Ryan Carpenter Paige Byram Daniel Larsen EXCUSED: Mitchell J. Hart, Council President ALSO PRESENT: Dan Squires, Director of City Services Andrea Haderlie, City Clerk Thomas Smith, City Attorney Cejay Golightly, Police Chief Jim and Carolyn Young Trevin Barfuss Sherrie Gritton Brandon Hall Brock Byram Amber Torgesen Chainey Rhoades David Torgesen Jeff & Laura Young 1. Roll call & Additions to Agenda: Mayor Gritton called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. All council members were present. Councilman Larsen led the prayer, and Mayor Gritton led the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Review & Approval: Councilman Larsen moved 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. Councilwoman Byram moved to approve accounts payable dated September 1–14, 2026. Councilman Larsen seconded the motion. Councilwoman Byram questioned vendor 5400 park setup. Clerk Haderlie said it includes the new computer, email setup, and workstation setup. Councilwoman Byram questioned whether vendor 5780 includes the park bathrooms. Clerk Haderlie stated she cleans all city buildings except for the Enders Building and Library. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 3. Appointments: LTACH Road Scholar and Roadmaster certification for two city employees. Cheney Rhodes, director of training at the L2 Center. 25 years earlier, he served as superintendent of Highway District 4. Road Scholar participants receive a hat, a Leatherman, and a plaque; Trevor Barfuss and Jeff Young completed both the Road Scholar and Roadmaster certifications. We'll get a picture of everyone up front with their hats on. Charles Fryer was sworn in and reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Chris Danley presented the study’s assessment of operating costs, risks, market opportunities, public lands, and possible uses. Options considered included private sale, conditional sale, City Hall relocation, state-park ownership, and continued city ownership. Councilwoman Byram moved to approve an intent to move toward a sale; this was not a final authorization to sell. Councilman Carpenter seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Mitch Hart Absent; Daniel Larsen Yay; Ryan Carpenter Yay; Paige Byram Yay. Attorney Smith discussed covered deed restrictions, personal property, valuation, notice, and a required public hearing. How will sale proceeds be reserved for a meaningful community asset rather than routine expenses? What value, sale structure, and disposition plan will the council adopt for the Enders contents? Prepare an overview of the legal process and requirements for selling the Enders property after the council formally confirms that direction. Molly Beseris reported interest from several potential private investors and discussed possible uses and treatment of museum contents. She will compile information for the council on the Enders Page 2 of 3 property's value, sale process, potential uses, and disposition of the personal property, including an updated appraisal, for a future council discussion. Council members emphasized preserving sale proceeds for a future community asset. Councilman Carpenter thanked Molly, and the city appreciates her efforts with the Enders. Lori Anne Lau was sworn in and reappointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Lau said she is excited to hear that progress is being made on the Comprehensive Plan and the need for more housing. She also would like them to consider putting more money into the Future Land Use Map. Canceled - 3rd South Sidewalk Concerns AnaMaraea & David Torgesen 4. Citizen Input Lori Ann Lau, Commissioner of Planning and Zoning, requested council feedback on proposed residential-code work. Council asked Clerk Haderlie to place the Planning and Zoning Commission's residential code and definition recommendations on the next council meeting agenda for review and feedback. Councilman Carpenter stated that it is 100% our fault, and the council apologizes. Sherrie Gritton stated the Fall Festival was great. Awesome job with the hospital on the festival last weekend. It was really cool to see so many people out and about, and it didn't end when the festival ended. We were out later that night, and people were still playing pickleball, kids were playing on the courts, and there was a lot of activity. She knew homecoming was going on too, but that is one thing she hasn't seen in 20-something years of being here; she hasn't seen that much interaction from the community, so it was really cool. Nicely done. She thinks it could be done a little bit more often potentially. She thinks it was very good for the community, well received, and awesome to see. 5. Unfinished Business: Director Squires stated we own a lot of property. Part of that is the Ledger Creek Trail System. They finished up another phase of walking trails. It actually came in a little under budget. He met with Clerk Haderlie today, and we have some funds available; he is going to have them do another phase, and that will wrap up the entire trail system. The bridge'll leave one short little piece down. We'll see how soon they get done and where we're at, and we may work that one out while we're there, and then all the trails will be sanded, reclaimed. We still have to come up with a couple of bridges, but he thinks we may have to facilitate some bridges, maybe in the spring. He thinks we're ahead of schedule on the trails; we can probably get them wrapped up before then. Director Squires reported that the awarded proposed DEQ loan of $500,000.00, with $305,211.00 in loan forgiveness, and the city would pay $194,000.00, could fund lead-service-line and main-line work at Mountain View and Third North. A 1% loan lead-service-line loan with principal forgiveness may help fund improvements at Mountain View and Third North. Proceed with securing the DEQ 1% loan and principal forgiveness for the Mountain View and Third North lead service line and main line projects. Clerk Haderlie said we would need to revise the resolution we previously adopted. They're going to send me a new agreement because the original agreement was for lead service lines only. This will include service lines and main lines. When I spoke with them, he said we can't replace a lead service line without replacing the main line because of how the service line attaches to the main line. The service lines aren't necessarily our problem. The main lines are, but he can't replace mains and not services. And they agreed and said no. Well, this will be a fit. We're going to move down that path and see if we can get some of this paid for. Park, court, and field lighting were completed. Fencing at the city shop is complete. The Wall of Terror will be at the city park this weekend. Streets will paint a crosswalk across Third East and install pedestrian crossing signs to improve access to the junior high; this is targeted for completion within the next couple of weeks. Page 3 of 3 6. New Business: Directors provided no updates. Councilman Carpenter moved to approve the quitclaim deed for the vacated First South road sign and the approved quitclaim deeds conveying the vacated First South roadway interests to the designated property owners. Councilman Larsen seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Director Squires presented the proposed Alan Brown airport hangar. Councilman Larsen moved to approve, contingent on building permit and lease requirements. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. Director Squires discussed the potential to hire an additional park employee. Council discussed the additional cost to the city for benefits for a full-time employee. Director Squires will consult Kip and the parks staff about the timing and need for hiring an additional full-time parks employee, then use that input to decide whether to proceed. Councilman Carpenter moved for the clerk to prepare the budget amendment. He required public-hearing materials to reopen the budget for a potential full-time park employee, at the clerk's convenience. Councilwoman Byram seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. 7. Citizen Input: No one provided citizen input. Councilman Carpenter moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Larsen seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the motion carried. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 7, 2026. _________________________ Paul Gritton, Mayor ATTEST _________________________ Andrea Haderlie, Clerk
Text is extracted by machine from the official file linked on each page; the official file is the record. Sentinel Media, LLC.