Sentinel Media records · public agendas and minutes, text only, refreshed nightly from each body's own site · not a newspaper
minutes meeting date 2026-09-28 · fetched 2026-10-18 · 6840 characters · official file · plain text
COUNCIL WORKING MEETING September 28, 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 City Clerk BreShelle Tews City Treasurer Tim Stover City Attorney Jason Scott Public Works Director Jeremy Engbaum Chief of Police Pam Pehrson P&Z Admin Aaron Wert City Engineer Concerned Citizens PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM: Chelsea Popplewell confirmed a quorum. Marla moved to amend the agenda to change action item 1 under new business from Review and Consideration of Adoption of the City of Buhl’s Comprehensive Plan to read Review and Consideration of Resolution to Adoption of the City of Buhl’s Comprehensive Plan to clarify that adoption of the comprehensive plan will be considered by resolution and also to strike action item number 2 with the transportation plan because that is in the comprehensive plan. Fred seconded the motion. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. CITIZEN COMMENTS: No citizen comments CONSENT AGENDA: 1. Minutes of September 14, 2026 – Regular Session 2. Claims for Payment 3. Department Head Report – Fire, Police 4. Clerk Report Cortlin moved to approve the consent agenda. Ryan seconded the motion. Cortlin voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes, and Marla voted yes. The motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Review and Consideration of Police Body Camera Contract: There was some discussion regarding the concern change in terms of training time and cost. Fred moved to approve the Motorola Body Cam contract. Ryan seconded the motion. The City attorney asked for the dollar amount of the contract. It was determined to be $65,341. Marla expressed concern in the change due to training costs and didn’t feel the savings warranted the time and cost to train a new program. The Motorola representative spoke to the transition process of the data. Fred questioned why the desire to change companies. Chief Engbaum commented on the quality as well as the budgetary considerations. The City attorney had a question regarding the non-appropriations clause being included in the contract. Fred amended his motion to include that the non-appropriations clause be included, if not, in the contract. Ryan seconded the motion. Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, Cortlin voted yes, and Marla voted no. The motion passed. NEW BUSINESS: Review and Consideration of Resolution Adopting the City of Buhl’s Comprehensive Plan: Abbey Erquiaga and Cameron Arial from Clearwater Financial gave a presentation on the Comprehensive Plan. She showed Council the useability of the plan online and where to find things. She recognized Idaho Commerce and The Blue Cross Foundation for their financial assistance during the process. Pam Pehrson spoke about the discussion and unanimous approval of the Planning and Zoning Commissioners. Fred asked about a couple typos regarding the parks that would need to be fixed. Marla moved to approve resolution 2026-08 adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Update 2026 with the changes on page 119 regarding North Park and 121 regarding the park map. Cortlin seconded the motion. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Updated Utility Rate Resolution: Chelsea explained that the percentage of change that was approved during the initial rate resolution adoption was not carried out in one section of the resolution. The change was corrected and represented to Council. Marla moved to approve the updated utility rate resolution. Cortlin seconded the motion. Cortlin voted yes, Fred voted yes, Ryan voted yes, and Marla voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Replacing Rotary Park Sign: Jason Scott spoke about the car wreck that damaged the Rotary Park sign coming into town and explained that insurance had paid on it and he wanted to make sure that Council would like them to replace the sign for roughly $29,000. Fred asked why the cost was so high. Marla recused herself due to her position in Rotary. Cortlin moved to approve the replacement of the sign and rock. Ryan seconded the motion. Ryan voted yes, Fred voted no, and Cortlin voted yes. Marla did not vote. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Library Surplus Resolution: Marla moved to approve the library surplus resolution. Ryan seconded the motion. Marla voted yes, Ryan voted yes, Fred voted yes, and Cortlin voted yes. The motion passed. Review and Consideration of Audit Contract with Workman and Company: Chelsea explained the cost increased by $500. Ryan moved to approve the library surplus resolution. Marla seconded the motion. 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. Mayor Howarth spoke about the City County meeting and that many cities and counties are experiencing the same problems and issues that we are. He also spoke about the emergency management discussions happening in department head meetings. He mentioned that the assessor at the city county meeting said that Buhl’s property values are 2nd highest in the Magic Valley right now. Cortlin brought up some citizen concerns regarding Rangens. Chief Engbaum mentioned the he will be sitting on a committee for Rangens. Cortlin also brought up the speed limit near Deep Creek and Burley. There was some back and forth discussion regarding this topic and potential additional signage to slow drivers down. Marla thanked Jason for the handicap, van-accessible parking spot downtown. She asked about Burley and Jason said he was told their pave date would be October 12 and consist of 6-7 days of paving. She also mentioned she would not be in town during the week of Thanksgiving. She also stated that Fire Chief Stevens would like to get on the next Council agenda for an update on the Fire District. MEETING ADJOURNED – There was a motion to adjourn. There was no discussion. All voted yes. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 36pm. Minutes prepared by Chelsea Popplewell, City Clerk
Text is extracted by machine from the official file linked on each page; the official file is the record. Sentinel Media, LLC.