City Hall Move Planned by May 28
The New Meadows City Council held their regular meeting on Monday, April 28. All City Council members were present along with Mayor Julie Good. No public comment was offered.
Mayor Good began with her report noting she took part in a tour earlier that day with the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation visiting with Meadows Valley School representatives. They also toured the new Youth Center and Skatepark sites and the Goldline Bus. The organization has given multiple grants to city and school projects.
The Mayor said the Easter Egg Hunt was a great success and there were many volunteers who helped make it so.
Mayor Good continued, stating, reminders would be sent out and advertised in the City’s weekly email about ordinances regarding grass and weeds, public nuisance or junk, and parking in the right of way.
The Mayor said they expect to see a timeline from Ziply Fiber soon and it will be put before the Council once received.
She continued her report pointing out the importance of having as many people as possible fill out the Community Health Needs Assessment in order to communicate needs in the community and help show what areas need better funding and community outreach. A QR code link to the survey should be in next week’s Meadows Valley Monday email.
Mayor Good said she met with City Clerk Kyla Gardner and the City’s Water Operator Kirk Kundrick as they finalize the water project. They have been meeting with DEQ and are ensuring all funds from an USDA grant have been used. The next step in closing the project will be having a bond attorney lock in the City’s yearly payment bond.
Moving to discussion items, the Mayor gave an update on the New Meadows Youth Center. She said the siding is being painted and installed, the rough-in is nearly complete, and they are still working on a drainage plan for the playground and skatepark areas. Mayor Good also noted the Fire Department reached out to the contractor after reviewing building plans and expressed concerns and recommendations on a few areas. As suggested by the Fire Department, heat detectors are being added in the mezzanine and attic areas. Other expressed areas of concern including egress through a fenced area and kitchen questions were all clarified and resolved.
The Meadows Valley Early Learning Foundation and representatives from Idaho STARS are planning to hold an open house at the Depot on May 21 to give information about the youth center, daycare facility, enrollment and employment. This will also be an opportunity for people to meet the people in the MVELF.
The next discussion item was an update on the agreement between the city and the Adams County Historical Society. Hunter Brown and Jessie Wallace with Public Works met with Rod Pratt with ACHS to review maintenance requirements for the sprinkler system in the Depot. City Staff also have been reviewing furniture, space, and future set up in the Depot ahead of the move of City Hall to the historical building. They are looking for a large carpet. The Mayor reported that ACHS is still working on an inventory of items they own that will remain in the building after the move.
After further discussion on the Depot, the Mayor discussed the timeline so far for the City’s move to the Depot. By May 15 they plan to have the deed signed and by May 21 they plan to have utilities transferred to the City. Between May 24-27 they plan to move and then open City Hall at The Depot on May 28. All dates are subject to change. An open house will be scheduled once City Hall and the new museum are ready.
Other items being worked on ahead of the move are a City Hall sign to hang below the historic Depot sign, technology and security installation by 4 Corners Communications, and a lease agreement for freight room rentals.
The Council and Mayor then moved on to a thorough discussion of the volunteer policy they have been working on over the last few meetings. After much editing, the discussion concluded with a plan to send the document to attorney Dick Stubbs for review and additions, and then have the policy ready for approval at the next City Council meeting.
The City Council began a long list of action items starting with approval of closure of South Commercial and South Miller during Meadows Valley Days 2025 for food trucks.
Next the Council approved Bear Loper’s offer to cut three large branches from the tree in the park next to Katherine Street noting the City would remove the branches from the park.
An in depth discussion followed next regarding the Street Funding Brochure including talk of the Council’s goals for the brochure and editing quite a few items. After putting in their edits and requesting a few more changes be made by Councilmember Traci Foster, the Council agreed to look at approving the final draft at the next meeting.
The Council previously approved John Stone to be the City’s representative with Ziply. The Council unanimously approved a new contract with Stone for this representation as well as for times when Kundrick is unavailable or the City needs extra help with projects.
A Community Potluck date decision was postponed to the next meeting.
The Council approved a short term RV Use Permit for 205 Larae while a house is being put in.
Due to wind, the metal roofing on the Youth Center has not yet been completely removed. The City Council previously approved the roofing to be put out for bid and discussed that once it is all removed they will move forward with this process. The Mayor will update on the amount of metal.
Wallace has been researching dust abatement options for the City for this year. She looked into options for the City to do the work on its own rather than hiring an outside company. After discussion of costs and benefits of either option, the Council unanimously agreed to move forward with a $28,120 quote from EnviroTech for 2025. GMCO, who the City has previously used for this job, was bought by EnviroTech. The Council also discussed options of using a water truck a few times before dust abatement for preparation and maintenance.
Mayor Good explained to the Council that she had recently met with City Treasurer Dana Kautz who would be transitioning out of her role. A motion to remove Kautz from the appointment as City Treasurer was approved followed by unanimous approval of a motion to appoint City Clerk Kyla Gardner as City Treasurer both effective May 1, 2025. Kautz will assist with training and consulting while Gardner adds this role to her existing role. Gardner has been taking accounting courses to increase her knowledge and skills for this new role.
The Consent agenda was approved unanimously with a small change made noting emergency plans mentioned in the March 24 minutes were existing plans and would be placed in all City buildings.
Future meeting topics include the Street Funding Brochure, choosing a potluck date, approving the volunteer policy, an Ignite Idaho presentation, an update on Brown’s Recycling, an audit presentation, budget reviews starting with the Industrial Park Complex, review of a rental application, design review for a new business that is in an Agricultural zone, and the Ziply timeline.
All May City Council meetings will be held on Tuesdays at City Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m..
