The Malad City Council met for its first regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 10.  Unless a scheduling conflict arises, council meetings for the city are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. during the year.

Swearing In

As the first official act of the new year, the mayor and city council were officially sworn in by the city clerk, Susan Wittman.  The appointed (non-elected) positions were also sworn in, including Terrill Schwartz as Treasurer, Susan Wittman as Clerk, and Brett Evanson as the city’s attorney.

Welcome Brett 

Evanson

Brett Evanson, who was appointed as city attorney to replace Dustin Smith, was welcomed to the council and introduced to the other members.

Jon Abrams

School District 351 Superintendent Jon Abrams spoke to the council about the district’s plans regarding the baseball/softball complex south of the high school.  The area has been undergoing preparation for construction while awaiting authorization to begin from Planning and Zoning.  The complex was announced as part of the school equalization bond which passed in the city last spring.  Because the funds left over from meeting the new school building construction were not sufficient in the same cycle to support an auditorium, the district decided to use them toward the completion of a new baseball and softball complex.

Abrams stated that he found this to be an exciting time to be involved with the school district, especially in light of the recent bond.  Abrams stated that the number of students in the district included over 1,000 local students, as well as over 7,800 served by IHLA (the Idaho Home Learning Academy, headquartered in Malad).  He had recently visited with State Senator Kelly Anthon, who expressed optimism about the school district moving forward.

Abrams updated the city on plans for the district.  The new elementary school is anticipating being opened in November.  During the week scheduled for the move, school will not be in session.  Resources are available to furnish the new building with new furniture and resources.  Funding for the completion of the school is locked in, and the overall cost has been defrayed by the passage of a recent house bill, leaving the district with an even more comfortable margin.  

The old auditorium will be removed along with the old school building, leading to the need for a replacement.  Abrams stated that he is aware of the importance of the auditorium to the community, and plans to construct a new one have been set for property behind the middle school.  

A fieldhouse with artificial turf will follow in the same area, upon passage of another bond.  Like the last one, this bond will fall under equalization, meaning it will not affect property taxes for residents.

The softball/baseball complex will include two fields.  The groundwork has been completed to level the field.  In spring, when the weather permits, construction will fully begin.  The complex will include an announcer’s booth, walkway, dugouts, and other features.  The area surrounding the fields will be left as ag for now, to prevent wind/dust from affecting the fields.  When the fields are completed, Abrams stated that the fields will be available for use by those who would like to use them, including the city.

Terrill Schwartz asked about whether the fieldhouse will be open for winter activities.  Abrams said that the building will be flexible enough to accommodate a number of different inside sports.  Abrams explained that the auditorium and field house would not be housed in the same building, partly as a result of feedback from Marsh Valley residents on their joint facility.

Abrams noted that he and the school board strongly believe in sharing facilities as much as possible.  The ball fields behind the current elementary school should not be affected very much by the construction of the new school.

“It’s a good time to be in Malad!” Abrams stated.

Camille Miller, 

Forsgren

The city’s contract with Forsgren, who is overseeing a number of city projects including the Bannock street project, was signed by the city.  The contract covers engineering and design for grant projects at 15% of the grant total.  For the Bannock project, the cost to the city will be a bit under $300,000 on the grant amount of over 2 million to Forsgren.  A matching amount for the grant itself will be over $400,000 to the city, with reimbursement after completion.  A motion to authorize the mayor to execute the contract was approved, following a review by City Attorney Evanson.

Braxton Davis

Braxton Davis spoke to the council on behalf of the Cedar Ridge Home Owners Association.  A few concerns have been raised by residents of the development.  Snow removal was one.  The garbage collection sites in the development have been blocked by snow intermittently, and the HOA requested that snow removal be performed by the city on that access area.  The city is responsible for the asphalt areas of the development, according to Davis.  City Superintendent Tyler Webster noted that the roads in the development were cleared to allow access for emergency vehicles, but that other roads in developments were typically taken care of by Home Owners Associations.  The lack of a turn around on the access road was cited as a reason the road was not currently plowed.

Code Enforcement officer John Christopherson noted that there was a lot of debris outside of the garbage bins that needed to be cleaned up, as the garbage trucks do not stop to pick it up off the ground.  Davis stated that a camera had been set up by the HOA to attempt to find out who has been leaving material at the site.  Councilman Lance Tripp suggested that plowing with an ATV might be easier.  Webster suggested that it was a possibility.  As the area becomes more developed, the problem should be mitigated, but in the meantime the city agreed to attempt plowing the road to the garbage collection site.

 A street sign for “Cedar Lane” was also requested, though it was noted that the sign would be the responsibility of the developer or Home Owners Association.  Webster stated that he would take care of it.

Dave Colton

Dave Colton, representing the Senior Citizens Council, spoke to the council about funds for the Senior Citizens Center.  Colton informed the council about the number of meals provided in-house in 2023 (4,933), as well as the number of meals delivered (2,640).  The SSC is compensated by state funds, donations, and SICOG.  As a result of the increasing cost of food, Colton stated that the costs to provide the meals fully outstrip the compensation from all sources.  The Senior Center provides a number of services beyond meals for Oneida County’s senior population, including classes, wellness checks, space for the quilters club, rental space, and other things.  $10,000 was budgeted for the Senior Citizens Center for this year, and Colton was requesting an additional $5,000.  Funds from the state were cut last year (though they were partially restored this year).  The building needs new wiring for its electrical load, repairs to refrigeration and other facilities issues, which are covered by facilities grants.  The center reported that they are also in need of a new head cook.

A motion to provide the requested $5,000 to the senior citizen center was approved.

Robert Bronson

Robert Bronson requested a variance to allow for his daughter to inhabit a trailer on his property while she is providing care.  Code Enforcement Officer John Christopherson expressed the concern that allowing variances to ordinances creates a situation where enforcement is compromised over the long term.  The importance of enforcing ordinances on the books was the primary point of conversation.  As a council, the members decided that the start of the new year was the right time to commit to enforcing the city’s codes.  Variances, of course, are always available for application, though there must be a compelling reason for their approval.  Attorney Evanson suggested that the council start with the principle of the ordinance’s original purpose.  If a variance does not directly work against the desired outcome of the ordinance, or the practical motivation for its creation, then the variance process is designed to account for such special circumstances.  

A more specific discussion about ordinances related to restrictions on habitation in temporary dwellings was had.  The council felt that one of the desired outcomes of the ordinance was the preservation of the aesthetics of the city.  As the trailer is not easily visible to neighbors, or creating any unsightly distraction, it was not considered to be in direct violation of the desired outcome.  Health and safety were also considered as relevant issues, as well as the anticipated length of the need for the variance.  It was proposed by Councilman Tripp to extend a three month variance to the Bronsons in order to accommodate the temporary situation.  At the end of that time, any further extension would require the applicants to come before the city council.  

Super Trees

Daniel Allen spoke to the council on behalf of “Super Trees”.  The organization provides high quality trees to cities and helps provide information and assistance for properly growing them.  Allen explained that trees that are left in pots for too long experience root growth that begins to “circle” and then “girdle” the tree, which blocks its nutrient exchange.  “Super Trees” was begun with the mission of exploring how to improve tree root growth.  Air Pots were developed as a result.  The company ships trees to cities to be planted in the air pots.  Root systems are typically four times as wide as they are deep.  The mayor explained that they may need the services offered by Super Trees in the fulfillment of a tree planting grant.  

Mayor’s Youth Council

The mayor updated the council on recent activities by the Mayor’s Youth Council.  The MYC has expressed a desire to attend the AIC (Association of Idaho Counties) Convention in June.  Two representatives attended the event last year.  Due to the timing, the event presented difficulties with scheduling.  An alternative convention was located at Utah State University.  The convention is designed to teach leadership skills, and may be more convenient for students, as it takes place in March.  There are eleven members of the MYC.  The AIC Convention is held with other Idaho youth leadership groups in Boise.  The AIC convention was considered by the council to be more in line with the MYC’s stated mission as an adjunct to the city council.  Brett Evanson mentioned that he had found youth trips to the capital to be formative and important.  The council agreed.  The mayor stated that she would convey the council’s recommendation to the Youth Council.    

PZ

Planning and Zoning welcomed Jodi Farr to the board, and is still in need of one more member.  Several names have been put forward.

Business Licenses

A business license for a business which will include retail sales of portable buildings and trailers was presented to the council and approved.  The business is Hardy Building and Equipment on 100 S Main.

Superintendent

Tyler Webster reported that the light poles downtown in need of repair as a result of vehicles running into them were not able to be welded.  Webster updated the council on a number of other projects underway throughout the city.