| Schumacher
is new Cottonwood mayor
Prior to the February meeting of the Cottonwood City Council Monday, Feb. 8, longtime Mayor Denis Duman sent in a letter of resignation. Apparently the legal opinion provided by Adam Green confirmed what they had been told by city attorney Joe Wright regarding appointment of a family member of someone already on the council. The first order of business after roll call there fore was a motion by Pat Holthaus to appoint Shelli Schumacher as mayor. Jack Duman seconded and the motion was approved. Schumacher was then sworn in as the first female mayor of Cottonwood by city clerk Carol Altman. Ron Grant was then re-elected to the post of council president. Schumacher started with her appointment recommendations then it was decided to appoint a council member to take her place. Linda Nida was willing to do so and was appointed by Schumacher and approved by a vote of the council. Schumacher then swore in Nida as the newest member of the city council. Appointments are: Water commissioner-Pat Holthaus; Sewer commissioner and Fire commissioner- Grant; Streets/stormwater commissioner-Jack Duman; Land and Buildings-Schumacher; Police commissioner and Airport commissioner-Nida; Chief of Police-Terry Cochran; City Clerk-Carol Altman; City Attorney-Joe Wright and Public Works Superintendent-Roy Uhlenkott. Uhlenkott was also voted in as fire chief by the volunteer fire department and that was approved by vote of the council. Planning and Zoning representative was tabled. Denis Duman was reappointed as Cottonwood’s representative to IdaLew and CEDA. Wright asked if those are paid positions. Schumacher said expenses get reimbursed only. Wright thought that would be all right but wanted to check on it first. He would let them know Tuesday. Kathy Hedberg of the Lewiston Tribune made a public records request for a copy of Denis Duman’s resignation letter. Wright said he would need to review it first to see that there wasn’t anything in the letter that would be a public records problem. In the reports Cochran said the Jermaine Galloway presentation was a success. There would be a part 2 in August for school staff and law enforcement. Cochran also said his daughter Dani Cochran is well-versed in the information Galloway provided and can do the same sort of presentation. In the water report Holthaus said they pumped over 2 million gallons and sold 1.5 million for a loss of about 27% which is higher than usual for this time of year. He also reported that Uhlenkott discovered a large leak in the northern part of town that could account for some of that. Water testing all came back good. Grant had nothing to report from the sewer department. Jack Duman reported he won’t hear on the grant application until next month. He also talked with a city councilman from Palouse, Washington who said Avista had been changing out street lights to LEDs. Duman talked to Avista and Cottonwood got pushed to the top of the list due to the interest. You may have seen an Avista truck doing just that Monday on King Street. He also asked citizens to report any major pothole problems. Schumacher reported the hall renovation is continuing with some changes made in plans due to the concrete walls, floors and ceilings. The new downstairs door and windows are in and should be punched through and installed later this week. Grant reported they had no fire calls in the past month. He also reported they have some training coming up in Kamiah. Uhlenkott said that would be in March and that they currently have 7 firemen planning to go. There was no P & Z meeting. In unfinished business the Library lease is due this month. Schumacher would recommend they extend it for 6 months at this time until they can see what affect the new senior center and handicap ramp may have on their business. They currently pay $75 per month which includes utilities. Under new business a stove out of the old downstairs kitchen plus a Canon copier were declared as surplus. It was discussed to put a reserve price on the range. A motion was made to surplus the range with a minimum bid price of $200 and to also surplus the copier. In other business The Hangout made a request to have the hall fee waived for their purse auction on March 5. All proceeds from this go to the domestic violence victims program through the YWCA. They had it at The Hangout last year and it was really too big for their available space. Schumacher recommended they waive the fee and Holthaus made the motion, 2nd by Duman to do so. A banking resolution was adopted adding new mayor Schumacher to the check signers and retaining Altman and Grant as the city clerk and council president. Checks need to be signed by any two. The East Street sidewalk grant was on the agenda but Duman said the state had not completed the necessary paperwork yet. It will be back on the agenda in March. The council adjourned at 7:45 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, March 14 at 7 p.m. 
Shelli Schumacher, left, is sworn in as Cottonwood’s first female mayor by city clerk Carol Altman at Monday’s Cottonwood City Council meeting. 
Linda Nida, left, gets sworn in as a new Cottonwood City Councilor by new mayor Shelli Schumacher. |
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