| Cottonwood
City Council meets
It was reported at the July meeting of the Cottonwood City Council that the city failed to get the FEMA grant they had applied for to do the flood mitigation culvert project in the downtown area. Jack Duman reported that they said, “although the project is technically feasible it is not cost effective” enough to be awarded a grant. Duman said he’s looking for any new ideas for funding at this point. He feels if they could do the project without federal funding it brings the cost down as they wouldn’t have to pay Bacon-Davis wages, but you’re still looking at a $2 million dollar project. Duman also reported they have a couple other culverts that got washed out in the latest flooding event. The one where School Street intersects Front Street and a double culvert at Goldstone Street. Patrick Holman of Walco, Inc. visited the council with a proposal to raise their rate by 4.6%. He said their costs of insurance plus competitive wages for semi truck drivers to haul waste to Payette have been their biggest increasing costs. The council will add this to the August meeting agenda. Tara Rowland and her daughter Chloe were in attendance. Chloe was attending as part of her Know Your Government 4-H project. She needed to attend some kind of local government meeting. In correspondence Mayor Pepper Harman said they received an anonymous letter with some complaints. He said if they’d sign their letter the city might take it more seriously. He also read a letter from CEDA regarding training on doing the comprehensive plan and another from Idaho Commerce about grant money available, asking cities to fill out and return a survey on possible needs. In the police report Terry Cochran reported he got some grant money to help fund Jason Rambo’s position in 2020. In the water report Pat Holthaus reported they pumped about 4.2 million gallons and sold about 3.8 million for a loss of 9.5%. Not included in that was the fire department’s flushing of some hydrants. Don Munkers reported on the Ida-Lew meeting he attended. He said is a bit confused about what they offer that couldn’t be done by CEDA. A CEDA representative was at the last Ida-Lew meeting and talked about looking into value-added businesses for communities. For an agriculture based area this would be something like a barley malting facility or a flour mill. Basically where you take local products and process them for further use. Jack Duman reported there is a lot of chip sealing being done in the area this summer. The state will now be coming in August to do the Hwy. 95 business loop. They are looking at doing some more patching before that is done to give a better driving surface to community members. Linda Nida reported they have a freezer that needs replaced in the hall kitchen. After that she is looking at some door replacements. There was nothing to report for the airport and the fire department had no calls last month. In unfinished business Carla Sisson’s request to hook on to the water main going up East St. was tabled as there was no update from her. Regarding Joe Didier’s Clark Street property usage, city attorney Joe Wright was asked to draft a letter to tell him to come into compliance with what is allowed in the class B zone he is in or seek a variance. Under new business a catering permit was granted for Doreen’s for July 27 during Summerfest. This is to allow them to extend their beergarden in front of Doreen’s into the street pending getting the necessary permit from the state to close the street for the day. A proposal by sewer commissioner Don Munkers to reverse the transfers from the sewer fund to the reserve funds was approved. This is approximately $16,000 to help balance the fund. Approval of a temporary beer and wine license for Coyote’s was approved pending the regular state license being approved. They currently have a temporary license from the state which allows them to sell beer and wine. In a final action the council approved holding a budget workshop on Monday, July 22 at 7 p.m. They need to submit a proposed tentative budget to the County by July 29. The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, August 12 at 7 p.m. |
 |