TENDING TO CITY BUSINESS
Council approves several items
An updated City Personnel Policy was adopted by the Salmon City Council at its March 3rd meeting.
The policy was accepted after a discussion about the minor changes made to the document. City Administrator Emery Penner said the changes were made mainly because the document hadn’t been updated for several years. Topics discussed included proper procedure in the instance of harassment and the fact there used to be a committee an employee could consult and maybe one should be reestablished. It was pointed out that this city’s City Hall staff is so small that if there is a complaint the only person to go to is that person’s supervisor and that may not be a comfortable thing to do. No decision was made as reestablishing a committee.
The general policy addresses everything in the Civil Rights Act. Penner said he believes the city’s policy has many options should that situation arise.
After hearing an opinion of ICRMP’s (Idaho Counties Risk Management Program) positive view of the city’s revised Personnel Policy, Councilor Fred Waidely made a motion to approve the updated Personnel Policy and It passed unanimously.
An agreement between the city and the Biomark Company for placement of a fish monitoring device was brought before the council. Penner said the device would be placed on the Sacajawea Center property along the Lemhi River in an out-of-the-way place. City Attorney \r\nFred Snook reviewed the agreement document and approved it. Councilor Jim baker made a motion to approve and it passed unanimously.
A Professional Services agreement with High Basin Engineering also passed unanimously on a motion by Baker. It is for the engineering on the Kid’s Creek Pond flood mitigation. The agreement had been reviewed by Snook and approved.
The council went on to approve an update on a Fair Housing Resolution. It was a detail required for the Block Grant funding application the city is submitting for water delivery system upgrades. Councilor Jim Bockelman made the motion.
The next approval was for acceptance of a $7,500 grant from the Auen Foundation for the Sacajawea Center. No match is required for the grant. Councilor Robin Phillips took the opportunity to praise the work being done by Center Director Suzy Avey. She commended Avey’s ability to find no-match grants for improvement of the facility. Acceptance of the grant was unanimous.
After a thorough discussion, the council decided to follow city code and waive sewer and water bills for six months after the recent house fire on 10th Street that destroyed the home. The decision was unanimous.
The next meeting of the Salmon City Council is set for March 17 at 6 PM.