Leslie May Shumate

The Salmon City Council met on June 15 and June 22 for in-depth review of the proposed City Budget for Fiscal Year 2022.  At its July 7 meeting City Finance Director Amy Fealko reported the result of those discussions was a 2% property tax increase, a 3% increase to the water base-fee and a 2.6% increase in staff raises.

Fealko said the proposed draft budget included a $6,000 contribution from the city to the Lemhi County Economic Development Association (LCEDA), and thirty-six thousand in revenue from the COPS grant three fourths of which will go to fund a School Resource Officer’s salary.  Money to buy a new police vehicle is on a two-year cycle so $20,000 is set aside every year for an up to $40,000 purchase every other year. She also said that medical insurance has gone up ten percent.

The draft budget includes the $37,500 lease of a street sweeper, $20,000 for storm drains and a partial excavator purchase under the Water-Sewer-Streets and Alleys departments.  The other half of the purchase will be made from the FY 2023 budget. As a side note, she announced that the 1990 Water Bond will be paid off this year which will mean that about $65,000 won’t be going out anymore.

Listed under major construction are the Phase I water distribution upgrades which are getting underway and will be completed in the next fiscal year. Fealko said the only changes from former discussions were a renaming of some of the fees.

The council unanimously voted to approve the changes made to the draft budget. 

The budget figures will be published in the newspaper and the public hearing on the city’s
$4,166,478 budget will take place at the next meeting of the Salmon City Council on July 21 at 6:15 PM..

It was mentioned that people are seeing an increase in the assessed valuation of their property and that does not mean that an increase in taxes will be following.

On a recent interview on KSRA Radio City Administrator Emery Penner said seeing the evaluation of your home go up 30 percent does not mean you will see a 30 percent increase in your taxes.  Various taxing districts throughout the county set their budgets every year.  The revenue the district needs to operate is what sets the amount of taxes.  Those budgets are also regulated by the State Tax Commission. Penner said that through legislation to protect the individuals in the taxing district, the law has limits on how much the budget of a district can be raised every year.

The Salmon City Council met on June 15 and June 22 for in-depth review of the proposed City Budget for Fiscal Year 2022.  At its July 7 meeting City Finance Director Amy Fealko reported the result of those discussions was a 2% property tax increase, a 3% increase to the water base-fee and a 2.6% increase in staff raises.

Fealko said the proposed draft budget included a $6,000 contribution from the city to the Lemhi County Economic Development Association (LCEDA), and thirty-six thousand in revenue from the COPS grant three fourths of which will go to fund a School Resource Officer’s salary.  Money to buy a new police vehicle is on a two-year cycle so $20,000 is set aside every year for an up to $40,000 purchase every other year. She also said that medical insurance has gone up ten percent.

The draft budget includes the $37,500 lease of a street sweeper, $20,000 for storm drains and a partial excavator purchase under the Water-Sewer-Streets and Alleys departments.  The other half of the purchase will be made from the FY 2023 budget. As a side note, she announced that the 1990 Water Bond will be paid off this year which will mean that about $65,000 won’t be going out anymore.

Listed under major construction are the Phase I water distribution upgrades which are getting underway and will be completed in the next fiscal year. Fealko said the only changes from former discussions were a renaming of some of the fees.

The council unanimously voted to approve the changes made to the draft budget. 

The budget figures will be published in the newspaper and the public hearing on the city’s
$4,166,478 budget will take place at the next meeting of the Salmon City Council on July 21 at 6:15 PM..

It was mentioned that people are seeing an increase in the assessed valuation of their property and that does not mean that an increase in taxes will be following.

On a recent interview on KSRA Radio City Administrator Emery Penner said seeing the evaluation of your home go up 30 percent does not mean you will see a 30 percent increase in your taxes.  Various taxing districts throughout the county set their budgets every year.  The revenue the district needs to operate is what sets the amount of taxes.  Those budgets are also regulated by the State Tax Commission. Penner said that through legislation to protect the individuals in the taxing district, the law has limits on how much the budget of a district can be raised every year.

Due to delays in the time the generator can be delivered Dahle Construction has been awarded extra time in the city contract awarded to them in June.  The large back-up generator was included in the Phase I water delivery system upgrade the city has undertaken. The delay is attributed to ramifications related to the pandemic and to the subsequent market fluctuations.  The Salmon City Council has voted an extension on that one part of the project.

Councilor Fred Waidely was filling in for Mayor Leo Marshall at the July 7^th meeting and at the start of the evening’s Roundtable discussion he informed the council that a public hearing is scheduled for July 14 on the Planning and Zoning changes made to the Development Code.  The City Councill and the Planning and Zoning Commission will be having a joint meeting to discuss zoning options related to housing on July 21^st.

Councilor Neal James commented that several people have suggested the city should pave a certain portion of Bean Lane.  He was told that portion of lane is owned by the school district.

Councilor Robin Phillips said since members of the Planning and Zoning Commission are scheduled to meet with the council July 21^st it would be an opportunity to discuss zoning changes that would allow for duplex housing on the Bar Hill.  She said that as city leaders the council needs to facilitate zoning changes that will allow older and younger residents to remain in the community. She said she hopes council members will be open to the changes that need to be made.

City Administrator Emery Penner said he has spoken with City/County Attorney Bruce Withers about giving the council an update on local crime statistics and Withers indicated he would be happy to do that.  He suggested a good time would be late August when the Summer is winding down.

The next scheduled meeting of the Salmon City Council is July 21^st at 6PM.  The meetings are open to the public, with proper social distancing, and are available by telephone with a call to City Hall for the log in numbers.

NEW ADDITION TO P&Z                                       7-7-21              LMS

The Salmon City Council has named Heidi Koenig to the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission.  She has been unanimously appointed for a three-year term.

Rachel Layman of the Salmon Valley Stewardship (SVS) attended the July 7 City Council meeting in search of a volunteer for the Trails Committee.  She said she’s looking for someone to participate and research potential recreational opportunities for Salmon, Lemhi and Custer counties.

The volunteer would be joining representatives from the SVS, Regional Land Trust, Lemhi County, Idaho Department of Recreation, LCEDA, PETA, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation, Heart of the Rockies Initiative and Wilderness Society.  Layman said that originally the group was formed to explore USDA’s Rural Development Grant Program’s recreational focus on rural communities. Essentially the programs were to use signage and kiosks to direct recreationalists to spots of interest or resources.  She said the focus began in 2017 with the new trail along Highway 93 project which is about to begin.

She said the group feels it’s important to have city representation in the planning process. The group meets monthly and at the moment is researching different funding opportunities.  Councilor Jim Bockelman offered to join the effort.

Sacajawea Center Director Suzy Avey asked for official approval of two “no-match” grants she has located.  One is from the Idaho Humanities Council for $5,000 and the other is from the National Park Service Stewardship for $2,000.  Both are for displays to be housed in the former City Police Department at the center. 
The council unanimously approved her acceptance request.

THANKS TO LOCAL EFFORTS – Successful vaccination campaign due to local staff and volunteers.

Seventh District Health Director Geri Rackow began her COVID-19 update to the Salmon City Council with a huge shout-out to the amazing local staff responsible for making the vaccination effort so seamlessly smooth. She said it goes not only to the district staff but to the Steele Memorial Clinic and the Salmon Pharmacy plus the volunteers who have made the local clinics possible every week.

In her March 3 report, she said there have been around 3,500 vaccinations statewide and that figure will be rising soon with the arrival of an additional 1,400 doses of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine. Rackow said 24.3 percent of the residents in Lemhi County have received vaccinations which is one of the highest rates in the state. Vaccinations for the 65 and older group is expected to be finished the week of March 7th. Efforts will be moving to the next priority group which includes vaccinations for; Food and Agriculture workers, USDA Food Inspection workers; grocery and convenience store workers, National Guard members, manufacturing, Postal Service workers, flight crews and utility workers as well as homeless shelter residents. Those is that group will become eligible to receive the vaccine on March 15 and the local clinic will begin vaccinations on March 17. Those interested may sign up for the waiting list on the District Seven web site.

Steele Memorial’s Marketing Manager Jenny Tracy said that after next Wednesday there will probably be no more mass vaccinations. The next round of vaccinations will likely be given at the Steele Memorial Clinic or the Salmon Pharmacy or at the Public Health office on the Bar Hill. The public will be informed about schedules when they are formalized,

Rackow said another group anxious to schedule vaccinations are those who are under 65 and have underlying health conditions. She said a state COVID-19 advisory committee is meeting March 5 to determine a timeline of inoculations for that group. She urged people to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing for the time being.

One of the people this community lost to COVID-19 was City Councilman Ken Hill who was known for his many local contributions. Among them was buying the downtown History Park property and deeding it to the city. Earlier in the evening during a public comment opportunity Salmon resident Dave Gusky, who shared a common background of Colorado residency with Hill, suggested Hill’s portrait and a commemoration plaque be placed in the park.

City Clerk Mary Benton told Gusky and the council that the city is working on a re-dedication of History Park to Hill, and is having the History Park interpretive panels refurbished. She said a custom metal and wood monument sign created by Shelli and Rob Wiederrick has been commissioned in Hill’s honor. The date and time of the re-dedication will be announced.

LITERALLY…NO ROOM – Council told reasons for no available or affordable housing.

Lemhi County Economic Development Association (LCEDA) Executive Director Tammy Stringham and Jen Smith of the Regional Land Trust presented an overview of the local housing situation to the May 5 meeting of the Salmon City Council.

The first topic of conversation was how many businesses are struggling to fill positions. Later in the presentation Councilor Robin Phillips pointed out the federal government is not helping the job force merchant’s problem by supplying unemployment checks larger than what can be earned by working a local job.

Stringham said they are currently working on a questionnaire survey that will be sent to all builders in Lemhi County in hopes of getting a better understanding of their challenges and issues. She said there are organizations around the state that are very adept at finding investors for building projects plus establishing tax credits and some have been contacted. They are also looking at local land opportunities which might be re-zoned for multiple, affordable housing featuring from two to four units.

Smith asked the council how the subject of available housing and affordable housing for workers came up and what council members thought could be done. Phillips said she brought the question of housing to the council on behalf of residents unable to find or afford a place to live. She said she thinks the government should step aside and make it easier for contractors to create the needed product. She said we are living in such an inflationary time that even if contractors could build the needed housing it wouldn’t be affordable. In reading the LCEDA report she said it was clear most people want to live within minutes of where they work which is not reasonable based on available housing inventory in the city. She also mentioned there are zero rental opportunities.

Phillips stated she is in favor of changing the zoning and in favor of multi-family properties in selected areas. She would like to see an apartment complex built somewhere in town.

Councilor Jim Bockelman said the killer right now is the cost of building which is so high the possibility of getting a return on the investment is improbable. His opinion is he would like to see a change in zoning.

Smith commented that most building right now is for custom homes and builders are two to three years out. She said the goal of the study group is to find solutions. Phillips asked if they have considered finding contractors from outside the area. Stringham said there are companies that work on volume projects and the group has contacted them. \r\nSmith said those companies will, for a fee, do a housing feasibility study that includes a property search, costs of building, potential rental rates as well as costs of buying. Stringham said they are looking at all options and are excited to see the city’s interest. She said the trick will be finding a balance between over expansion and filling the need.

Phillips complimented them on the thoroughness of the study.

Resources for fires depend on numbers of people

Record breaking heat has spawned an early fire season and at its June 16 City Council Meeting the Salmon City Council was informed about what firefighting resources are on hand locally.

Kyra Povirk, Forest Service District Ranger for the Salmon-Cobalt and Leadore districts, updated the council on current conditions, staffing, local resources and forecasts for this fire season.

She said there are four helicopters stationed at the Salmon Air Base two of which are presently on fires in Arizona and Utah. There is one helicopter in Challis and are between 37 to 40 personnel based in Salmon. There are four fire engines. One is in Leadore, one in Challis, one at the Yankee Fork and one in Mackay. The one in Leadore is staffed by Forest Service personnel stationed there and seven Ameri core interns who are training to become firefighters. There is a Wildland Fire Module at the Yankee Fork staffed by around ten people. Locally there are also two Bureau of Land Management engines.

Povirk discussed planning level assessments of potential fire conditions, inventories of equipment resources and the regional potential of fires in the Great Basin, the Southwest and in the Northern Rockies. There is a growing fire currently in Red Lodge, Montana which is unusual for this early in the season. She said there have been five fires so far on the Salmon-Challis and one is currently burning in the vicinity of Indian Creek.

Due to the strong high pressure centered over the Southwest preventing the entrance of any moisture she predicts high temperatures and the drought will continue here. With August conditions already happening in June the Forest Service is bracing for an active fire season.

Councilor Robin Phillips has been told many access roads in the forest have been blocked by downed trees and she asked if there are any plans to clear them before fire fighters need access. Povirk said they are working on it with a limited staff and thinking of sub-contracting woodcutters and/or creating ways to engage the public in the road clearing problem.

Forest Fire Management Officer for the Salmon-Challis National Forest, Fritz Cluff, presented a “Red/Green” map that shows areas of potential fire intensity and strategies which range from full fire suppression (Red) to allowing natural-role wilderness burns (Green). The Red zone encompasses the north portions of the forest, the Lemhi Range, Beaverhead Range and the huge area west of Salmon known as the Municipal Watershed. Full suppression management goes up to the point where fire fighters are put at risk and that’s where full suppression stops. He said the Southwest, as well as the entire Northwest, is awaiting the southern Monsoon rains which will free firefighting resources for other areas. The downside is that also promotes more lightning storms here.

North Fork District Ranger Ken Gebhardt explained how the risk assessment framework process works and all that is taken into account when firefighting strategies are being planned. In answer to a question from Phillips he said that ‘yes’ it ultimately depends on the decisions made by the higher-ups. If the firefighting strategies come to the level of being decided by higher authorities the larger populations rule. She also asked if there are policies as to where retardants can be dropped. He said there are, and watersheds are no drop areas.

The group’s opinion was that fire season 2021is beginning to resemble the fire season of 2003.

Propane services to the city will be provided by Salmon River Propane for the next year.

The Salmon City Council officially accepted the company’s propane proposal at the June 16 meeting in the Salmon Valley Center meeting room.

The contract runs from the beginning of this June to May 31 of 2022. Under the agreement propane will be delivered to the city’s tanks and the 1000-gallon tank at the Salmon Valley Business and Innovation Center. The locked-in price of $1.30 per gallon will be charged and a fee of $40 per hour plus parts will be billed for any labor Salmon River Propane performs. There will be no charge for the rental tank at the Innovation Center.

During the council’s Roundtable Discussion Councilor Russ Chinske gave Kudos to the staff that recently staged the successful Open House at the new “Tool Library.” He said organizers have been working on it for quite a while and thanks to help from the community there is a good inventory of tools and equipment available for rent. Chinske also mentioned that the Farmer’s Market is now open and looks great. He said that’s two really positive things going on in the community.

Councilor Fred Waidely noted the weather/drought news in the Forest Service presentation and that the city should be prepared to activate every other day watering restrictions when and if it becomes necessary. He said this is typically the time of year for high water and that that isn’t going to be happening. He said if that’s the case, water levels in September and October could become a dire situation. He said he thinks the city council should stay apprised of the ongoing conditions.

Harking back to Chinske’s comments about positive things happening, Mayor Leo Marshall said he has been watching steel girders going up on the east end of the ACE Hardware store as that business is expands.

Continuing on the positive, Sacajawea Center Director Suzy Avey announced that the following evening would see the first live gathering in a year at the center. The occasion was in honor June being History Month which is a joint celebration sponsored by the center and the Lemhi County Historical Society.

CITY FINANCES 6-16-21 LMS

Finance Director presents city finance report.

This budget year is over the half way mark. General Revenues stand at 72 percent of the projected budget and General Expenditures are at 67.1 percent which according to City Finance Director Amy Fealko means finances are right on track.

She told the June 16 meeting of the Salmon City Council that 73.4 percent of property taxes have been collected which totals almost $600,000 in the General Fund. Half of the State Revenue-Sharing Sales Tax, $202,000, and just under half of the projected Liquor Revenue, approximately $50,000, has been received.

Under department headings Administration is at 92.3 percent which is due to the unexpected costs related to the COVID-19 virus. That budget will be revised as soon as all expenses and funding payments are tallied.

The city is no longer paying the county for Planning and Zoning administration services and Association Management Solutions are in the process of updating the Comprehensive Plan.

The Sacajawea Center is at 50 percent of its projected budget and the Police Department has spent 70 percent of its budget. The figures include the vehicle purchased this year. The Salmon Valley Center budget will also have to be adjusted due to the unexpected piping repairs under City Hall.

Fealko said the Cemetery budget is on track with revenues at 58.7 percent of its projections and expenses at 48.3 percent. Streets and Alleys revenues are at almost 80 percent of projections and revenues are at 74.2 percent. The Local Option Tax is probably another department that will need adjustments since the revenue for each month lags behind the other reports. Its revenue for the year so far, through April, was almost $58,000 which does not count the busy months of Summer.

Water & Sewer is on track with 65 percent and 67 percent of revenue. The total cash balance is $5,921,780. Councilor Robin Phillips asked if part of that sewer amount could be moved to the water fund and Fealko said it can’t because each is an Enterprise Fund, or separate business entity. The water rate is higher than the sewer rate to give more revenue to the water fund. She said that $1.8 million appears to be a lot but in the event of a catastrophic repair, that money would be spent very quickly.

On another business topic, the Greater Salmon Valley Chamber of Commerce asked the city for a donation of $1,500 to help fund the 4th of July fireworks display. The council approved the yearly donation and Jen Smith, Chamber representative, thanked the city for its support. She said the display costs around $5,000 with materials and insurance and sponsors are still being sought.

The 4th falls on Sunday this year and that will be the night for the fireworks show which will take place on Discovery Hill.

City Administrator Emery Penner announced at the June 16 meeting of the Salmon City Council that Dahle Construction of Salmon submitted the lowest bid for the first phase of the city’s Water Distribution upgrade project.

Penner said there were a total of three bids however; one bid was submitted past the prescribed deadline and had to be dismissed. The two bids considered were within a thousand dollars of each other. The successful Dahle bid was $822,734.

The Phase I project includes a generator to supply power to the city’s Water Plant in case of a power outage, Pressure Relief Valves for Bar Hill locations and replacement of the Broadway Street water line. He attributed the higher price to the increased cost of the generator and the valves.

He said the bid actually put the cost a little over what the city expected to pay but Penner thought that due to the rising prices of everything involved, no matter how many times the project was bid the amount would be higher than planned.

Councilor Robin Phillips asked Matthew Hill of Keller Associates if he thought prices would be coming down anytime soon and he said he doesn’t expect that they will.

In 2020 Keller Associates was hired to do a $60,000 study to determine what the city needed to do in order to improve and safeguard the city’s water delivery system. From Keller’s list of projects, that will ultimately cost around $9 million, the top three needs according to the study were selected by the council as the Phase I priorities.

At the last City Council meeting the contractor’s contract with the city was reviewed thoroughly to be ready for signing once the contractor was selected.

Councilor Jim Baker made the motion to approve the $822,733 bid along with one minor correction in the contract’s wording. The motion passed unanimously.

Previously the city named Keller to oversee the project and research funding avenues so the firm will be sending an official ‘Notice of Award’ to Dahle Construction.

The council then granted permission to proceed and approve a required Resolution to finance Phase I of the project by way of Judicial Confirmation. The vote to approve permission to file was unanimous. The Resolution will be filed with the court.

Getting ready to hire contractor

The June 2nd meeting of the Salmon City Council was mostly about the upcoming water distribution system project and began with an advertised public hearing to solicit public input on whether or not the city should use the Judicial Confirmation process to obtain project funding. The alternative to the Judicial Confirmation process is holding an election to get public approval.

The hearing drew no written comments, no comments in support or against the project and no neutral comments so, the hearing was closed shortly after it began.

The council went on to review the Construction Contract Agreement document that will become the agreement between the city and the firm selected for the project. The document outlines the general conditions as well as the technical specifications required of the chosen contractor. City Administrator Emery Penner said preapproval of the agreement language will help speed along the project once a decision on the contractor is made. The Phase One Water Project Contractor Contract has been released for bids and the bids are due to be opened on June 10th. An evaluation of the submissions will be prepared and ready for the council to award the contract at its June 16th meeting. It will be up to the selected contractor to ratify the agreement with the city which is why the council was reviewing the contract beforehand.

Councilor Robin Phillips said she was very impressed with the agreement document and how well the city was protected by what was built into the contract. Her one question concerned a warranty on the new generator which is part of the project plan.

Matthew Hill of Keller Associates, the firm selected by the city to oversee the project, explained the contractor will have a standard one-year warranty for installation of the generator and the generator’s manufacturer will also carry a warranty

Councilor Jim Baker is a former Forest Service engineer and had many questions concerning the agreement which Hill answered to Baker’s satisfaction. The questions concerned pressure reducing valve placement, housing for the generator, contract time and the various project “milestone” dates which will be governed by seasonal weather. After council discussion, the September 15 date of Broadway Street water line installation and paving completion was changed to October 15. Councilor Russ Chinske questioned dates for asphalt availability and Hill said the asphalt plant usually operates into mid-November before it has to shut down due to cold weather.

A motion by Councilor Fred Waidely to extend the waterline installation completion date to October 15 was unanimously passed.

Keller will be the main oversite entity and expects to be in Salmon three days a week. On days they are not present. and in an effort to not delay the project, Public Works Supervisor Charles Cockrell was appointed the authority to make non-financial project decisions which occur between council meeting dates. Penner will share the decision-making authority. The motion to appoint Cockrell was made by Councilor Jim Bockelman and it passed unanimously.

Hill commended Penner on the clarity of the written document and thanked Baker for his questions. He also thanked the council members for their efforts in reading and understanding the Contractor Contract.