Leslie May Shumate

Foundation gives generous grant to Sacajawea Center

The good news of the Salmon City Council’s June 2nd meeting came from Sacajawea Center Director Suzy Avey. She announced that the CHC Foundation based in Idaho Falls has awarded the Center a grant of $4,000. The grant was given on a cash “in-kind” basis with a $1,088 on-site volunteer assembly and installation clause. She said the money will be used to replace the center’s wooden benches. She said the gift came after representatives of the CHC Foundation toured the center grounds and liked what they saw.

Councilor Fred Waidely made a motion to accept the CHC Foundation grant and it passed unanimously, with appreciation.

During the council’s Roundtable Discussion Councilor Waidely said most of the grants awarded to the Sacajawea Center are earmarked for educational or recreational purposes and not for Capital Improvements so Avey has to rely on other means or city departments if she needs money for capital expenditures. He said that needs to be remembered when budget talks begin.

Councilor Robin Phillips said people have complained to her over the condition of South Church Street. She asked Public Works Supervisor Charles Cockrell if the street is on his radar and he said it is. She also said she is working with people trying to solve the affordable housing shortage in Salmon and that there is a concern over the types of structures being offered for shelter. City Administrator Emery Penner said there are issues in other areas with regulating development codes in terms of creating the needed housing. He is researching those problems before making recommendations for Salmon. He said the housing must be controlled and safe and be esthetically pleasing to the rest of the community plus being something that’s according to code.

Councilor Neal James complimented city crews for the way the town looked over Memorial Day and the great ceremonies presented by the local veterans.

Councilor Russ Chinske congratulated the Boys High School Track Team for winning the State Championship and went on to say he appreciates the efforts toward the complicated, affordable housing problem. He said the more discussion about actual ideas the better. Chinske said he would like to keep the discussion going by putting it on the council agenda and inviting input.

Councilor Jim Baker asked Penner if the city is replacing the water lines under one channel of the river or both channels. Penner told him the city will be laying casings under one channel and then the other side will be done in Phase II. He said there will be a long process of designing and permitting and engineering involved before the actual dewatering stage.

Ordinances and Finance Report.

The May 19th evening City Council meeting began with a report from Councilor Robin Phillips on the local COVID-19 statistics from the District Seven Health Department’s web site.

As of that evening there were no new cases of the virus, zero probable cases and three active cases. Councilor Fred Waidely said one new case had been reported the previous day.

The council moved on to accept the city’s rewritten Nuisance Ordinance 21-849.

City Attorney Fred Snook has been conferring with the council for several months regarding changes the council wanted to make to the ordinance. Councilor Waidely made a motion to proceed to a vote on Ordinance 21-849 by title only. Changes made to the original Nuisance Ordinance include clarifying definitions, establishing federal and civil penalties, providing for requests of hearings and appeals plus, approving the summary of the ordinance.

Waidely requested the three-reading rule on ordinances be waived and the final vote be taken that evening. The vote to waive the three-reading rule was unanimous and a motion to accept Ordinance 21-849 was also passed unanimously.

Later in the meeting the council approved the annual Memorandum of Understanding with Lemhi County which is an agreement to not charge building fees on either of the entities building projects.

City Finance Director Amy Fealko gave a summary of the past month’s financial status. The city’s total cash balance is now $6,114,245. In the departmental breakdown of those funds the Sewer Fund shows the largest share at $1.8 million with $1.7 million of that reserved for various contingencies. The Water fund shows $884,799 and there is $495.543 in Streets and Alleys. The General Fund shows $777,077.

She said the city is doing very well with 58 percent of the year completed. They have received 71.4 percent of the expected revenues and expenditures are at 58.7 percent which puts the city right where it should be for this time of year.

Fealko said the city has received almost 75 percent of the expected property tax revenue and Sales Tax and Revenue Sharing is at 52.1 percent. She said Liquor Sales Revenue is down a bit at 43.4 percent received.

All the city departments look good compared to expectations. She said that an audit request has been received from a firm working for the state to track expenses related to the COVID-19 virus.

The one overbudget department is the Salmon Valley Center due to the unexpected replacement of all the pipes under City Hall which amounted to $12,000. She said the bill would have been a lot higher were it not for all the work city crews did on the project.

The entire monthly report is available for viewing on the city web site…cityofsalmon.com

The city will hold a special session meeting on the morning of June 15 to begin 2022 budget discussions.

Yearly request from LCEDA an vacation request from land owner.’,

‘Lemhi County Economic Development Association (LCEDA) Executive Director Tammy Stringham asked the Salmon City Council for their yearly letter of support that she sends the Idaho Department of Commerce. The Department helps fund LCEDA’s efforts on behalf of the community and the Executive Director’s position.

Last year the city contributed $6,000 to LCEDA for such things as the seed money to operate Lemhi Ride and other efforts the association makes towards the economy of the area. Stringham explained the letter of support. which mentions the $6,000 contributed last year, will be included in this year’s funding application packet to the department. She said it helps to show the city is behind the association efforts, has contributed in the past and will consider her request to contribute this year.

After that is sent, Stringham will make an official fiscal year budget request for $6,000 to the city as it enters its budgeting process. The City Council voted unanimously in favor of writing the letter of support

The city has received an application for the vacation of a portion of 11th Street. The applicants have supplied everything required including letters of support from surrounding neighbors, the Police Department, the City Public Works Supervisor, the Fire Department and Idaho Power. The unused, 7,200 square foot strip of city land backs a portion of Gilmore Avenue.

Councilor Fred Waidely thought the Planning and Zoning Commission should take a look at the proposal. Councilor Jim Baker said he has heart-burn when it comes to the city just giving away a piece of property that might be needed at a future date. The council voted unanimously to send the proposed vacation to P&Z for its evaluation.

During the evening’s Roundtable Discussion Councilor Jim Bockelman said he recommends there be a sign placed at the bridge crosswalk located on the east end of the Main Street Bridge. He said people come out of the restaurant there and jaywalk, not looking for traffic, and the pedestrians are difficult see by the on-coming traffic. He said he also said he is getting a lot of questions about the Pickle Ball Court. He wondered if it should be resurfaced and if so, by whom.

Councilor Fred Waidely mentioned an article in an Idaho Falls newspaper that indicates legislative changes are being discussed that would affect property tax changes due to the influx of people. He said the changes could have adverse effects on local property owners and that council members should become apprised as to what changes are being proposed.

Councilor Robin Phillips introduced the word “gentrification.” It relates to wealthy people buying property at high prices and pushing taxes up to where current residents can’t afford their homes. Phillips said she has seen it happen in other towns like Santa Fe New Mexico, Flagstaff Arizona and Boise. She issued the warning that Salmon doesn’t need to allow itself to become like other places. “Once a community loses its small-town character it loses that quality of life that made it an enjoyable place for the residents to live for years and years.”

Councilor Russ Chinske announced school will let out on June 10th and he said it was great to see that Boys and Girls Track were district champions in Boise last weekend. Councilor Jim Baker thanked both Phillips and Waidely for the legislative information they provided.

The next City Council meeting will begin at 6PM June 2nd in the Salmon Valley Center Meeting Room. The meetings can also be heard by phone. Call City Hall at 208-756-3214 for more information.

FIX NEEDED NOW – Wildlife Federation says crisis is at least three fold.

Brian Brooks and Garret Visser from the Idaho Wildlife Federation made a presentation to the May 5 meeting of the Salmon City Council concerning what they called a “new perspective” regarding Salmon and Steelhead fish.

Visser outlined fish history, the migratory life cycle habits of the species, the habitat between the Lemhi Valley and the ocean, the ongoing decline in numbers and what has been done to stop the decline in the past. He also presented figures on the annual one hundred-million-dollar economic importance of the fish to Central Idaho. Visser said between here and the lower Granite Dam 29 percent of the smolts die. The survivors then arrive at the four dams on the Snake River and go on to the four dams on the Columbia River. Visser said 50 percent of the surviving fish die in the hydro system. From there the fish meet with various warm reservoirs full of predators. The fish that make it through Bonneville Dam head for the ocean where 98 percent of them die. Those who don’t, live from two to five years in the ocean before starting the trip back to Idaho.

Brooks dated the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to 1937 and the FDR days of the New Deal. The BPA hydropower system’s original purpose was to provide power to the Pacific Northwest at cost. He said the cost was greatly over estimated. Too much supply and not enough demand resulted in the 1970’s bond default. Congress took over and created the Northwest Planning Act of 1980 which allowed the BPS to sell the excess supply of power. It also created funding and made BPA responsible for Salmon fish mitigation on which it has spent $17 billion to date. Brooks said congressional oversite was not included in the plan and the fish levels are worse now than in the 1990’s.

Brooks said BPA produces twice the power that is needed so it has been selling to states like California. Due to things like solar power, wind generation and natural gas the bottom has dropped out of the power sales and BPA is now $15 billion in federal government debt due to an oversupply of power and falling demand. BPA’s credit rating has been downgraded to “negative.” By the year 2023 BPA will reach its federal borrowing cap.

The hydro-dam system also supplies shipping which has declined 75 percent. In 2000 the Port of Lewiston shipped 17,590 TEU’s of containerized freight. In 2017 the number for container-on-barge shipping was zero and experts say the shipping will not return nor will the clientele. The Port of Lewiston closed its shipping operations in 2015. Brooks said it costs BPA about $24 million a year to take care of its shipping business. He said it costs taxpayers around $30,000 to send one boat 94 miles through the dam system.

Brooks said it boils down to three crises: Irreversible debt for BPA; Shipping is down to the “break even” point and, the fish are nearing extinction. The challenge is to fix BPA in a way that benefits tax payers, rate payers and fish. Solutions include: Breach the lower Snake River dams; replace the transportation infrastructure while bolstering the existing one and, replace the means of power generation. Brooks said to do that will require an Act of Congress.

He said right now the Pacific Northwest has a good base of congressional power within its states. He said now is the time to make the changes and that the changes have to be “win-win” for everyone, with the proper amount of horse-trading involved. He said the issues will not go away.

US Representative Mike Simpson’s plan was recommended as a good starting point. When asked about recovery Brooks said removal of the four lower dams could push fish returns from the current 1.4 percent to around four percent which would prevent extinction.

BLOCK GRANT RECEIVED – City receives Block Grant for water distribution system

Last August the city was informed by a Keller Associates study that the city’s water distribution system very old and in need of replacement. It would be a large-scale project and the only way the city could see to do the extensive repairs was step by step, one priority and one phase at a time.

The city hired Rick Miller of the Rexburg Development Company to apply for an Idaho Community Block Grant for Phase I of the project. Phase I will include Broadway Street water line replacement, pressure reducing valve stations and a water treatment plant generator.

The $500,000 Block Grant has been awarded.

Detail work surrounding acceptance of the grant began at the May 5 meeting of the Salmon City Council. A partial contract for the work had been negotiated with Keller Associates for Phase I work since the city felt it had to be done regardless of whether or not the grant was received. Now that the grant is secured the rest of the Keller contract needed to be ratified. After council discussion on the completion date listed. a motion to go forward was approved on a unanimous vote.

The city has decided to apply for a Judicial Confirmation process to obtain the funds for Phase II which is the remainder of the water distribution project. A Public Hearing is required before entering a Judicial Confirmation process. A date of June 2nd was set for the hearing by a unanimous vote. The June 2nd date will be officially published prior to the hearing.

The next detail was to officially make a contract agreement for the East Idaho Development Company to become the administrator for the Block Grant monies and to take care of all the requirements the Block Grant entails. Councilor Fred Waidely made a motion to that effect and it passed unanimously.

In the evening’s Roundtable Discussion Councilor Russ Chinske complimented city crews on the recent road work around town. He then urged his fellow council members to consider signing a letter being circulated to river communities concerning what was presented by the Wildlife Federation earlier in the meeting. He said it is important for opinions to be heard on something that will have great impacts on this town no matter which way decisions go.

Councilor Jim Bockelman added it’s very easy to contact Representative Mike Simpson with thoughts on the dam breaching topic.

Bockelman also said he was happy to see the “No Bicycle Riding” signs placed along Main Street sidewalks. During a public comment period earlier in the meeting Bockelman expressed his dismay over plans for yet another Pizza Restaurant. He said he’s all for new business at the old King’s store but asked, “… is another Pizza place really needed.?”

Councilor Neal James said even though it’s beating a dead horse he still thinks a city engineer should be hired to do some of the upcoming water distribution work being planned. Councilor Robin Phillips said she would like a future meeting agenda to include discussion and planning for the Fourth of July Parade.

The next meeting of the Salmon City Council is set for May 19th at 6 PM in the Salmon Valley Center meeting room.

District Seven Public Health Director Geri Rackow told the Salmon City Council May 5 that with 41 percent of residents vaccinated, Lemhi County is in the top three for highest number of vaccinated residents in the district. Teton County scored the highest with 47 percent vaccinated followed by Bonneville County with 46 percent. She congratulated the great local effort that made the high rate of vaccinations possible.

Breaking down the statistics, Rackow said 61 percent of residents in North Fork have been vaccinated and 39 percent of Salmon residents have received the vaccine.

She said the state passed a one million doses distributed milestone earlier in the week and that next week the Pfizer vaccine may be authorized for ages 12 to 15. In Idaho there is more of a vaccine supply than demand so virtually anyone can get vaccinated including those residing out of the county or state.

Steele Memorial Clinic Chief Executive Officer Jeanie Gentry told the council that there have been no COVID-19 patients hospitalized for some time. She said the hospital and staff have recommitted to wearing masks and screening patients due to the occasional walk-in virus patient case.

Rackow urged anyone with information pertaining to difficulty related to getting the vaccinations to contact one of the local providers. She said at this point masking is still recommended when around people you don’t know especially if you have not been vaccinated.

For months City Attorney Fred Snook has been rewriting and redefining sections of the city’s 1983 Nuisance Ordinance as per several discussions with the City Council. Part of the work has been research by Councilor Robin Phillips into Nuisance Ordinances in other cities the same size as Salmon.

After reviewing the most recent council directed changes to the ordinance it was put in the form of a motion-to-accept by Phillips who called Snook’s work on the ordinance “fabulous”. The council passed the re-worked Nuisance Ordinance unanimously.

MOVING INTO NEXT PHASE – Council approves Phase II agreement with Whitewater Park.

After a few minor changes the Phase II Amendment of the agreement between the city of Salmon and the Salmon Whitewater Park Association (SWPA) was approved at the April 21 meeting of the Salmon City Council.

Phase I was all about identifying and obtaining the permits required for the Whitewater project which is scheduled to begin construction this fall. Phase II involves stating the responsibilities of each party and outlines Island Park shore line protection measures needed as well as the city’s proposed laying of two 24-inch casings across the river bed when the river is dewatered for Water Park construction.

City Attorney Fred Snook has reviewed the Phase II document and said he is comfortable with the document as written.

Councilor Jim Baker wondered if there should be some language in the agreement for the possibility of two different contractors working the project. Penner hopes there will only be one contractor and Snook said if there are two, it would require changes to the contract with specific details but for now, that language isn’t needed. Snook believes that everything is covered.

Baker’s other comment was concerning language that referenced “a full vote of agreement” to any changes rather than a “majority vote.” Waidely checked the procedural hand-book and said there is nothing mentioned about “full vote of approval” …just “majority vote.” With the approval of SWPA representative Brianne Green the council decided to change the wording to “majority vote.”

Councilor Neal James didn’t think the city should obligate itself right now to providing additional rest rooms since SWPA is the one creating the need.

Baker pointed out that if the project generates crowds of people, it would be beneficial to the city to provide the facilities.

Councilor Robin Phillips first made a motion to approve the wording changes to the agreement as discussed. It passed unanimously. Then she moved to approve the Salmon Whitewater Park Phase II Amendment and her motion was unanimously passed.

FINANCIALS – Director says all looks good

As of March 31st, half of the city’s fiscal year had been completed according to a financial report delivered to the Salmon City Council’s April 21st meeting.

City Finance Director Amy Fealko said the General Fund revenues stand at 61.7 percent and the expenses are right at 50 percent.

Of the top five city revenues posted, Property Taxes are at 72.4 percent collected. She said the budgets of the various city departments are pretty much on track. Executive is at 41.3 percent and Administration is at 75.2 percent. She said the reason that one is high is Administration is where COVID-19 related expenses are being kept for now. Community Development shows that $6,000 has been paid to the Lemhi County Economic Development Association which is the majority of that planned budget. Planning and Zoning is at 46.6 percent of budget. Fealko noted the last payment for the county’s portion of Planning and Zoning work it did for the city has been paid. The Sacajawea Center is gearing up for the season and that budget is at 33.1 percent of their revenue. The Parks Department and the Swimming Pool are also gearing up for the season. The Police Department is at 53.6 percent of its budget which includes the new vehicles.

The Salmon Valley Center is at 97.4 percent of its budget. She explained the center also has COVID-19 expenses included which were specifically used for the building and will eventually be moved to a Capital Expenditure item.

Under Streets and Alleys $281,000 is listed in revenues, or 62.3 percent, and 38.4 percent in expenditures. Fealko said the Local Option Tax has received $39,000 of the $92,000 budgeted which is 42 percent of the incoming revenues. Water and Sewer are on track right around the 50 percent mark.

The Fiscal Year 2021 Budget is on the city’s web site at under the Finance Department heading.

DECISION TIME – Decision coming on mask wearing in City Hall

The fact that no one was in attendance from the local or district health departments to report on-going statistics of COVID-19 was a good sign however; the etiquette of unmasking was still a big covid-related topic of discussion at the April 21 meeting of the Salmon City Council.

Councilor Robin Phillips referred the councilors to the District Seven “Dashboard” which listed the zero new cases-zero new probable cases and 1 active case of virus in Lemhi County. She said Lemhi County has always been one of the least active places for COVID-19 in the East Idaho Public Health District and it’s time to take some of the excessive restrictions off the councilors. Phillips said it is very difficult to hear people speaking through a mask and she is sure they have important things to say.

Councilor Neal James said the COVID-19 has been going on for eight months now…that two thirds of the council have had shots and those that haven’t had shots now have an opportunity to get one. He doesn’t see masks required any other place in town, other than City Hall, and he thinks it’s time to take the masks off and maintain the distance.

City Administrator Emery Penner sees the situation as an issue of other people’s comfort. If someone is uncomfortable with masks not being worn then masks should be worn.

Councilor Jim Bockelman said he has no problem with people who don’t wear masks but if anyone entering the City Hall meeting room is uncomfortable about masks not being worn then masks should be put on immediately.

Councilor Fred Waidely reminded those who have had shots it still takes five weeks to become immune so he thinks masks should be worn for now. He personally would like to see things go back to normal and suggested that masks be worn for this meeting and a vote be taken on May 19th as to whether or not to require masks be worn in City Hall.

Councilor Jim Baker, who phones in from home, said he probably won’t be attending in person for a while no matter which way the council votes however; he wants to feel that if he wanted to wear a mask at City Council he could. He said he has no problem with not requiring masks.

James made a motion to vote on whether masks are required at City Hall during the May 19 council meeting. Approval of the motion was unanimous.

During the council’s Roundtable discussion James reminded fellow council members of the need for ‘No Parking’ signs opposite the cleaning establishment on west Shoup Street.

Councilor Russ Chinske said the council will want to pay attention to the school Track Team this season and it should also be paying attention to a move by some members of Congress to remove dams on the lower Snake River. He wants to bring in someone to fully inform the council on the dam removal ramifications.

When the council got to the future meetings agenda Waidely said he is not seeing the purpose of Team meetings and they should be suspended. Bockelman said the Parks Department is feeling it is not being heard and Baker suggested a council discussion on the Team subject should be scheduled.

OFFICIAL DESIGNATION VOTED – Keller named as project engineer.

The city of Salmon’s water delivery system infrastructure is in need major repairs according to independent studies conducted last year. Results of the study began the process of initiating a multi-million-dollar project, one phase at a time. In February the council decided to move forward into phase II that involves the replacement of 30,000 feet of water lines, valves, fire hydrants and refurbishing a river crossing. Including the engineering cost, this phase is estimated to be an $8 million dollar project. Phase II also included the city’s publishing a Request For Qualifications on which to base the hiring of an engineer to oversee the work.

At the April 21 meeting of the Salmon City Council City Administrator Emery Penner announced the result of the request which was, Keller and Associates. Their qualifications came out leading all the rest. He said it is now time to officially select an engineer so the project can move ahead. Once selected the City can begin negotiating the engineering cost with Keller and Associates.

Councilman Neal James began pre-vote council discussions by suggesting the city hire its own full-time engineer to do the work. Penner said that due to the scope of the work a city engineer would have to hire the help Keller already has on-staff. Former Forest Service Engineer, Councilor Jim Baker, said he entirely agreed with Penner. He said it is simply not possible for one person to do all the work involved in the $8 million Phase II portion of the project.

James persisted that it was just a matter of relacing water lines, “…not designing a space shuttle.” Penner then listed the agencies involved in waterline replacement and the permits plus the documentation and details required by the state.

Jim Mullen of Keller Associates assured the council about the quality of the 130 people on-staff at his firm and said their combined experience has been known to save money on projects. He said the timing of this project is good because of future uncertainties in the market. Mullen said he appreciates the confidence the council has placed in the company.

Councilor Robin Phillips made a motion to accept Keller and Associates as the engineering firm for the city’s Phase II water project. Her motion passed on a five to one vote with James casting the ‘no’ vote.

Earlier this year the council voted to seek funds for the multi-million-dollar Water Delivery System project by way of Judicial Confirmation rather than by a public vote. There is much legal paperwork involved in obtaining Judicial Confirmation and after hearing Penner’s report on the research he has done, the council decided to retain Stephanie Bonnie from the Boise, Idaho law firm of Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke (MSBT) as the attorney for the Judicial Confirmation process. The vote was unanimous.

Young Child Proclamation and sewer line extension

The city of Salmon in conjunction with the Idaho Association of the Education of Young Children (IAEYC) and the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is celebrating a week dedicated to making childhood in Salmon a good memory.

The goals of the associations are; to promote and inspire high quality, early childhood experiences for our state’s youngest citizens by providing a foundation of learning steps for children and, to thank the Salmon teachers who make a positive difference in young lives. Mayor Leo Marshall encourages all citizens of Salmon to work, support and invest in making early childhood in Salmon a good experience.

Mayor Marshall officially proclaimed April 10th through the 16th as the “Week of the Young Child” in Salmon.

At the April 7 meeting of the Salmon City Council the councilors went on to set July 21 as the 2021-2022 Budget’s hearing date. There will be meetings between now and then to determine issues the budget needs to address. The budget’s second reading will take place on August 4 followed by a third reading on August 18. A motion to approve the three dates was made by Councilor Jim Baker and was approved unanimously.

Sacajawea Center Director Suzy Avery asked the council to approve her applying for another no-match-required grant she has found. It is a Park Service Grant for $3,000 to be used for safety equipment, paint and flooring for the old ranch house/police department, a cash register and other office furnishings. Councilor Jim Bockelman made a motion to approve the grant application and it passed unanimously.

The next item on the agenda required a conflict-of-interest declaration since a member of the council, Jim Bockelman, was involved. City Administrator Emery Penner explained the matter involved a sewer line extension for two lots on Idaho Avenue owned by Bockelman and Justin Phillips. Penner said every other house on that street is connected in some way to the city sewer. In order for Bockelman and Phillips to get sewer services they have to pay to have the main line extended to their lots which is a distance of 225 feet. Penner said the city has looked at historical agreements associated with the properties and the city code and had City Attorney Fred Snook review the paperwork. Penner said Snook changed some of the language, corrected typos and approved the plan. Penner said the city will basically pay half and the lot owners will pay half of all the line extension costs.

Councilor Neal James made a motion to accept the extension agreement with Phillips and Bockelman. The motion passed five to one with Bockelman abstaining from the vote.

Jarred Bragg of High Basin Engineering will be doing the $2,500 engineering work on the line extension, as required by the Department of Environmental Quality, and his doing the work was also unanimously approved by the council.