City hears good news as virus cases decrease.

Eastern Idaho Public Health Director Geri Rackow led the evening’s COVID-19 at the Salmon City Council’s February 17 meeting. She said the news is positive as the number of cases throughout the entire district continue to decline. The process of vaccinating residents also continues to go well except for the glitch the weather has thrown into the mix.

Rackow said she had just received word from the state that because of the severe weather across the nation vaccine supplies are going to be delayed this week. She said fortunately the over 200 scheduled vaccinations in Salmon did take place that day, February 17. It was held at the Elks Lodge and she thanked the lodge for the accommodations.

From now on however, there may be shipping delays. She said the health district will keep people apprised as to any changes in next week’s schedule. It will probably be Monday, February 22, before any changes are known.

The schedule for next week, the week of the 22nd, is a busy one with a day and a half clinic for first and second dose patients. She thanked the staff that is working hard to make that happen.

Chief Executive Officer of Steel Memorial Medical Center, Jeanie Gentry said fewer people are coming to the hospital for tests and there are very few in-patients. She also noted a decrease in flu cases for this time of year and attributed it to the COVID-19 precautions being taken.

Councilor Jim Baker asked if a percentage is known related to those taking the vaccination and those declining a shot. Gentry said about 40 percent of the staff chose to wait until later to be vaccinated for all sorts of reasons including being a guinea pig. She said no one is forced to take the vaccine.

Councilor Jim Bockelman asked what is done with any left-over doses and Rackow said that does happen due to various reasons including weather. She said in that situation the staff does its best to contact the next person on the waiting list and so far, no doses have been wasted.

Rackow said that throughout the district people who had originally declined the vaccination are now, after seeing no adverse reactions among friends, stepping forward to take the vaccine. She encouraged every eligible person in Salmon to get on the waiting list.

The numbers to call to make a vaccination appointment or to get on the waiting list are; 208-533-3223 or the toll-free number 855-533-3160 option number 5. All appointment scheduling is being done through the Idaho Falls Public Health Office. You can also visit the District 7 Public Health Department web site, fill out the form online and call the numbers listed there.

Finance Director gives council financial overview

On February 17, 2021 City Finance Director Amy Fealko gave the Salmon City Council an overview of second quarter city finances four months into this fiscal year.

The city is holding $1,738,659 in Reserve and has $439,532 in the General Fund. The Cemetery Fund has close to $90,000, the Water Fund contains $897,880 and the Sewer Fund has $1,821,827. There is $272,157 in the Local Option Tax (LOT) Fund and $493,799 in Streets and Alleys for a total cash balance of $5,753,320.

If awarded, the $450,000 for the Block Grant matching funds will be taken from the Water Fund.

With 34 percent of the fiscal year complete the General Fund has received 58 percent of its expected revenue and expenditures are at 32 percent. She said that overall, the revenues are performing as projected based on payment schedules and past trends

All city departments are on target with their budget projections and she said the city did receive the $149,000 from the governor’s tax relief program.

In answer to why there is so much LOT money in reserve Fealko said it is because the account contains all of last year when monies were allocated but events didn’t take place plus the six months from this year so the total is carry-over from March 2020 to March of 2021. Those totals will be changing with the upcoming funding cycle.

Property Tax collection is one the city’s major revenue sources. The first payment from 2020-2021 taxes was received in December of 2020 and another significant tax payment arrived in January of this year bringing the rate of collection to 70 percent. The first Revenue Sharing and Liquor Revenue payments were also received this month. Fealko remains confident that revenues will follow budgeted amounts however; those amounts will be monitored closely. Under Expenditures all operating costs are on budget for this fiscal year.

The second quarter break down of all city revenues and expenses are available for review at Main Street’s City Hall and on the city’s web site at www.cityofsalmon.com

Compliments with reservations.

Councilor Russ Chinske led the Roundtable comments with compliments to Public Works Superintendent Charles Cockrell for the massive job of snow plowing over the last two weeks. He also had high praise for the new gymnasium. He said he took his school classroom for a tour of the new building and was amazed at its scope. He said it just goes to show the generosity of this community and the coming together of lots of different people to make it happen. He said it is really a very special place and recommended a tour.

Councilor Jim Bockelman proposed that the city could help out with a state flag and a flag of the United States for the vacant pole at the new Police Department. He said he would be willing to provide a solar light to light the top of the pole. Solar reminded him of the outages in Texas and he suggested the variable fuels generators for the generator the city will be purchasing. He was told the current plan calls for diesel fuel and a large tank.

Counselor Neal James said the city crews have done a wonderful job of plowing the city streets however; the plowing has created a problem when people shovel their sidewalks and crosswalks and the city plows then come by and leave a berm at the access for folks to climb over. He wondered if the city should look into hiring a 4-wheeler with a plow to open those accesses. James added that about half of the south side of Main Street hasn’t been shoveled all winter long…including the city’s area in front of the bear and the part that goes under the bridge. He wondered if the city needs to hire someone to give sidewalks and crosswalks some kind of attention. He also said south side of the street property owners need to be reminded of city sidewalk shoveling rules.

Councilor Robin Phillips said every week people on social media complain about there being no place to rent. She said she would love to have for the planning and building people revisit multi- family dwelling restrictions. Councilor Fred Waidely said he was told there is a group checking into the housing shortage and he’s been looking into the situation.

City Attorney Fred Snook said he just received his 1099 for last year’s income from the City \r\nCouncil and he earned $7,740… for which he is very thankful

2nd QUARTER FINANCES – Finance Director says budgets are on track.’

On February 17, 2021 City Finance Director Amy Fealko gave the Salmon City Council an overview of second quarter city finances four months into this fiscal year.

The city is holding $1,738,659 in Reserve and has $439,532 in the General Fund. The Cemetery Fund has close to $90,000, the Water Fund contains $897,880 and the Sewer Fund has $1,821,827. There is $272,157 in the Local Option Tax (LOT) Fund and $493,799 in Streets and Alleys for a total cash balance of $5,753,320.

If awarded, the $450,000 for the Block Grant matching funds will be taken from the Water Fund.

With 34 percent of the fiscal year complete the General Fund has received 58 percent of its expected revenue and expenditures are at 32 percent. She said that overall, the revenues are performing as projected based on payment schedules and past trends

All city departments are on target with their budget projections and she said the city did receive the $149,000 from the governor’s tax relief program.

In answer to why there is so much LOT money in reserve Fealko said it is because the account contains all of last year when monies were allocated but events didn’t take place plus the six months from this year so the total is carry-over from March 2020 to March of 2021. Those totals will be changing with the upcoming funding cycle.

Property Tax collection is one the city’s major revenue sources. The first payment from 2020-2021 taxes was received in December of 2020 and another significant tax payment arrived in January of this year bringing the rate of collection to 70 percent. The first Revenue Sharing and Liquor Revenue payments were also received this month. Fealko remains confident that revenues will follow budgeted amounts however; those amounts will be monitored closely. Under Expenditures all operating costs are on budget for this fiscal year.

The second quarter break down of all city revenues and expenses are available for review at Main Street’s City Hall and on the city’s web site at www.cityofsalmon.com

City takes care of future business.

An ordinance to allow the Idaho Power Company to work within the City of Salmon has been under discussion by the Salmon City Council since the old 50-year lease between the two entities expired at the first of the year. Ordinance 21-847 has passed two city Council readings where a few updates were made including making it a 25 instead of a 50-year agreement.

The third reading of the ordinance was on the council’s February 17th meeting agenda.

Councilor Jim Baker made a motion to approve the franchise agreement which contained details such as permission to construct, maintain and operate in and upon present and future streets, highways and other public places within the corporate limits of the city of Salmon, Idaho…

Among the terms of agreement are electric utility properties for supplying electricity and electric services to the city, and the inhabitants thereof, for a term of 25 years. It also includes the non-exclusive right to physically locate and maintain telephone, cable, fiber optics or other communications facilities. It sets forth an agreement not to compete, reserves power of eminent domain and provides for payment of franchise fees.

The franchise agreement ordinance with Idaho Power passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

Later in the meeting there was some house-keeping detail work on updating the city code to accommodate the new franchise agreement. The ordinance update passed the council unanimously on its first reading.

Progress was made with the Kids Creek culvert replacement in the vicinity of \r\nGwartney and Water Streets. Discussions on the replacement began in 2019.

City Finance Director Amy Fealko explained money to do the culvert work is coming from the Idaho Office of Emergency Management and FEMA and is a two-phase grant. The first phase is the $35,700 which has been awarded to the city. That money is for engineering, a hydrology study, site preparation and public management. The 25 percent match comes to $8930 and the award is $26,769. Minus the in-kind match performed by city crews that leaves $3430. She then went through what money is available in various departments. Phase two shows $239,000 for actual installation.

City Administrator Emery Penner acknowledged the long process to get to this point and said that the city is going to do the culvert replacement either now or next year and it should be done sooner rather than later. He thought a good time frame would be the end of this October so the approximate $50,000 cost to the city could be placed in the next budget. Penner said hiring a contractor to handle the project and the permits involved, he considers the $60 to $70,000 would be a good deal.

Councilor Robin Phillips asked if the city has enough money to cover all the projects that are lined up and Penner said the cash is on hand through the Streets and Alleys fund.

Councilor Jim Bockelman made a motion to approve Federal; Grant DR-5263HMGP-City of Salmon: Phase I of Kids Creek Culvert Replacement at Gwartney and Water Streets. His motion passed unanimously.

Washington, D.C.–Today, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, voted against the adoption of S.Con.Res.5, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Budget Resolution. The proposed budget directs the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over major direct spending programs and all revenue and debt limit legislation, to increase the deficit by a staggering $1.3 trillion, without even determining or deliberating what polices would have the biggest impact in growing our economy. \r\n \r\n“Over the last year, Congress has come together multiple times to pass massive, bipartisan bills totaling trillions of dollars in relief measures to help American families and businesses weather the pandemic,” said Senator Crapo. “I have been encouraged by this bipartisan approach, and recent economic projections from the Congressional Budget Office, which estimates that already-enacted pandemic-related provisions, built upon the strong fiscal policy foundation we already have in place, will provide a robust economic recovery, with growth of 3.7 percent over the course of 2021. It is disappointing that the new Senate Majority has decided to move forward with a budget resolution to quickly pass proposals that have failed to garner broad bipartisan support in the past, instead of focusing on policies that will boost vaccine distribution and help get people back to work and our kids safely back to school. Although this budget instructs the Senate Finance Committee to spend nearly $1.3 trillion, the reality is that the Committee will likely never debate nor vote on amendments. Rather, we will be asked to simply rubber stamp partisan legislation passed in the House of Representatives.” \r\n \r\nCrapo offered several amendments to the Budget Resolution related to tax relief and health care protections, including an amendment to permanently extend the lower tax rates for individuals and small businesses enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the amendment was not agreed to on a party-line vote). Crapo ultimately voted against the FY2021 Budget Resolution that the Senate passed by a partisan vote of 51 to 50, because it does not pave the way for fiscally responsible, bipartisan budgeting enabling targeted COVID relief and economic growth. \r\n\r\n“As we have done in the past, Congress should be working together on targeted COVID relief for families affected by the pandemic, and pro-growth policies that will allow employers to reopen and rehire,” said Crapo. \r\n\r\n###\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n This is generated from an unattended mailbox. If you have comments, need additional information, or would like to be removed from receiving press releases, please contact Lindsay_Nothern@Crapo.senate.gov or Melanie_Lawhorn@Crapo.senate.gov.

400 vaccinations given on first day through cooperative effort.

The February 3 meeting of the Salmon City Council was a celebration of the first vaccination day against the COVID-19 virus in Lemhi County.

Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH) Director Geri Rackow and Jenny Tracy, Steele Memorial Center Marketing Manager, headed the meeting’s agenda with a report on the area’s ‘Vaccination Roll-Out Day.’

Tracy said the day came with the sudden news there were more vaccines than originally scheduled for the county and she said special thanks go to Rackow who spent hours on the phone contacting an extra 150 people eligible to receive the vaccine. A total of 400 vaccines were administered that day. She thanked the beautiful weather plus the many volunteer helpers, nursing staff, EMTs and the LDS Stake Center that provided the facilities for the crowd. Tracy said the day went amazingly smoothly and well. She said special thanks go to KSRA Radio for its communication help that day and throughout the pandemic.

Councilor Jim Baker and his wife were eligible recipients as were Councilor Fred Waidely and his wife. Both councilors remarked how incredibly smoothly the process of getting the shots went.

Rackow offered her thanks to all involved and said that Governor Brad Little has raised the limit for group gatherings from 10 to 50 people. She said exemptions to that rule can be granted by application and the forms for exemptions are on the Health District’s web site. She said the last two days leading up to the launch were of course frustrating but most problems were surmounted. The district is using a lottery system for vaccinations. By clicking on the COVID- 19 segment of the EIPH web page a form will ask the person’s age, name and preferred contact number and when vaccine is available EIPH will reach out to applicants and make appointments. Rackow added there is still a limited amount of vaccine but whatever amount is available is sent on a weekly basis.

Rackow also complimented the city on “Getting with the times” with the city’s new visual ability to see each other remotely.

Thanks to the expertise of Scott Benton and Todd Nelson, the city has recently added the popular “Go to Meeting” technology. It is still possible to hear the meetings live by calling prior to the meeting and obtaining a special access number.

The Salmon City Council meets at 6PM on the first and third Wednesday of every month.

LCEDA year end report delivered.

Sue Polk, Executive Chair of the Lemhi County Economic Development Association, (LCEDA) presented the annual LCEDA report to the Salmon City Council at its February 3 meeting. She said that there have certainly been some changes caused by the Corona Virus at the Salmon Valley Business and Innovation Center and LCEDA but there are also positives to report.

Polk said dissemination of information was a critical component of the function of LCEDA in 2020. In 93 instances of information delivered by Facebook, Voice of the Valley broadcasts and newspaper stories and advertisements. She said that LCEDA Executive Director Tammy Stringham attended the Portland Oregon Trade Show and attended 37 on-line workshops and trainings all related to the tourist industry. Stringham has also attended and participated in meetings of the Central Idaho Public Lands Collaborative, the Housing Committee and the USDA Rural Development Grant Team which looks at approved projects in the community. Polk said Stringham participates in local Forest Service meetings, Chamber of Commerce meetings, County Commissioners meetings and City Council meetings all of which contributed directly or indirectly to the $816,000 in grants received last year. Polk said that $8 million was received for the Payroll Protection Program and $9.9 million for the Economic Impact Disaster Loan.

Lemhi Ride numbers are down due to the virus however; all units at the Airport Industrial Park are rented and occupied. Lemhi Ride had 6,184 rides in 2020 compared to over 10,000 rides the year before. Because it operated during the pandemic Lemhi Ride received bonuses from its Medicaid broker and the bonuses were used to pay down the city loan for the operation’s startup money. A recent LCEDA initiated study shows there is a good deal of interest in computer technology coding which will warrant further research.

Stringham has developed and personally presented a Business Salmon Valley Travel Grant Marketing Plan to the Idaho Travel Council and because of her efforts it generated more funding than was requested.

Stringham explained all the grants that have come in and how they are used. She said the $544,000 Broadband Grant was used to build a communications tower in the area of the Carmen Charter School to give the school and surrounding neighbors better internet connections.

In answer to whether Lemhi Ride will expand to scheduled rides around town she said she has placed a survey on Facebook to see how much actual financial support there would be for the idea.

Later in the meeting, on another topic of great interest, City Administrator Emery Penner brought up the subject of the city swimming pool and said right now the first question to settle was whether or not the pool will even be opened this year. He said details like Sunday openings, hiring, operating hours and raising rates could be decided later. Councilor Jim Bockelman made a motion to open the swimming pool for the 2021 season and it passed unanimously. It was also agreed that more detailed records of use need to be collected this season in order to make more knowledgeable decisions.

CLEAN AUDIT – City Finance Director gets high marks

In spite of the pandemic and his not being able to come to Salmon, all is well with the city audit according to Farrell Steiner of Searle, Hart & Associates PLLC.

Members of the Salmon City Council had already received the report as of the January 20 council meeting and had it to study as Steiner went through the highlights. He said doing the audit remotely was an adventure and City Finance Director Amy Fealko made it work. He said it went smoothly and he thanked Fealko for all of her help.

In the audit’s management report, there were no comments because every thing in the audit was clean based on the testing and tracking the company did on the financials. He called the audit comments an ‘unmodified opinion,’ or in other words the financials found in the audit can be relied upon. There were graphs showing the total cash which began slightly lower in 2019 due to capital outlay, then climbed back up in 2020.

He said things were consistent in the General Fund. Steiner touched on various categories such as Streets and Alleys’ where the cash balance increased. He noted the city had reduced the budget anticipating pandemic effects and as a result the cash balance is actually higher than it was last year. He saw no negative trends in the audit report.

He recommended council members review the Management Discussion and Analysis portion of the report for a synopsis of the overall audit details. It contains a summary of the previous fiscal year based on the numbers in this audit. There is also a list of the items purchased by the city last year which is reflected in the capital improvement outlay total. Total cash in Governmental Fund investments went from $1,340,000 to $1,640,000, an increase of around $300,000.

Steiner went through the accounts receivable and expenditures past, present and future…long term debt figures and the amortization schedule. As to paying off any debts early he said interest rates are so low there is no advantage. With the water projects coming up Fealko’s advice was to keep as much money in the Capital accounts as possible.

The council unanimously approved Steiner’s audit report.

Later in the meeting Fealko gave a financial overview of current finances. Fealko said the cash total of all the different funds totals $5.5 million of which 1.7 percent is reserved and allocated between larger funds. She said the Sewer holds the largest amount of reserved funding at $1.9 million. The Water Fund is second with reserved funds of $917,000. A quarter of the fiscal year is complete. Revenues collected are at 10.1 percent and expenditures are at 24.3 percent of the budgeted amount which she said is right in line with historical percentages for this time of the budget year.

Fealko said there are some COVID-19 related expenditures which have been reimbursed and will show in the January report. The largest revenue to date is the first payment of taxes. There will be another significant payment in January.

Fealko applied for and the city received $149,000 from the state tax relief program which was given to property tax payers in January and has been reimbursed. Those figures will also show as revenue in January’s monthly financial report. She said that overall, all city department expenditures and revenues are on target. She said the budget will be opened to make some adjustments to it and there will be further discussions on things at that time such as the Local Option Tax collections and the sidewalk repair budget.

The evening’s Audit report as well as the quarterly financial report will be placed on the city’s web site which is found on-line at, www. cityofsalmon.com

VACTOR TRUCK – Needed truck added to city inventory.

The Salmon City Council met in Special Session Friday January 15 and took the opportunity to approve purchase of a $139,000 Vactor Truck.

City Public Works Superintendent Charles Cockrell explained the Vactor Truck is for cleaning sewer lines and clearing blockages. He said the city has needed the truck for some time and one recently became available in Ravensdale, Washington. Cockrell said the city has an employee with experience in operating the machine. A new Vactor Truck would cost around $440,000.

According to the Public Works Capital Outlay Budget the Sewer Fund has a healthy cash balance and can afford the expenditure. It is estimated that by owning the Vactor Truck, in two to four years the Sewer Department will see a savings of $20,000 a year in Roto Rooter service costs.

Councilor Fred Waidely said the machine is currently 14 years old and he inquired about its life expectancy and how many people it takes to operate the Vactor. The truck has been inspected and found to be in very good condition. Cockrell thinks with good maintenance and the amount of use it will get in Salmon it will be good for another ten years or more. As far as parts the seller, One. 7. Company, will be able to supply them. Cockrell estimates it will take a crew of two to operate the truck. He said it will take some training time to completely take over the sewer line cleaning.

Councilor Jim Baker said he was getting the impression Cockrell really wanted the truck and Cockrell said ‘yes.’ He said the last sewer line clog almost didn’t get cleared and this last year he has had trouble getting return calls from service providers. Whether it’s this Vactor Truck or another Cockrell said at some point the city will obtain one because it needs to. Councilor Jim Bockelman said he views the expenditure as a chance to improve the city’s sewer system with monies on hand from the Sewer Fund.

Councilor Neal James made a motion to approve transferring funds from the Sewer Fund to purchase the Vactor Truck. The motion was approved unanimously.