T. Falls mayor submits resignation

Thompson Falls Mayor Mark Sheets turned in his resignation at Monday's city council meeting.

"It's not a health issue, it's a time issue," Sheets said as the council voted to accept his resignation. The council then decided to advertise and accept new applications before appointing a successor for Sheets, but left the meeting with one letter of interest in hand. Jerry Lacy, who last month retired as the city's Public Works Director, expressed interest in the mayor position Monday night.

"I'm happy to stick around and help with any transition," Sheets said, noting he is interested in helping the city with forming a growth policy. Sheets was re-elected in 2017.

Also at Monday's city council meeting, the city's proposed ordinance to license cats did not make it through the first reading. Council member Raoul Ribeiro said he was concerned about having another ordinance.

"We're turning this city into a place where big brother is watching over more and more," Ribeiro said. "I'm very much against this."

The council members were unanimous in voting against the ordinance. Instead, city attorney Naomi Leisz said any cat complaints the city receives could be handled under the existing nuisance animal law, as that law does not specify what animals are included, and citations can be issued. Thompson Falls Chief of Police Chris Nichols told the council that the department has in the past handled complaints under the nuisance animal law.

An ordinance addressing the number and use of recreational vehicles within city limits passed a first reading Monday. The ordinance focuses on recreational vehicles occupied for more than 30 days on the vehicle owner's property. It states that vehicles may be issued exemption permits for up to six months (90 days with a possible extension of 90 additional days) in the event that the recreational vehicle is "occupied during construction, including remodeling or reconstruction, of a residence or commercial building containing a residence."

The ordinance proposes a fine of $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second offense within a six-month period, and $200 for subsequent offenses in a six-month period.

Mayor Sheets said that the ordinance would apply to recreational vehicles currently occupied in the city limits, including those that are hooked up to utilities and septic systems on property that once had a house. He said the ordinance could be used to help clean up those existing properties.

The city council on Monday voted to move city police officers Luke Hauke and Jacob Winslow from temporary full-time positions to permanent full-time positions now that their one-year probationary period had passed. "They've done a great job," Mayor Sheets said. The council also voted to hire Roy Scott as a short-term worker for the police department. Under that position, Scott can work up to 90 days a year for the Thompson Falls Police Department.

Also Monday, the city council passed two resolutions to move forward with $2.24 million in USDA Rural Development loans for the city's wastewater project. At September's council meeting, Mayor Sheets had outlined funding for the project that would include raising taxes for city property owners. Council member Dennis Newman questioned whether a public meeting would still occur regarding the project. Sheets said that the council can still turn down any money if they elect not to go forward with the project in the future, and that a public meeting would still be held on the project.

Mayor Sheets reported Monday that WGM Group recently surveyed Ainsworth park property as they prepare for the design phase of the project, and also said that Rock Creek Resources, a division of Hecla, donated $1,000 in support of the city's growth policy.