TF reviewing court options

The Thompson Falls City Council is reviewing the way they hold court proceedings. City Attorney Naomi Leisz was recently elected as Sanders County Attorney, and will be leaving the city at the end of the year. With that, the council on Monday signed a two-year contract with Tim Goen to be the new city attorney.

Leisz brought up some concerns to the City Council on Monday, noting that with the addition of another police officer, the city court caseload has increased.

“The court is not running efficiently,” Leisz stated. She said that means more work for the city attorney and for the city court clerk, who also works full-time for the city as an assistant clerk.

“Court has definitely gotten busier,” City Clerk Chelsea Peterson told the council.

Leisz said one option for the city would be an interlocal agreement with the county. For a flat annual fee, the county would provide clerk, secretarial and processing services for the city. Peterson said that current city judge Don Strine wanted to maintain his position, even if the city had an agreement with the county.

Leisz also noted that Thompson Falls City Hall is not set up for court, and that the county told her the first floor courtroom in the courthouse would be available. She said that it may require court days to be rescheduled, but said that would be a good option for the city.

“If it’s going to benefit the taxpayers, and I think it is, it’s worth looking into,” council member Dennis Newman said of a potential agreement with the county. The city council voted to table the issue indefinitely so that the city can review options with the county.

In other business on Monday, Mayor Jerry Lacy said that a public meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 7, at the Thompson Falls Community Center to review the wastewater treatment project. The meeting will include a description of the project and funding, and will be an opportunity for the public to comment on the project. The council also will have a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 to review the project with Great West Engineering. Lacy noted that the Dec. 19 meeting is only informational for the council, and that public comment will not be taken.

Also Monday, the council voted to write a letter of supported to be included in a planning project grant application for the Black Bear Inn renovation project. The grant would be sponsored by the Thompson Falls Main Street Committee. Jen Kreiner told the council that since the Main Street Committee didn’t have any projects currently that required grant funding, they could open it to a local business owner. Kreiner said that Black Bear owner Daniel Moore was applying for $15,000 in grant funding for an architectural report for the building.

City Hall will be closed on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. The next city council meeting will be Monday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m.