TF council votes to create city planning board

The City of Thompson Falls took its first step toward creating a growth policy by voting to create a city planning board. The city will now approach the county on whether they want to create a county/city planning board or let the city proceed on its own.

The board will consist of seven members, according to City Attorney Tim Goen. The city council will appoint four people who own land in the city. A fifth member, also appointed by the council, can be a city employee. The sixth member would be any individual appointed by the council, and the seventh would be selected by the county and appointed by the mayor.

Goen said that creating a planning board and eventually a growth policy will help the city plan for future development. Several community members have already approached the city about serving on the board. “We have a lot of people already interested,” City Clerk Chelsea Peterson said.

Also Monday, the city voted to do away with a street lighting special improvement district (SID) that was formed in 1990. Mayor Lacy said that though formed, the county has no record of the SID. The street lighting is currently paid out of a special fund within the city’s general fund, and costs about $35,000 a year. He said that if the council voted to keep the SID, it would cost taxpayers about $50 a year extra on their property taxes. “After the sewer project, I’d rather not add an assessment,” council member Lynne Kersten said. The council unanimously voted to move forward with dissolving the SID and will consider a resolution at its May meeting.

The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday approved an amendment to their contract for the wastewater treatment system project. Craig Pozega with Great West Engineering addressed the council, saying that the amendment will extend the contract with the city post construction. The contract extension will allow Great West to help the city with any warranty issues after the project is complete.

Pozega said that Rural Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture program that is providing the majority of the funding for the project, requires the contract amendment. Pozega also presented the city council with and updated contracted. He noted that the cost is a little bit less than what was approved by the council.

The city council also voted to proceed with an application from the State Revolving Fund loan program. This loan will provide funding for the sewer project until the Rural Development funding is received. Pozega said that the Rural Development funds become available once the city has accepted a bid for the project. He said it’s a common practice and provides “bridge funding” for the city to begin the project. Pozega also noted that by applying for the State Revolving Fund loan, it could open up other grant opportunities with the state. The State Revolving Fund loan would be paid by the Rural Development funds once those are received by the city.

The city council also voted to move to committee a request to vacate Orchard Street, which runs between Wild Goose Landing Park and the Big Eddy’s property on the east end of Thompson Falls. Realtor Dave Bennett represented property owners Mark and Katrina Campbell at the meeting, proposing that the city vacant the street and half of the property go to the city, with the other half going to the Campbell property. Mayor Lacy said that historically, that is what has been done when a street or alley has been vacated. Council member Dennis Newman suggested the council review their options. The streets and alleys committee will look into the matter more and bring it up again at the May 13 meeting.

Finally, the council voted to allow Cody Mosher, owner of the HighLead, to hold a Sanders County Summer Splash festival in August at the Rose Garden Park. This will be the second year for the event. Mosher said they are planning live music, a watermelon eating contest, cornhole tournament, vendor spaces and many more activities for the event, set for July 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. Mosher last year held the event in the parking lot east of First Security Bank. He wanted to move the location to Rose Garden Park for visibility and because there is more shade at the park. Council member Raoul Ribeiro said he is glad the HighLead is doing the event again and that it’s family friendly.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 13.