City Council - Regular Meeting

Yep. Heat. Down. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Good evening. It's February 17th, 2026. This is the meeting of the Cordelane City Council. The clerk will take the role.

English here. Sheckler here. Wood here. Evans here. Miller here. Gabriel here. Very good. Is uh Jason Lowry from the heart here for our invocation. Okay. Absent that, I would like to ask council member English to do our invocation. Will everyone please rise?

Sure. We thank you father for today and just uh be with us in this place and uh just we ask for a spirit of of peace and as we look forward to the Lenton season and Easter. We just think of you and what you gave to us and uh we are called in turn to to give to others. So, uh, bless our decisions tonight and may we consider them thoughtfully and, uh, just be thankful for all that we have and the folks that are here gathered with us tonight in Christ's name. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Thank you, Dad. Council Gabriel, could you lead us in the pledge, please? Happy to. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Item number D is amendments to the agenda. Does anyone have any amendments to our agenda? Very good. We'll go on to item E, which is public comments. And I have the signup sheet here. Uh Shirley Freeman is that please come up and uh address the council.

You ready to hear from me? I am. We are.

Okay. Um I brought bought my house at a Third and Hazel from Troy Thyson here um in 2005 and uh several years and I and I love the house by the way and he tried to talk me out of buying it, believe it or not. He did. He's guilty. But anyway, it had tall ceilings and old growth timber on the inside. It had been moved from the fort grounds over. So, it was really nice. I'm third in Hazel. Anyway, it uh I had a squatter and he was in the basement and I uh threw Purex on him to get him out and he they put me in jail for a week. So, while I was in jail for a week, he moved in and ended up burning the house down. So, that's kind of a my executive says if it wasn't for bad luck, surely you'd have no luck at all. But anyway, I have a really big, beautiful home there now. And I um am here to testify and I know I'm supposed to keep it short, which I have a hard time doing because I'm a woman, but anyway, um what I'd like to testify to is that uh the rules should be changed so that people who own property are able to stay in their motor home, especially when something like their house burns down. Because what happened was I couldn't stay on my property and they made me stay in my car which was on the street and um I got cold one night. So I went over to the garage to get a blanket and I fell down and broke off six of my teeth, my bottom teeth. So that wasn't very good. But for me to be on the street instead of my own driveway is kind of sad. Plus I had motor homes and they wouldn't let me stay in those either. And um I what happened was then I moved to um um uh San Pere Pereoy Pere by Sandpoint and moved into a a friend's hanger and um while I was living there I find find a contractor uh Neil Foster and he was down here and I was up there and so he would say I was doing this that and the other thing. He ended up taking $100,000 from me and he never built the house. So, what I'm saying is that you should let uh the people that own their property at least stay in

their motor home while their home is getting rebuilt so they can be there to observe what's happening on the property and things like that. Fortunately for me, uh Mr. Dale Berg and Derek there in this row right beside me. They have helped me immensely and uh Mr. Berg agreed to build the house for if I pay for properties and he will own it when I when I die. and he's 20 years younger than me and Derek's 40 years younger than both of us. So that's kind of the way it was. And also I just believe that uh if people would allow homeless to move into their motor homes and things like that, we wouldn't have such a a large homeless population. Of course, I don't believe that the church should not let them stay in their pews either, but you know, that's just me. Um generous to a fault according to my brother at third or 12th and Birch. Anyway, that's pretty much all I have to say and I hope that they change the rules so that people can stay in their motor home at least when their home has been burnt down so that they're there to watch what's going on and all that good stuff.

Do we have your contact information so I can get a hold of you? Yeah, I I'm uh I can give that to you. I matter of fact, I can write on the piece of paper back there. Excellent. Thank you. I'll follow up with you. Thank you. Mike Gridley. Does anyone know a Mike Gridley?

Never heard of him. guys keep letting me come back. But good stuff and public comments I've deemed to be public. Let the public knows things that I think you know already. I'm here to speak about Mr. Thyus again. Um I got to thinking, you know, the Super Bowl, what a great game. And they always have the most valuable player. And I thought, you know, the 20 years I worked here, if I looked back, who would be the most valuable player? And I thought, you know, Troy Thyson, I worked with a lot of really good people, many of them still sitting here on on up there on the dis. We've had great mayors and uh council members, great staff who've come and gone, but the guy that was here 25 years, holy cow. But the one behind the scenes who kept it all together, most valuable player. Then I got to thinking, well, okay, what are the characteristics that I would why would I think most valuable player? Then I thought thinking about being a boy scout, you know, a hundred years ago I was a boy scout and there were probably people here who are boy scouts, you know, and know the boy scout oath and all the qualities and so I looked it up again. Great thing about the internet, you can search the boy things like the boy scout law. A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. And I thought, you know, if I was thinking about Troy Thus, I could check every single one of those boxes and do it with a straight face and uh with a lot of thanks. So anyway, I'm just here to say thank you, Troy, and uh that's all I've got.

Boy Scout badge. Oh, especially the thrifty part.

Indeed. Gabe Eert. Good evening, council and mayor. Uh my name is Gabe Eert. I am a resident of Celane. I'm also the president of the Celane firefighters. I'm not as well spoken as Mike Gridley, but uh I would like to echo the same comment. Uh Troy has been an excellent friend uh to the firefighters and he's been an excellent steward of this city. Uh, my initial reac interaction with Troy was when we first sat down to negotiate my first contract and I spelled his name incorrectly. I spelled it as though he was Norwegian and not Danish. Uh, so we started off on a on a back foot there, but uh, Troy has always done an excellent job. He, uh, took me a while to understand that his role is to make sure that I walk out of that room with a smile on my face for as cheaply as possible. Uh, and once we figured that out, the relationship got a little bit better. So, Troy, we're going to miss you. Uh, thank you for everything you've done throughout the years for this fire department, this city. We, uh, appreciate it and we wish you well.

Thank you.

Oh, wow. Thank you. Very good. Mr. Waxman, did you want to speak to the council? Now would be the time if you want to address the council. You signed up? No. Yes. Weman. It's Weman. I'm sorry. I wrote it Waxman. It's Weman. Okay. All right. You're good. Anyone else want to address the council for public comments? Thank you. We will move on to announcements from the council. Does any city councilman, Mr. Gabriel?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, Troy. Double-edged sword here, isn't it? On this hand, you are leaving and you've worked hard to be able to hang out with Jan, the kids, and the grandkids, which is spectacular. On the other hand, there's such a thing in this world called glue. And sir, you have been the glue that holds this place together for a very long time. I'm not going to go on and on because we get to do that later, but obedient. Well, we don't get a badge quite for that one quite yet, but Thrifty, the biggest one we got goes to you, sir. Yeah. So, Troy, you will be missed. And um thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Any other Kiki, please? Uh ditto.

Keep that short. Wanted to let council know that I um got to hear the mayor speak to the North Idaho Building Contractors Joint Government meeting today, which was very well attended. And so, we appreciate building those relationships with those other entities. I think that's really important. I have uh shared with our city attorney. I testified um on some housing bills today and I'm going to keep in the housing lane and make sure that you're all made aware of what's happening in that arena and um that you saw the invite that electeds are invited to the March 5th 5th annual housing and growth workshop. Excellent. Very good. Other Yes, Christie.

Well, I I would like to call Troy time to the podium, please. Oh. Uhoh.

Troy, we talked about this this morning. It's your very last meeting. Unless you come like Mike Gridley to say nice things about us. We would appreciate that. Um, you know, I have to tell you this morning I went to my little city hall mailbox and there was a present from to all council, unless only I got one. Sorry about your bad luck. Uh, from Troy giving council a present for his time here. That was very kind. But I I just want to tell you thank you sincerely for all the years that you put in here day after day, year after year, focused on the city. You know, a lot of people don't stick around that long and so you're tenacious. You stuck with us all these years. Um but I want to give you an opportunity to speak to us, to your to your friends, to your public.

Thank you, council member, mayor. Yes, this has been a true honor to serve and be in this great community. That's been the driver. I'm very fortunate to be a member of a team that is as strong as any team I've ever been a party to. Your directors are phenomenal that we can show it with numbers. I think you've been too successful. You have people that want to be here and are paying lots of money to be here, which is quite a tribute when there are choices throughout this land and where they want to live. It's a way to have that together. I just like in the world of sports, it's always good. It's always better to win. You don't always win, but we do our best. And that is kind of the mantra that I've run with. I didn't think I'd be here this long. Maybe you didn't realize I was still here as I was hanging out and doing a couple different jobs. But you were able to challenge me personally and professionally. I love enterprise funds in the city. I highly endorse that. It generates revenue. and gets us to be even more creative. And so it's been a team aspect. This has nothing to do with any of you or where the city is at. This is a time decision at this point in time. And I do have a phenomenal financial planner. It is my wife. And so this is the plan that we are carrying out. So yes, I have a permagrin on this week. We went out and found the very best. I didn't think you had to go to this extreme to find a former mayor that's got a heck of a record, does have a banking background, and so I couldn't be more pleased to have the team work with this fine gentleman, Ron Jacobson, to come in and take over and help us out. So, thank you. You all did get a mug, a cup. Be healthy is my words that go with that. And uh look at the city of Celane as you do and be proud of what you are a party to. So, thank you, council member.

Thank you, Troy. Appreciate it. Any other comments? Well, there was one other thing I just need to update the council on. Uh, I did get a chance to meet with um Cordelane Economic Development Corp. And it was my very first meeting and it was a strategic planning workshop. Great group of people. I'm really impressed with them and uh I think a lot of really great things are going to be happening with that organization as far as bringing in highpaying jobs for this area. So, I'm excited. I will tell you more when we when we know more. Excellent. Any other comments? No. Okay. I think Oh, I do that. Oh, yeah.

Couple of thoughts. Um, one is that um just again so everybody else can know what what we know. I've I think I've served with about oh six, seven, eight mayors before and countless other elected officials and I've never experienced anybody who's come close to what uh Mayor Gan does for us. We get incredible daily reports that are, you know, indepth, meaningful, have some humor in them and um sometimes two in one day. So, I mean that is that's really something that I appreciate and the um let's see there was something else but it'll you know that's what age does to me it'll it'll come back to me. Okay. Thanks.

Very good. There's nothing else. I did want to say welcome to our interim city administrator Ron Jacobson. This is uh his first Tuesday night meeting here in Celane. So, thank you and welcome and look forward to having you help us out for the next few months. I also have an appointment of Michael Dronik and Woody Mcvers, whoever he is, to the CDA TV committee. May I'd like to make a motion to confirm the appointment of Michael Dronock and William McKvers to the CDA TV committee. Second. Very good. Any discussion? All those in favor?

I oppose. Very well. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. Lisa, I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented, including resolution number 26-016. Is there a second? Second. Very good. Is everything okay? Yes. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Sheckler, yes. Miller, hi. Gabriel, yes. English, yes. Wood, yes. Evans, yes.

Very good. Motion passes. Under item H1, other business, we have resolution 26017, approval of amendments to the city's purchasing policy for the procurement of personal property and services. That's a almost an alliteration you did there. Katie Ebner, our finance director, is here to present.

Good evening, mayor and council members. I am bringing to to you all a purchasing policy that has not been updated in um a number of years. And um just to kind of give a little bit of background, the city has a really great track history as far as clean audits, really strong financial purchasing procedures and internal controls. And um that has to do with our former finance director from a few years ago. So, uh, Troy Thyson, my boss now, was our finance director, um, a number of years ago. And I didn't just inherit a job. I inherited a standard of, um, what it's, uh, what we owe to the taxpayers as far as um, dedication to where every tax dollar is going. So, thank you, Troy. uh the so as long or as we go through the policy it's there are quite a few updates as far as expenditure limits and those are to align with Idaho code the most important thing that we would look at is ensuring we're following the law and we can be more restrictive than Idaho code and in ways we have um done that by bringing things to council multiple times for example we might um go to council for an additional appropriation, which is still in this policy. That would always um an increase to the budget would always need to be approved by council. Then we might have to go to council as a director might have to go to council and ask for um approval of a vendor selection. And then it's possible the way the policy reads, the director might have to come back to council for approval or an award of a contract to that vendor. And so this can create a lot of just burden on our directors as far as ensuring every te is

crossed and I is dotted following our our procedure or policy. And what this policy brings forward is we are not scaling back any of the internal reviews. We have very strong internal reviews up to four approvals per purchase and um and reviews and then at the end of it after the checks are going out to our vendors that is brought to council to approve on the consent agenda and that detail is shared with council. So with these changes, I feel strongly that our policy is still going to protect the taxpayer funds and also it's just going to uh make it a little bit less cumbersome for our directors to make some a lot of these routine purchases and um just create some consistency with how we deal with a lot of these purchases. So I'll stand for any questions.

Thank you, Katie. And I'd like to say that uh Amanda deserves a lot of credit for this for uh going through and finding these items. And I don't know if uh council noticed, I didn't notice until it was pointed out to me, but a couple of meetings ago, we had a lot of items on consent that were pretty much in compliance with the code. So, I do appreciate her effort on this as well as yours. Any questions for Katie on this new policy? Mr. Mayor, I'd make a motion to approve resolution number 26017 approving an amendment to the purchasing policy for procurement of personal property and services. Second. Excellent motion and seconds. Any discussion? Very good. Roll call, please. Miller, I.

Gabriel, yes. English, yes. Wood, yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Very good. Motion passes. So item H2 is council bill number 2610001 repeal of chapter 1.16 quarterlane municipal code entitled precincts. Ranatana Mloud our municipal services director is here to present.

Thank you. I have a couple housekeeping items here for you tonight. So I'd like to do the next two items together if you don't mind in my staff report. You'll still have to approve them independently because they are ordinances that affect municipal codes. So um the first one as uh Mayor Gukan had mentioned he has spent some time kind of going through some of our municipal codes and found some of our antiquated codes that were on the docket to be repealed at some point in time. Uh so this is that point in time. So uh the precinct section relates to when the city managed the elections and that hasn't happened for many years under Idaho state code that happens through Coupney County. So that is no longer needed for the city of Cordelane. So that antiquated section of code can be repealed. Now the next section is chapter 2.50 entitled youth advisory councils. That also was a movement maybe back in 2005 where there was like the mayor's youth council movement. Uh uh but since that point in time we've actually integrated school district 271 representation on many city committee commissions and boards. So it's incorporated into those code sections. And there is no youth advisory council here at the city of Cordelane. So we were looking to repeal that code as well.

Okay. So we're going to we're going to do 2610001 first and then 2610002. Okay. Any questions on either of these items? Yes. Well, I would just mention on the um the second second one that um deals with the um what's the second youth advisory council that two

Yeah. And that we have I don't know why I'm so off tonight. Maybe because I'm going to Boise in the morning to actually talk to legisl that was the other thing legislators about our housing thing. But the um you know I'm on the advisory or I'm the council liaison to the library board and we have a student representative there who attends regular and their backup is there. So you know just you know so that the public doesn't think we're not keeping youth involved is just in a different way and probably more meaningful. So

yeah, when I was uh looking this up, I noticed other cities had the same code adopted about the same time. And I don't know, I know that Ranatada did say that we do have youth appointments to our committees, and that pretty much fulfills, I think, what the purpose was of the advisory council, but since there is no meeting and nothing going on, we thought we could repeal it. All right. So we will look for two pieces of action. The first would be council bill number 2610001. And this has to be since we're repealing code, we have to dispense with the rule first. I make a motion to dispense with the rule and read council bill 2610001 once by title only. Second.

Any discussion? Roll call, please. Gabriel, yes. English, yes. Wood, yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller. Hi. The clerk will read the title. Council bill number 2610001, an ordinance of the city of Cordelane, Kney County, Idaho, repealing Cordelane Municipal Code Chapter 116 entitled precincts, repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict here, providing a several beauty clause, providing for the publication of a summary of this ordinance, and an effective date thereof. And now we need a motion to adopt this bill. Motion to adopt council bill 25-10001. Second. Motion and second. Any discussion?

Clerk will take the role. Gabriel, yes. English, yes. Wood, yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, I. And the motion is carried. Now on to council bill number 2610002. Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion to dispense with the role and read council bill number 26-10002 once by title only. Second motion and a second. Any discussion? Right. Clerk will take the role. English. Yes. Wood, yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, I. Gabriel, yes.

And the motion carried. The clerk will read the title. Council bill number 2610002 an ordinance of the city of Cordelane Kney County Idaho repealing Cordelane Municipal Code Chapter 250 entitled Youth Advisory Council repealing ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith providing a several beauty clause providing for the publication of a summary of this ordinance and effective date thereof. And now we need a motion to adopt council bill. Motion to adopt council bill 25-10002. Second. All right. Motion in a second. Any discussion? Clerk will take the role. English, yes. Wood, yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, hi. Gabriel, yes.

Motion carries. We're moving on to council bill number 2610003. Ranada,

speed round. Okay, this is a recommendation from the CDA TV committee regarding the membership section. uh the membership section had that we shall have certain membership representation such as from NIC uh telecom provider school district 271 um we'd like to put may we've been having some difficulty getting representation from some of those groups um and so this way we can still reach out to them and ask them to send us representation but if they can't or don't want to participate they wouldn't have to and it wouldn't impede us having a full committ committee. Well, I will stand for any questions.

Very good. Any questions for Reno? Mr. Mayor, I'd make a motion to amend Municipal Code 2.10.020 entitled Establish Membership Terms for CDA TV Committee. Okay, we need to start by um dispensing with the rule. Oh, I missed that part. All right. I would make a motion to dispense with the rule for 2610003. Second. And to read it once by title only. And to read it once by title only. I'm not finding that anywhere, but I'm going to I'm going to go with that. Page four. Okay.

Are we good? I think we're good. We got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All right. The clerk will take the role. Wood. Yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, hi. Gabriel. Yes. English. Yes.

All right. The motion is carried. And the reason we do this is because in Idaho statute, in order for us to repeal code, we have to read it three times. And some cities like Boise, they actually will bring it back three meetings in a row before they take action. We can we can dispense with the rule and take care of it in one night, which is what we're doing now. Um, did you you read the title? Please read the title. Council bill number 2610003, an ordinance amending sections 22A and B of the Kurland Municipal Code repealing our ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, providing a several beauty clause providing for the publication of a summary of this ordinance and effective date thereof.

Excellent. So now we need a motion to adopt the bill. Motion to adopt council bill 25-10003. Second. Motion a second. Any discussion? Clerk will take the role. Wood, yes. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, hi. Gabriel, yes. English, yes. The motion carries. Ranata, you're still here.

I'm still here. To round up the night, since I was already here doing three ordinances, we decided to throw in one more. This normally would be brought forward to you from parks and reccks. But because this was kind of a straightforward one, I said we'd go ahead and throw it in with my grouping tonight. So, this is in regards to repealing the codes associated with the JW House Advisory Committee. That committee hasn't been meeting for quite some time. We've actually rolled those duties into the parks and recreation commission. Um we just hadn't amended the code to remove the JW House Advisory Committee and then add those duties to the parks and recreation commission list. So that is the action tonight is to repeal the sections regarding setting up the JW House Advisory Committee and then adding those duties to the parks and recreation commission. And the parks and recreation department is on board with this. Any questions for Ranata on this one?

Very good. We'll take a motion to dispense with the rule. Motion to dispense with the rule and read council bill number 26-0. Oops. 10004. Once by title only. Second. Motion to second. Any discussion? All right, let's take a roll call. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, I. Gabriel, yes. English, yes. Wood, yes.

Excellent. The motion has carried. The clerk will read the title. Council bill number 2610004 an ordinance of the city of Kurlane Kney Idaho repealing Kurane Municipal Code sections 45100 45110 and 45120 regarding the Jwitt House Advisory Committee and amending Curlane Municipal Code section 4580 entitled duties to transfer the duties of the Jwitt House Advisory Committee to the Parks and Recreation Commission. repealing our ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict here with providing a severability clause providing for the publication of a summary of this ordinance and an effective date thereof. Very good. Now we need a motion to adopt. Motion to adopt council bill 25-10004

004. Motion and a second. Any discussion? Clerk will take the role. Evans, yes. Sheckler, yes. Miller, hi. Gabriel, yes. English, yes. Wood, yes. And the motion carries. Now, the last item I is a recess to uh Monday for a hearing and a workshop.

Mr. Mr. Mayor, I'll make a motion to recess to February 23rd, 2026 at noon in the library community room located here at 702 East Front Avenue for an appeal hearing for the revocation of the revocation of security agency license number 64832, Security Agent License 58458, the Paul Truette DBA Lear Asset Management Inc., and to receive a presentation from Richard Curtis with ESCI regarding the fire station location fire and EMS deployment study. Second. Very good. Motion and a second. Any discussion, Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor, I'm going to abstain from this vote and not participate in any way. Understood.

Uh, just a quick question. Do do we know if the the hearing is going to go forward? Do we feel that it will? Um, no. At this time, I do not believe it will. I have a request in from Mr. Tourett and I just haven't formalized the cancellation and resetting of the next date. So it will be removed from the agenda when we move forward. So you can amend it now or we can take care of it with the agenda later. So So there's not going to be a he's made a formal request to continue. I just haven't formally accepted his request yet, which I will, but I have to set another date. So my complication is setting another date. Thank you. Would you like to modify the motion so we're just doing the workshop? Yes.

Thank you. And does the second concur? I guess. Who was the second? Oh, you were I was looking for a second. Okay. So, the the motion the modified motion in the second is to just recess to February 23rd at noon here to do a workshop for uh the fire station location fire and EMS deployment study. Everyone understands that? Good. Okay. All those in favor? I I. Any opposed? and one sustain. Uh yeah, if it doesn't involve the true matter, then I would vote yes.

Excellent. Well, it doesn't and we're voting yes and we are recessed. Thank you all. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.