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Moyie Springs special meeting minutes
January 9, 2012

CITY OF MOYIE SPRINGS MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 25, 2012

 

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Doug Evans.  Present for the meeting were Mayor Evans, Councilmen Steve Economu, Terry Johnson, Bart Klaus, Fire Chief Ken English, Public Works Supervisor John Nelson, City Clerk Sandy Tompkins, City of Bonners Ferry Mayor David Anderson, Council members Connie Wells, Tom Mayo, Rick Alonzo, Mike Klaus, Engineer David Sims, City Administrator Steve Boorman, City Clerk Kris Larson, Boundary County Commissioners Ron Smith, Walt Kirby, Deputy Clerk Michelle Rohrwasser, Boundary County Economic Development Specialist Mike Sloan, and an engineer out of Coeur d’Alene, Ken Nichols.

 

Waived the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on January 4, 2012.

 

Mayor Evans had the people in attendance introduce themselves.

 

The first topic discussed was regional sewer.  Mayor Evans said the City of Moyie has to do something with our sewer system and wanted to know if the City of Bonners Ferry is at all interested in a force main from Moyie Springs to Bonners Ferry?  Mayor Evans said there are 60 – 70 homes on our sewer system right now.  Rick Alonzo asked what kind of system we have now?  Mayor Evans said our system was started in 1971.  John Nelson explained we have a lagoon system with a 300,000 gallon reservoir.  John said the lagoon is supposed to discharge into 3 dry wells but the hill started to erode.  It now discharges down the hill and disappears into the ground.  David Sims said the sewer system in the City of Bonners Ferry was started in 1968, and is at capacity now.  Mayor Evans said we want to stay out of the rivers, if possible.  David Sims said the City of Bonners Ferry will have to make a change in 5 – 10 years.  David Sims said financially it would help, but doesn’t make sense to add more.  Steve Boorman said the 3-Mile residences are not too interested in sewer.  Ron Smith said if we are talking about a sewer line, there are a lot of people.  Ron Smith said the area being discussed for sewer is not in the Area of Impact, and the City didn’t want to do it because of that.  Ron also said Boundary County needs to be involved.  David Sims said we would probably end up with more people from the City of Moyie than the residents the City of Bonners Ferry now has on the sewer system.  Mike Klaus said when you see the costs from the engineer, it does not include the costs for added personnel and maintenance.  Walt Kirby said we need to have someone figure the costs for the whole area to be on sewer.  Mike Klaus said the City of Bonners Ferry should help if possible.  Mike Sloan said businesses are using a lot of land for drain fields.  David Sims said the best place to put a lagoon would be on the north bench.  Steve Boorman asked if the engineer has given us options?  Mayor Evans said they have discussed 3 different options and all 3 are very expensive.  David Sims asked how many gallons?  John Nelson said 20.000 – 30,000 per day.  It needs to be proven that dirty water won’t reach either river.  Ron Smith said the north bench is in the county.  Steve Boorman said a sewer district would need to be formed.  David Sims said it took awhile to get the EPA permit.  Mayor Evans asked to let us know if the force main plan is feasible.  The City of Bonners Ferry will discuss this matter at their next meeting.  Mayor Anderson said with sewer, land would be more valuable

 

The next agenda item discussed was recycling.   There are 2 unmanned sites in Bonners Ferry – one at the Middle School and one behind the Restorium, and they are working well.  Ron Smith said Clain Skeen is talking to George Elliott, owner of the Moyie Springs Store, about a manned site there.  Terry Johnson asked about the cost?  He was told about $1,000 per month.  Steve Boorman said the cost will be passed on to the customers eventually.  Mayor Anderson said you’d better be careful what you wish for because you’ll probably get it.  There has been very little garbage put into the bins.  Mayor Anderson said the cost isn’t that much right now – it’s a service now so it would be hard to pull.  Ron Smith asked why the service would have to be pulled?  Mayor Anderson said because the city can’t afford it.

 

The last item discussed was Caribou.  Ron Smith talked about the discussion that went on at the KVRI meeting.  Chairman Smith said the County would be requesting more public hearings – provided by a letter from the County Commissioners to Brian Kelly.  Ron said the current comment period ends January 30, 2012, then there will be a 60 day comment period followed by more public hearings.  The Commissioners will conduct public meetings where questions can be asked and public hearings where comments are given.  Ron Smith said the bottom line is they may still take the land.  There have never been more than 3 Caribou sighted in Boundary County – last year there were none.  The Fish & Game flew it yesterday and said they saw 4.  The amount of land in question for the Caribou is 376,000 acres with 270,000 acres being in Boundary County.  There was a meeting in Coolin yesterday but they can’t request hearings now because the time elapsed.  The Grizzly may be delisted in Yellowstone & Glacier.  Ron Smith said the County will wait until the 2nd week in February to get started.  Mayor Evans said he understands nothing will change but the permit process.  Ken English said he was told if a fire starts in critical habitat, it is not be put out.  Mayor Anderson asked about public meetings – Ron Smith explained.  People would have to sign in when they enter if they want to speak. 

 

The City of Bonners Ferry will have the next combined meeting.

 

A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Terry Johnson to adjourn.  Motion carried.

 

 

/s/

Attest:  City Clerk