Dayton City Council adds planning position

DAYTON—Mayor Zac Weatherford called the Dayton City Council regular meeting to order at 6 p.m. on March 14, 2023. Council members Teeny McMunn, James Su’euga, Laura Aukerman, Kyle Anderson, Dain Nysoe, Shannon McMillen, and Tiger Dieu were present. 

Sheriff Joe Helm attended via Zoom and reported the number of traffic and other incidents from last month. He said two new deputies are doing well at the academy and are set to graduate on April 24, 2023, and will return to Columbia County to complete a fourteen-week Field Training Officer (FTO) program.

Helm said the department would offer a citizen’s academy beginning on April 7, 2023; those interested should apply on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Informational pamphlets are available at City Hall.

Helm said his office, in conjunction with the Coalition of Youth and Families, will conduct a “Drug Take Back Day” on April 22, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bank of Idaho parking lot. Unwanted drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter, can be put in a drop box for incineration. The first one hundred people to arrive will also receive a free lockbox.

Columbia County Commissioner Ryan Rundell, speaking for the county, announced new rates for the transfer station: $106.17 per ton with a minimum (under 300 lbs) charge of $16.41.

The board considered two actions to address the open Director of Planning position and renewal of the contract with AHBL for on-call land use and planning services.

Ordinance No. 2001 would create a new classification and amend the salary schedule to add a part-time Planning Department Manager position. The city has identified an available qualified candidate. The council authorized the ordinance 6-1, with Su’euga dissenting.

The city has not filled the Director of Planning and Community Development position and contracted AHBL to provide planning and development services as an outside contractor. The council considered renewing the contract with AHBL. However, some council members expressed concern over how long the firm has taken to resolve some cases. Resolution 1508 to continue the outside planning services with AHBL was not approved.

Nysoe opened a discussion on the interlocal agreement between the city and county for services from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, Dispatch, and Municipal Court. Nysoe said the city’s cost is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which increased by about eight percent this year. That increase could add approximately $5,000 monthly, costing the city $700,000 annually for the services. In Nysoe’s view, the City does not have the revenue to keep meeting the contract’s obligations.

Nysoe suggested the public safety committee review the contract and propose an alternative. The council discussed abandoning the agreement entirely. A plan of action to address the issue was not decided on at the meeting.

Mayor Weatherford read a draft letter of support from the City of Dayton concerning the Columbia County Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan update, which would replace an existing plan adopted in 2002. Weatherford said he would sign the letter and hoped the council members would sign. The letter implies no contract nor obligation by the city to expend any funds. He said the letter would aid the county in obtaining funding to develop the new plan.

The Dayton Third Street Project is scheduled to begin this summer. The city will advertise for bids this week; bidding will open on April 6, 2023.

Weatherford scheduled a workshop for Monday, at 1:00 p.m. on March 20, 2023, to discuss the next steps forward for the wastewater treatment plant. He said he had not yet received the signed documents for the land sale.

Nysoe said he had been approached by several citizens concerned about derelict buildings in the city, including those destroyed or mostly destroyed by fire. He said it was a safety issue and the city needs to be more proactive in enforcing codes. He mentioned the former McQuary’s Grocery building, saying the roof was detached and about to fly off.

Misty Yost, Deputy City Clerk wanted to remind the community that Public Works is starting to dig out and read water meters, so they may expect to see them working in their yards. Also, the next water bill will show a cumulative total on the usage bar graph for all the water used while meters were not being read. At the time of the meeting, twelve remote-read meters had been installed, starting with the far N.E. end of Dayton Ave.

During the final public comment period, Rundell warned the board about the negative effects on the city should the interlocal agreement be abandoned. He said the level of service from the Sheriff’s Office would be significantly reduced, and it would only be legally obliged to enforce felony violations. Also, the city would be responsible for jail and court services, public defender, prosecutor, and dispatch services.

The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m., with the next meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 11, 2023.