MINUTES-Emery Town Council Meeting December 12th 2024
Members present: Mayor B. Jack Funk Council Persons: Kim Hansen, Patrick Sundstrom, and Lindsay Edwards
Others in attendance: Jennee Mangum, Annie Johnson, and Kyla McClaughry, & Terry Edwards
1. Call to Order-The meeting was called to order at 6:07 PM
2. Pledge of Allegiance-Mayor Funk led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approve Minutes- November 14th Edwards makes a motion to approve the November 14th meeting minutes. Hansen seconds the motion. Ayes; unanimous and the motion is passed.
4. Invoice Report- Hansen makes a motion to pay the bills. Sundstrom seconds the motion. Ayes; unanimous and the motion to pay the bills is passed.
5. Terry Edwards
5.1 Lighting for outside and inside ambulance bay; Terry explains to the council that the light fixtures on the outside of the building need to be replaced because he can no longer get the light bulbs that fit the existing fixtures. He also explains that the lighting in the ambulance bay needs to be replace as well. He received a quote last year from Kay Electric for $1075 to update the outside fixtures to LEDs, that was approved by the council. He had them add the ambulance bay to the quote and Kay Electric told him over the phone that it would be between $1500 to $2000 to do it all. Mayor Funk asks if there needs to be three bids for the update and Terry told him that Kay Electric is state contracted so he only needs the bid from them. Hansen agrees that it has to be done. Terry tells the council that the new lighting will save the town about 45% in energy costs. Jennee brings up the point that at this point it is a liability to the town. Hansen makes a motion to update the lighting in the ambulance bay as well as the outside lighting around the outside of the building contingent on the bid being no more than $2000. Sundstrom seconds the motion. Ayes; unanimous and the motion is passed to update the lighting contingent on the bid being no more than $2000.
5.2 Cemetery records- Terry tells the council that lately he has he a bunch of people who have love ones that have been cremated wanting to put a headstone next to a family member. Terry told the council that he doesn't have a problem with that as long as there is enough room in the headstone line. The system we currently have for cemetery records does not allow for someone to add a headstone on the same plot as someone else. Terry tells the council that the system we currently use is so outdated that it's seven moves to make an entry and it is not user friendly. Hansen asks what a solution might be. Terry tells he that we need a new system for keeping cemetery records. Hansen make the suggestion of reaching out to the other towns in the county to see what they use and how well they like it and how user friendly it is. Funk asks that we find out how the other towns back up their records as well. Jennee brings up a question about people who want a headstone next to a loved one but the is no body or urn to be buried, and what is the thoughts on that and Annie asks if they are allowed to do this should they be charged. Hansen asks Terry what difference does it make to Terry who has to maintain the cemetery. Terry said that as long as it is in the headstone row it doesn't complicate matters for him as far as maintenance, the trouble is when he needs to put it in the system. Christensen said that we would probably have to charge to help pay for the new system. Edwards said that it is also the time that it takes to mark the spot and such. Terry suggests that a price of $200 be set. Edwards asks how much is charged for someone to be buried now. Annie lets her know that non-residents pay $300 and residents pay $150 and if it's on the weekend there is a $50 overtime fee. Christensen makes the suggestion that they be charged the same as someone who is being buried. He also brought up the point of evaluating the time it will take to move everything to a new system as well as the time it will take to update our records. Hansen asks if it may be time to evaluate the overall pricing. Mayor Funk said we should look into the cost of a new system then evaluate raising the cost. There was a discussion about having someone local write a program that would be specific to Emery and our needs. Funk says he will talk to a few people and see if it can be done. It is decided that after the first of the year the office staff will call around the different towns and see what they use and how well it works and this will be discussed at a later date.
6. Fire Department- Chief's Report; Kyla McClaughry (the interim chief) reported that they have had a couple calls to the freeway. She tells the council that they will have six firefighters going to winter training in January. She explains that they will be attending classes on search and rescue and other funding options. They put in for a $10,000 grant and the fire fighters will log all of their training hours for an in-kind match for the grant at $31/hour. She mentions that she needs a letter granting her temporary representation while the chief is healing from his wounds. 7. Councilperson Lindsay Wilson-Edwards
7.1 Emery Town Heritage Council/Pioneer Church Update- Work keeps on going at the pioneer church. There have been people who have donated material and time or giving discounts on materials. They will be pouring the two retaining walls in the basement and that will be the last of the concrete work until they are ready to do the steps on the front and the sides. The propane tank will be delivered this week and once they get everything sealed up the best they can Snow's Heating will come in and work on the HVAC.
8. Councilperson Patrick Sundstrom
8.1 Animal Control- Sundstrom said if there are two Great Pyrenees dogs they belong to the Nelsons.
8.2 CVSSD- none
8.3 Rate raise on outside connections-Sundstrom comments that the rate increase for outside water connections has to be voted on. The increase would be $13.58 added to the $40.12 that they pay now. Hansen makes the suggestion that it be increased $13.88 to make it an even $54. Edwards makes a motion to increase outside water rates to $54. Sundstrom seconds the motion. Ayes; unanimous and the motion is passed to increase outside water rates to $54.
9. Councilperson Mike Christensen
9.1 Planning and Zoning- Christensen asks a question of the council about what the zoning and requirements there are for Dennis Stringham to put a solar field in on his property that is on the main highway going through town. He wanted to know if this is allowed in town. Edwards suggested that he get in touch with Julie Johansen because she is over the county planning and zoning. Sundstrom brings up the point that if he is going to put in any solar panels he will need to fence it off to avoid vandalism. This brought up a discussion on how can he fence it off and still be in compliance with the offsets and regulations that are required there. Hansen questions what the intent of this solar field and what will it be used for. Mayor Funk asks Christensen if he will call Julie and ask her what she knows about this matter. It is decided that he will make the calls and then it will be revisited at a later date.
10. Councilperson Kim Hansen
10.1 Performance bonuses- Hansen questions the structure of the bonuses for the staff.
10.2 Rec grant for wrestling mats- Hansen asks about a grant to help with wrestling mats for the Rec-center. Annies tells them she will work on getting a grant and also mentions a company that donates equipment to towns for this purpose and she will look into it. Terry says his concern is the storage. Funk suggests that they could hang them in the rafters.
11. Mayor Jack Funk
11.1 Mayor's Report- Funk tells the council that he was talking to Commissioner Jensen and was told that there is a $600,000 grant that has already been written for Emery Town. He said it has already been written by the state for Emery. Funk said he is going to get some more information on that. Jensen told him that they are looking to build a reservoir for the town out on Moore's Bench. They already have a grant for $75,000 for an impact steady for the reservoir. The town has to participate in the reservoir.
11.2 Subdivision guide lines-Funk tells the council that he received a letter about having an ordinance for subdivisions in the town. Jennee said that there is an ordinance for this purpose but it is out dated. Funk said the letter he received was from a guy that said he can help with an ordinance for a subdivision because it is require by state law. Christensen asks where is someone wanting to put in a subdivision and was told that it is just a requirement for all towns to have one. 12. Open Agenda
12.1 Old Business- Jennee tells the council that she has had several people ask about using the exe4rcise equipment. Kyla said that they still are waiting for the locks to be put on the doors. Funk said we are looking into it but it will cost about $3,000 to secure the gym with new locks. Annie said she would look into a grant that might help with the cost.
There was a discussion about the truckers using their jake brakes in town. Annie tells the council that there is signage coming into town. There is an ordinance restricting the use of this kind of braking system in town. A discussion ensues about how to enforce the ordinance. A suggestion was made that we contact the trucking companies to ask for help in enforcing this ordinance. Hansen suggested that a letter be sent to the trucking companies. Christensen said that Savage holds the contract with the mines so we should contact them for assistance.
12.2 New Business-Hansen talks to the council about the recliners in the rec-center and the possibility of replacing them because they are worn out and 'disgusting.' There is a discussion about how to replace them and the options for different seating if we get rid of them. Terry brings up the pint that there needs to be something comfortable for the older generation that use the center. Hansen says that there needs to be a compromise in getting something that doesn't give the spiders a place to hide and still be comfortable. Funk brings up the point that doctor's offices have the couch like benches that are cushioned and can still be cleaned and sanitized. Hansen says she will research and come up with some options to bring to the council the next month.
13. Adjournment- Hansen makes a motion to adjourn. Sundstrom seconds the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS
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