Troy Council waits on land bid; could be next City Hall site
While very much interested in the property at 230 E. Kootenai Ave., Troy City Council members Wednesday opted against taking immediate action on purchasing the property that is across from City Hall.
Landowner George Snyder, making an encore appearance before the board, again offered the quarter-acre property for sale. Snyder, who attended the special council workshop the preceding Thursday, has offered the property and an approximate 5,000 square-foot building for $50,000. The building was once assessed at $150,000.
During the workshop, Snyder said he is “too old for messing with this. I thought I’d come and offer the building to you first.”
Mayor Don Banning said, while the city may not utilize the property immediately, it does make sense for the city to consider the purchase because of its close proximity to City Hall.
“It’s up to the council, but this does make a lot of sense,” Banning said. “At some point, this (City Hall) will crumble to pieces, and we’re going to need a location for a new City Hall. It is a good buy.”
While no action was taken, Banning said Snyder has made the building accessible for City Council members to tour.
“Whatever happens, the building will probably have to be torn down,” Banning said.
On another matter, City Council members approved the Callow Tracts amended plat plan. Banning said the city had “about 11 concerns” and those concerns have been met. Banning could not recall specifically those concerns but mentioned they were such things as trash and old cars on the properties.
“We just want to make sure the area is up to standard,” Banning said.
During the special workshop session, Police Chief Bob McLeod told officials he is concerned with a growing feral cat problem within the city.
McLeod told officials there are at least two areas with large concentrations of feral cats. McLeod is concerned about the numbers of animals and whether they are vaccinated.
On Wednesday, during the City Council’s regular meeting, members approved a new, one-year contract with Debbie’s Pet Grooming, Kootenai Pets for Life and the Lincoln County Animal Control for animal storage and euthanizing.
The contract calls for $10 a day for storage at all facilities and $10 an animal for euthanizing at both Lincoln County Animal Control and Debbie’s. Kootenai Pets for Life does not euthanize animals, and the contract there states pets not claimed after 72 hours become the property of the facility.
In other action, the City Council:
• Approved the recommendation for approval of Electrical Director Clint Taylor that the city accept the Bonneville Power Administration’s rebate for city electrical customers. Taylor updated the council during the workshop session that the approval received enough votes for passage and merely needed the City Council approval for enactment. The measure was approved Wednesday, and residents will soon see their part of a $10,000 credit on their electrical bills.
• Approved Resolutions Nos. 639 and 640. Resolution 639— GASB 54 Accounting Spending Polices outlines accounting practices for municipalities. The council unanimously approved the measure, which is mandated by state statutes. Resolution 640 will allow Troy to participate in the mail-in ballot practices. Troy will once again supply postage for those registered voters wishing to cast their ballots by this means.
• Did not take action on Resolution 633, which sought a City Council Policy Book for each member. The board agreed one book would be sufficient for all and would be kept at City Hall for their review.
• Mayor Banning’s veto of Resolution 635 that required him, the mayor, to a give advance notice when he would be out of town for more than 24 hours. However, the council overrode the veto 4-0. The measure only required a two-thirds majority, so Banning will have to let clerks at City Hall know when he plans to be out of the city for more than 24 hours..
• The board also overrode the mayor’s veto of Resolution No. 637, which allowed city workers to have four, 10-hour work days instead of five eight-hour shifts. The council also overrode that veto, meaning workers must work the five-day schedule, which began Monday, June 20.