HomeMy Public PortalAboutMcCall, Idaho: Politics and Government ICity Council Notes by Martha Chitwood
The 1917 City Council was comprised of John Berry, P.C. Reams, Charles Arnold,
Robert Montgomery and Mr. Brothwell. This was the year in which the City was
incorporated.
In that year, they also had a clerk, and they appropriated $100.00 to pay for the services
of the town attorney for one year. One motion proposed was to make it a misdemeanor to
place manure, rubbish or wagons or anything that might obstruct the highway within the
City. The motion passed and still stands as an ordinance.
Another ordinance passed in 1919 was from a motion made by Ted Geelan to prohibit
any person under the ago of 18 from carrying firearms within the City limits. Penalty
was $10.00 and confiscation of said firearms.
In 1919, the City Council approved the hiring of a City Marshall for the salary of $25.00
per month. In the spring of the same year, they passed an ordinance that provided for the
building of wooden sidewalks on some of the streets in McCall.
The fiscal year 1919 City budget was $2455.00, broken down as follows:
Salaries of Officers and Employees
$650.00
Street Lighting
$200.00
Printing
$150.00
Building crosswalks and sidewalks
$200.00
Street fund
$250.00
Water works fund
$480.00
Deficiency Warrants
$500.00
The budget for the fiscal year 1979 totaled $644,657.00 and the breakdown would be a
long list. Another example of growth can be seen in school figures: The first school in
McCall taught by Flora McCall had four students and met in the York home and then the
Heacock home. The present school has over seven hundred grade school, junior school
and high school students. Much of the early growth in McCall can be attributed to the
railroad's arrival in 1914, which did bring people and jobs. But most can be attributed to
the beauty and resources of Long Valley.
In 1920, the City Council moved to extend the lake water intake pipe further out into the
lake. It still rests there in 1979.
-7y
Fire house, dock bids accepted,
recreation study okayed
MCCALL— Apparent low bids
for city fire house and city dock
construction and a new police car
were accepted by the City
Council Monday night, and an
okay for a proposed recreation
development study by a Boise
firm given.
Kenney Construction of On-
tario was awarded the fire house
contract for a low base bid of
$57,724, less estimated redwood
siding costs, for a net amount of
$50,924. Two other base bids, of
$66,146 and $64,943, were also
received. Completion date of the
project, foi which the Council
budgeted $50,000, is expected 150
days after construction starts
next to the public library.
Grangeville submitted an ap-
parent low bid of $3,879, one of
five received, for a new police
department vehicle, and the city
dock construction contract went
to H & W, Inc. of McCall for
$5,057, the only bid received.
A planning and development
study go -ahead was given to Jack
G. Peterson and Associates, a
Boise planning firm. The
proposed plan will deal with
recreation facility development
within the city limits of McCall.
It will encompass the specific
project only, as compared to the
already completed proposed
general development plan for
both McCall and surrounding
area, which is scheduled for a
May 21st public hearing.
The Peterson firm indicated it
would begin its project June 1st
and complete it within 30 days.
Its cost of $4,500 will reportedly
be paid by the Economic
Development Administration
through its Ore -Ida District.
To meet government
requirements for the municipal
airport improvement grants, the
Council agreed to offer 30 shares
of Lake Irrigation District water
in exchange for air easement on
lands directly south of and ad-
jacent to the present runways,
owned by Warren Brown. The
easement woUd be necessary for
aircraft glide patterns and would
restrict heights of obstructions
on the land involved. They also
adopted minimum standards for
fixed base airport operators and
tenants, which contain
requirements including set
charges for space used.
In other business, the
nece: -iry procedure for
relocation of the Warren Wagon
Road at its intersection with
Hwy. 55 was discussed, and it
was noted that hospital roof
repairs have been completed.
Finally, the Council tenatively
adopted a requirement that a 30
day waiting period would be
necessary between the time of
application for a city beer license
and the date it could be granted.
Move''
on to recall
McCall's Mayor
Recall petitions against McCall
Mayor Bill Evans charging him with
"misusing his position" are expected to
be circulating throughout the city this
week.
Ken Kuhne, owner of Blue Lotus
Books and Goods, McCall, presented a
proposed recall petition to Margaret
Fogg, city clerk; Tuesday afternoon,
and said he planned to resubmit it in
proper form Wednesday afternoon. It
had not been resubmitted by press time
Wednesday.
The petition states that the un-
dersigned demand that Evans be
recalled for six reasons. They include
allegedly misusing his position by
It jurisdiction over areas of
city business which are beyond his
control," staining the reputations of
local businesspeople by displaying loss
of self -control in front of others,
discriminating and procrastinating in
filling positions on the city's planning
and zoning commission, violating city
code by calling the fire department to a
home outside the city limits, going
"against the tide of popular, majority
decisions and desires" and taking a
stand for the city leash law and then
disregarding the law himself.
When presented with the proposed
petition Tuesday, Fogg turned it over
to the city attorney, Robert Remaklus,
who responded that it was not yet in
proper form for review by the city
clerk. It lacked signatures of electors,
he said. Wednesday morning, Kuhne
said he had discovered his error and
would resubmit the petition to the city
clerk with the proper number of
signatures, 20 registered electors.
Once the petition is in proper form
and is so designated by the city clerk,
Bill Evans
the petition circulators must collect
signatures of registered voters equal in
number to 20 percent of the number of
voters registered for the last general
city election. Fogg said she did not
have time to figure how many
signatures that would be at this time.
If the proper number of valid
signatures are gathered, the clerk
would have to call a special election on
the recall issue. The election must be
held 3040 days after the signatures are
declared sufficient.
Mayor Evans said he had no com-
ment on the recall attempt except that
it is "one of our democratic rights;
everyone has the right."
Evans' seat is due up for election in
November. Should he be recalled, his
successor would be appointed by the
city council. The new mayor could then
seek election in November.
I'm still waiting
To the editor: f 719
In my letter two weeks ago, I asked
Mayor Bill Evans for a public apology
regarding his disreputable behavior in
my store - Blue Lotus Books & Goods.
I haven't heard a word. The public
memory of this circumstance may be
short, but mine is not. I think it's
deplorable that the situation ever
occurred. I regard it as rude that I
haven't received an answer in any
form.
Fire trucks and poison darts
Condos and then ravings
How long do we let it slide?
Whose actions need enslaving?
I'm still waiting Mayor.
Ken Kuhne
7- 77
Recall Mayor .7
To the editor:
There are times in the history of
politics when our elected leaders fail to
maintain their integrity and trustful
control. In the history of McCall
politics, this is such a time.
Since my first letter to Mayor Bill
Evans was published a month ago, I
have been inundated by phone calls and
personal appearances from people
whose feelings are the same as mine
and who desperately want to see a
change in the leadership of our city. I
am not alone.
It appears that the mayor continues
to amaze people with his lack of con-
cern for the desires of McCall's
populace and business community. We
cannot wait until election time in
Wiovember to see a reversal in a*..,%
ministrative format. It must happen
>itrnbw, before valuable summer months
pass by and more intolerable policy
decisions are effectuated.
We cannot allow ourselves any
longer to be governed by a man whose
ego overwhelms his ability to say "I'm
wrong, I'm sorry" in public.
I'm sorry Mayor Bill Evans, but I,
and an ever - growing group of folks in
this city, want a recall.
According to Idaho Code, Chapter 17
on Recall Elections, section 34 -1702,
article 4 - The recall petition must be
signed by registered electors of the city
equal in numbers to 20 percent of the
number of electors registered to vote at
the last general city election held in the
city for the election of officers.
Everyone register. Everyone vote.
Thank you for all the support.
Ken Kuhne
Blue Lotus Books & Goods
McCall
57Z,-,-r ,z - I\/uvs
�a -c�) - -7 9
Mayor's OK sends-fire trucks,
from city
y v �
by Tim Novoselski
Do persons residing outside the Mc-
Call city limits have fire protection?
The answer, technically, is no. But in
the aftermath of a recent out- of -the-
city fire, in which Mayor Bill Evans
authorized the use of the city's fire
equipment, the answer could be
maybe.
Evans was a guest at the Mike
Compton residence on Warren Wagon
Road when a fire broke out in the
basement. The mayor called the fire
department and initially the volunteer
firemen responded on their own time
and with their own personal fire ex-
tinguishers, said Fire Chief Don Fitz-
water.
"We went out there on our own and
the mayor authorized the fire truck at
the last minute," said Fitzwater. "It
just took a little water. It would have
been a total loss. That's a $200,000 or
$100,000 home.
"It's hard to sit there and watch a
house burn down when you know you
can save it with a few gallons of water.
I hate to say no (when persons outside
the city limits request fire department
assistance)."
Evans said he makes a decision on
whether or not to send city equipment
outside the city after he has taken a
variety of things into consideration,
such as, how far out is the fire, would
the city be in danger because a fire
truck left it, or how far along is the
fire?
In the case of the Compton fire,
Evans said the fact the fire truck left
the city limits would have no effect on
insurance rates because the city's
second fire truck and other volunteers
were on alert inside the city limits.
"We never take two trucks out at the
same time," he said.
Evans said he did not have to be
contacted to make a decision con-
cerning the Compton home because he
was at the residence at the time of the
fire. Asked about a fire that destroyed
the Jim and Judy Kirkland home on
Warren Wagon Road last October,
Evans said he did not remember being
contacted.
"The individual (property owner) or
the value of the proberty has nothing to
do with" the decision whether to send
the fire equipment outside the limits,
said Evans.
Asked if it would be a good
suggestion for those outside the city
limits with houses on fire to give the
mayor a call, Evans replied:
"I wouldn't encourage it. My
responsibility is to the city."
The mayor added that if he was
contacted by someone with a fire
outside the city limits, he might have a
"glint of sympathy" for them.
However, he said, "If you print for
them to call Bill Evans, you would
have, in effect, made the decision.. .
The decision would be no... I won't be
put in a position like that.
Evans said those residing outside the
city are in more danger during the
winter months because the Southern
Idaho Timber Protective Association
trucks are not serviced then.
"Its job is to protect the timber,"
said Evans, adding that the trucks are
kept ready in the summer.
The mayor said the fire protection
problem is growing because of the
increasing number of homes outside
the city that are occupied year around.
"Take Rio Vista," he said. "Because
there are fire hydrants out there people
think they have fire protection. They
don't ...It behooves those outside the
city limits to get fire protection
organized."
Evans added that "I'm quite con-
cerned" what is printed in The Star -
News. "I don't want anybody misled,
Tim. You and I are going to be here a
long time."
Downtown
plan sent
back to P &z
BY JEANNE SEOL
The Star-News
The McCall Downtown Master
Plan - a 32 -page document that took
seven people two years to write - has
gone back to the drawing board.
After being heavily criticized by
the public at a hearing three weeks
ago, the plan was sent back to the City
of McCall Planning and Zoning Com-
mission by the McCall City Council
last week.
Planning and zoning officials will
now most likely send it back with
recommended changes to the Down-
town Planning Subcommittee, a
seven - member body appointed by the
council to write the plan.
City council members recom-
mended several changes be made to
the plan, including an elimination of
proposed districts, such as a financial
district or marina district, and to not
rezone several residential Payette
Lake lots into commercial property.
Council members also disagreed
with a recommendation in the plan
that recommended the city lift its cur-
rent parking requirements and instead
build city -owned parking lots and
garages.
"I'm not prepared to make down-
town parking a general obligation,"
Mayor Bill Killen said.
But subcommittee Chair Rick
Fereday said the plan never intended
to make the public pay for parking
structures.
Instead, Fereday said the commit-
tee envisioned the city applying for
block grants to purchase parking lots
and then for downtown business own-
ers to develop a small taxing district
that would pay for parking structures.
"We had some miscommunication
on that concept," Fereday said.
Dave Peugh, a professional plan-
ner hired by the city to assist the
subcommittee, said the plan was
merely "a wish list of what we would
like to see happen downtown" and
urged council members not to scrap
the plan.
"There was no planning in the past.
We're just trying to catch up," Peugh
said. "We misjudged how some of the
proposed changes would be accepted
by the public, but now we're aware of
them. At least we have a start."
No deadline has been set for how
soon changes in the plan should be
made. The plan must be adopted by
the city council before it can be imple-
mented.
7S 77
717
3-l� /mss'
The merchants
.Business owners say tax wrong, hurts McCaU s image
By Randall Brooks
The Star -News
Ever since 1978, when the idea
of allowing Idaho's small resort
cities to tax certain items used by
visitors passed the state
legislature, the motel and tavern
industry has been at odds with
the concept.
So it's no wonder that when
McCall city officials first broach-
ed the idea in the spring of 1982
as a way of curing its then
suspected $70,000 budget deficit,
motel and bar owners were vocal
in their opposition.
Despite a changing pattern of
issues that brought the McCall
City Council to once again put
the measure before McCall voters
on Tuesday, the opposition to the
so- called bed - and -booze tax has
not changed.
Most of the 32 businesses who
have been collecting the tax from
their patrons agree on several
points:
• The tax is discriminatory on
their particular businesses.
• The tax hurts the economic
'outlook of their businesses by
scaring away potential tourist
dollars.
• Methods in which the city
spends the tax money do not
specifically help the tourist
economy.
• The city's budget is too large
for its population base.
Motel owner Ernie Woods said
he typifies what he called the
plight of the motel owner under
the 4 percent tax local- option tax.
"I'm down 20 percent in four
years," he said. "In outlying
areas, business has picked up
some as McCall's has
decreased."
Getting the city to listen hasn't
been easy for the motel -bar.
group, which is yet another facet
of the complicated and con-
troversial election.
The merchants first banded
together in an unsuccessful at-
tempt to defeat the initial election
on the 4 percent tax in 1982. They
bought newspaper and radio ads
and campaigned for voter
registration.
But the tax was voted into law
by an overwhelming 2 -1 margin.
Businessmen felt the city had un-
fairly represented the budget
shortfall, saying a later audit ac-
tually found a surplus.
But several council members
have pointed out a property tax
override that was on the same
1982 ballot was defeated, which
shows the voters were not misled.
That election has been a sore
point with businessmen since,
leading them to come before the
council as a group several times
asking for repeal or reduction of
the tax on their businesses.
Ever - increasing pressure from
the group finally convinced city
council members in March to put
the measure to the latest vote on
Tuesday.
The election to repeal McCall's
taxing ordinance has been an
emotional one with businessmen.
Fuel was added to the
arguments when legal problems
with the 1978 Idaho law that
allowed the tax surfaced last
November. A judge ruled the law
unconstitutional in a case involv-
ing the Sun Valley resort and the
city of Sun Valley.
Suddenly, motel and bar
owners were not only saying the
tax was discriminatory, but that
it also appeared to be illegal.
The legality issue was argued
statewide in the I985 Idaho
Legislature, where resort cities
tried to have possible flaws in the
law corrected. That process failed
due to lobbying efforts by the
state motel -bar industry.
The legality issue remains and
the Idaho Supreme Court will
hear an appeal of the Sun Valley
case this month. How that would
affect McCall is pure speculation,
City Attorney Bob Remaklus has
said.
But regardless of the legalities,
McCall businessmen want voters
next week to decide whether they
want the tax in McCall. When ci-
ty council members and Mayor
Clyde Archer couldn't get a com-
promise from the businessmen,
they finally agreed to the repeal
vote.
In town, the talk is of
economic gloom for the McCall
business community and the
community as a whole if the tax
isn't lifted from their backs.
While the city's available
figures for state sales tax collec-
tions show a 14 percent increase,
businessmen are seeing empty
storefronts, and at least two
motel owners have sold out or are
trying to sell their businesses.
"We're looking at a decrease
in tourist dollars here," said
Louie Howard, owner of the Lar-
do Grill and Saloon. "Everybody
has had to cut back. I don't see
where the city has cut back."
Councilman Cliff Lutes
disagrees, saying that, except for
grant money brought in by the ci-
ty administrator, the city has
been on a "bare -bones budget"
all but two of the 10 years he has
been on the council.
Lutes has been at the forefront
among council members in point-
ing out that losing the tax will
cause the city to cut its operating
budget during the next fiscal
year, when federal revenue shar-
ing might be cut.
"I don't buy the need for this
money," Woods said. "Ketchum
has 3-4 times as many people as
we do, but the budget is half.
Why do we need so much ?"
Howard agreed. "I dispute the
need," he said. "Maybe that will
change by next fiscal year, I don't
know."
Howard said McCall took off
with a boom in the late 1970s and
all of the city's businesses looked
good. However, he said the town
has been in a recession the past
two years while the bed -and-
booze tax has been in place.
Howard said prices at his
establishment probably wouldn't
go down if the tax were repealed.
"When the tax went on, we us-
ed it as an excuse to bump our
prices," he said. "Now, I'm get-
ting behind where I really should
be."
(Yacht Club operators sue McCall over tax
A Nampa attorney represen-
ting owners of the Yacht Club
tavern has filed legal action
against the City of McCall in
Fourth District Court asking that
the city's bed - and -booze local -
option tax be declared invalid.
A summons declaring the ac-
tion was delivered to City Clerk
Caren Beckler on Thursday.
The suit, brought before the
court by attorney Randolph E.
Farber in behalf of Arnell-
Pearson Enterprises, also asks
for temporary and permanent in-
junctions restraining the city
from collecting the tax.
Furthermore, it asks for
recovery of $821 paid by the
Yacht Club to the city since
November under protest on li-
quor, beer and wine sales. The
tax was paid under McCall's 4
percent tax on overnight lodging
and liquor -by- the - drink. The suit
also seeks reasonable attorney's
fees.
The suit claims 'the city or-
dinance passed by the city under
current Idaho laws is unconstitu-
tional because it:
• "... unconstitutionally
delegates to a municipality an
unrestricted and unguided taxing
authority."
• ... that the Idaho law allow-
ing resort cities to levy the non -
property tax are "overbroad
delegations of the legislative
power to levy taxes."
• "...that the state statutes em-
powering municipalities to enact
such a tax lack any procedural or
statutory safeguards for pro-
viding due process in the ad-
judication of disputed tax
liabilities," contrary to both U.S.
and Idaho constitutional law.
Farber said Tuesday that he
did not want to comment
specifically on the case, but refer-
red to a decision last fall by Fifth
District Court Judge George
Granata Jr.
Granata struck down a similar
local- option tax in Sun Valley in
a suit filed by Sun Valley Com-
pany against the City of Sun
Valley. That decision is currently
under appeal in the Idaho
Supreme Court and should be
heard next week.
"It's my opinion that Judge
Granata's opinion is well written
and well thought out," Farber
said. "Certainly, I think a similar
suit is justified in Valley
County."
Attorney Bob Remaklus said
Monday that copies of the
lawsuit had been delivered to
both he and the city's insurance
carrier, but he declined to com-
ment on what action would be
taken by the city. The court sum-
mons requires a written response
by May 22.
Larry Arnell and Dautis Pear-
son, who took over operations of
the Yacht Club in November
1984, are the partnership bring-
ing suit in behalf of the Yacht
Club, the suit says.
4%
Tuesday vote
to settle fate
of McCall tax
McCall residents will be asked
on Tuesday to consider whether a
current city ordinance allowing
the city to levy a 4 percent tax on
overnight lodging and sales of li-
quor by the drink should be
repealed.
Information voters should
know regarding this election in-
clitdes:
• Explanation of ballot ques-
tion: A "yes" vote means bed -
and -booze tax collection by motel
and bar owners will stop. The city
will stop receiving tax receipts
from those business owners. A
"no" vote means the city will
continue collecting the tax and
spending it on city services until
the law expires in September
1987.
• Who can vote: Any United
States citizen age 18 years or
older who has lived in the city
limits of McCall for over 30 days
and is registered to vote in a city
election. If you voted in either the
1981 or 1983 city elections, you
are already registered.
How to register: Voters can
register by completing a registra-
tion form on or before Friday at
McCall City Hall.
The city clerk's office will be
open until 8 p.m. Friday to
register voters. Anyone voting in
the two previous city elections
need not register' again. To find
out if you are a registered voter,
call 634 -7142.
• Where to vote: Voting will
take place on Tuesday from noon
until 8 p.m. at the McCall Depot
Building at Third and Lenora
Streets.
Probeplanned
City backs Chief Lyon
By Randall Brooks
The Star -News
Disagreements still remain this
week between the McCall Police
Department, the McCall City
Council and a group calling
themselves the Citizens Action
Group, but the council has gone
on record in support of Police
Chief John Lyon.
Pat Ward, a spokesman for the
group who lashed out at Lyon's
performance at a heated council
session last Wednesday, said the
council's vote of support had
done little to clear the air.
Council members recessed
after hearing citizens' concerns
that were balanced both in favor
and against current police tactics
in McCall. Members then return-
ed to say they would move into
closed session.
Lyon listened to both allega-
tions of wrongdoing and praise
for his department's traffic en-
forcement on Davis Street that
was marked with verbal attacks
among the various parties. He
then urged the council to make a
decision.
"I'd like to ask the council to
do me a favor now," he said.
"Either fire me or let me do my
job."
For over an hour, citizens
waited outside for an answer.
After the executive session,
council member Bill Crowley
spoke for the council, supporting
a motion giving complete support
to the chief's policies and his cur-
rent department, but advising the
audience that concerns of Ward's
group would be answered.
"At this time, we have no in-
tention of consolidating with the
Valley County Sheriff's Depart-
ment," Crowley said. "We, as a
council, will address an investiga-
tion and come to a conclusion on
the concerns that were expressed
here tonight.
"We will begin immediately to
address some of the problems
and come up with remedial action
if required of all these concerns
by -a certain date," Crowley said.
Mayor Clyde Archer said Tues "This is not a trial or a hear- Lyon answered by saying that
day that Lyon, council members ing," Ward said. "It's strictly for cars were allowed to leave the city
Larry Craig and Cliff Lutes, City information. Let's get it out, let's on training trips and during
Attorney Bob Remaklus, and Ci get it out in the open, special events or emergencies.
ty Administrator Jim Smith "The unhappiness is that there! Broughton asked about Lyon's
would join him this morning to knowledge of laws concerning
go over the group's list of allega- was a review, the Christensen warrant service and if he knew
tions, which were not available report," she said, referring to a warrants were to be returned to
Tuesday. 1983 evaluation of the police the court if not served after two
The police department was department that has not been years.
again scheduled for discussion on made public. "That was supress- "There is a number of war -
the agenda of Monday's city ed." rants currently still in your files,"
council meeting scheduled for Others who expressed concerns Broughton said. "The court is
7:30 p.m. at McCall City Hall. about Lyon's performance in- without those files now."
Ward had begun the controver- cluded Shore Lodge manager He cited a specific instance
sial meeting Wednesday, which John Edwards and former Me- where he had been denied access,
was once again overcrowded by Call policeman Don Broughton, as an officer working for McCall,
concerned residents, as a who is now a Valley County to serve a warrant issued in 1980.
spokesman for a group which Sheriff's deputy. "You're lying," Lyon said.
had met informally on June I l "The way he's run his depart- "You're a bald -faced liar."
with Archer and Craig. She asked ment in the past few months has Lyon said Monday that the
Archer if a list of questions raised raised a lot of dissension," Ed- warrant in question had been
at that meeting had been wards said. "Whether it's deserv- issued based upon false informs.'
answered. ed or not, we're still getting a rot- tion and was not a valid warrant:
Archer said he had made ten name in the valley." During Wednesday's meeting,.,
several calls, but Craig said that Edwards also complained that Randy Hickman and a a number:
because members of the council McCall policemen did not visit of other residents living on.Davis
had been attending an Associa- the Shore Lodge regularly and Street gave iheir support, in,'
tion of Idaho Cities Convention that he had heard stories about
c
in Coeur d' Alene, they had not the "Mexican cop," referring to olic es andphistenfor cement or
Officer Elias Leija but had never
had enough time to address the
problems as a group.
Archer said his notes made at
the meeting were vague and asked
Ward to write out a list of the
questions.
Ward, however, said citizens
had come to the meeting to talk
about the problems. Lyon agreed
to respond to questions from the
floor.
Ernie Woods of The
Woodsman Motel began by ask-
ing Lyon if it were true that the
citation rate in McCall had risen
from 20 per year to 120 per
month earlier this year.
"Astronomical jumps like that
are just not true," said Lyon,
who also said he could not im-
mediately provide the actual
figures. "I think a 30 percent in-
crease is about right."
Sensing the tone of questions
to come, City Attorney Bob
Remaklus immediately advised
the council that if the meeting
was an informational hearing
leading to discharge of Lyon,
then due process of the law would
have to be followed.
met him. "I haven't met him, I speeding laws on Lick Creek
he Road.
don't know what he's about,"
Others who spoke included
said.-
He said that if you want to see
Kathy Rife, Tom Francis, Toni
John Callahan, Judy
the McCall police, you have to go
Van Ko
Van men, Jack Elliot, Doriaq�
to the The Pancake House.
C Judy
aBill
Lyon countered by saying he
Both Hardin and Dean'
and his officers had contact with
Hagerman spoke in favor of a
the Shore Lodge often and that it
balanced approach to the police
was a nightly patrol stop.
issue rather than what they called
Something he had been criticized
mass hysteria.
for in the past was policing it too
"This is a good way to really
heavily, h� said. And lie added
throw a lot of mud on yourselves
that his officers had coffee at the
and bury the town," Hardin said
motel often.
"If you're going to have a witch
"You haven't spoken to me for
hunt against John Lyon, this is a
two years, John Lyon," Edwards
said.
great way to do it."
Hagerman said he felt severe
Broughton began by cross-
unlikely groups had merged over
examining Lyon about his police
the police issue. Those groups 40
credentials, philosophy of law en-
cluded those who had supported
forcement, and about how many
resigned McCall Sgt. Larry,
Olson, those who favored
current McCall officers are city
taxpayers.
removal of the city's local- optioll
property
He also questioned if Lyon
tax, or who had been arrested..
knew that police cars were leav-
He said the tactic of calling ock
ing the city limits.
media attention had not been
productive for the town.
Le ♦ Mis
McCall could be 600 acres
smaller soon if a recommenda.*
tion to de -annex that amours;
from the McCall Planning and
Zoning Commission .is, ;approved
by the McCall City Council.
At their July 2 meeting, com-
mission members echoed an
earlier recommendation by the
McCall Impact Area P &Z that
the city continue with recent con-
siderations to de -annex 600 acres
of land on the west side of the ci-
ty.
The land had been annexed to
the city during the 1960s, Chair-
man John Allen said, to comply
with requirements of Interna-
tional Telephone and Telegraph,
Inc., which hoped to develop the
land, which was once owned by
the Brown family.
Commission members argued
that since the development never
materialized and the land has
since been resold and subdivided
into 10 -acre parcels, there is no
reason to keep it in the city.
City officials worry that the
potential cost of providing im-
provements such as streets,
water, sewer, police and fire pro-
tection to the mostly undeveloped
area outweighs the revenue it
brings the city.
Another reason the city council
began looking at the possibility
of the de- annexation of the
600 -acre parcel this spring is the
possibility of annexing already
developed,areas such as the Rio
Vista and Carrico subdivisions.
Because of Idaho law that
limits the amount property tax
revenues can be raised, bringing
those subdivisions into the city
would not be financially viable
without reducing the overall
value of the city's land, officials
Star /VetC5 Tut L+ /0,1gY5
have said.
If the 600 acres is de- annexed,
it would still lie within the current
boundaries of the McCall Impact
Area, and the city would have
almost the same controls over
future development as is now the
case, a commission report said.
The matter now goes back to
the city council for further con-
sideration.
JTA2 No ws 9V y/ 8s
McCall rec to teach outdoor cooking
The McCall Recreation
Department will sponsor a course
in Dutch oven cooking Sept.
11 -12 at 7 p.m. each night at the
Ponderosa State Park picnic
shelter.
The course is designed for the
active outdoorsmen and campers
who want to expand their cook-
ing skills. Focus will be on the
skills of cast -iron Dutch oven
baking and cooking techniques.
Campfires and charcoal
brickets will be used to produce
amazing results, said Hugh
Cooke, recreation director and
course instructor.
The class will involve
demonstrations, handouts and
menu suggestions. Students will
participate in the preparation and
cooking of assorted meals each
evening, with all necessary equip-
ment available at the site.
However, students are encourag-
ed to bring their own Dutch
ovens if possible.
Those interested can register
for the class by calling the recrea-
tion department at 634 -7280, or
McCall City Hall at 634 -7142.
Cost for the two - session course is
$5.
5 �-O fe. - I l --Pr .2 S
mccalimufls
elmdidates
By Randall Brooks
The Star -News
A field of 62 applicants for the
job of McCall city administrator -
clerk was narrowed to six finalists
Monday night by members of the
McCall City Council during a
three -hour closed session.
Mayor Clyde Archer on
Tuesday declined to name the
finalists, saying he would prefer
the matter remained confidential
until after interviews have taken
place.
He said the selection of the six
finalists and four alternates was
made by council members Larry
Craig, Cliff Lutes, Marion
Johnson and Aloa Stevens, as
well as City Attorney Bob
Remaklus and himself. All had
been asked to look through the
applications and choose the best
applicants to be interviewed.
The successful applicant will
assume the duties of both former
city administrator Jim Smith and
former city clerk Caren Beckler,
both of whom resigned last
month to take jobs out of the
area. The jobs were combined
because of budget constraints,
Archer said.
He said there was some discus-
sion Monday night on keeping
the jobs separate, but plans to fill
the combined position would
continue.
"There were some highly
qualified applicants," Archer
said. "At least half of them had
master's degrees. The ones we'll
be calling all have had city
managerial experience either as a
city manager or an assistant."
He said the process of inter-
viewing the finalists would begin
as soon as possible.
Archer said the group agreed
unanimously with the top three
choices, while four of the five
voting agreed on the subsequent
three candidates.
McCall's new city ad-
ministrator likely will assume
Smith's duties as city airport
manager, Archer said.
"We'll see what his
background is and go from
there," he said.
The council voted last week to
wait until an administrator was
hired rather than fill the airport
manager position as had been
recommended by the city airport
committee.
Ernie Woods, owner of The
Woodsman Motel, told the coun-
cil last week he felt he was entitl-
ed to the position, which he held
prior to Smith's appointment.
Archer said other duties of the
administrator clerk would in-
clude:
• Run the city day -to -day.
• Supervise department per-
sonnel
• Report to the mayor and
council.
• Make short, intermediate,
and long -range plans for the city.
• Write and seek out grants.
• Act as a liaison between the
city and other government
bodies.
• Public relations
vc5 I')—
McCall chamber renames
Larson as president
Kay Larson was elected on
Monday to a second year in a row
as president of the McCall Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Larson, owner of K &L Jewelry
and Gifts, was unopposed in the
balloting, which was held among
about 60 chamber members at a
meeting at Si Bueno restaurant.
Also elected on Monday were:
Bonnie Allen, The Pancake
House, vice president; and Aloa
Stevens, Contel, treasurer.
Six members of the board of
directors were elected as well.
They included Larry Bouck of
Shaver's, Dave Cram of the Mc-
Call Job Service, Allan Chandler
of Payette Lakes Sports and
Marina, Joyce Goodman of
Treasure Valley Bank, Dean
Hovdey of Home Town Sports,
and Greg Jones of Idaho Power
Co.
The officers will be sworn in
during an installation and awards
banquet scheduled for May 16 at
Shore Lodge.
Larson, 53, said he sees this
summer's retail season as a
strong one for local merchants.
Tourism should be up due to
lower gasoline prices, traffic
heading to Expo '86, and the
curious wanting to visit the home
of NASA Teacher -In -Space Bar-
bara Morgan, he said.
"The feeling throughout the
travel industry is that our tourist
and recreational visitors will
travel more and stay longer in the
resort areas," he said.
Kay Larson
"Too, I feel we can expect an
early summer, with our summer
people opening their homes
earlier than in prior years," he
said.
Larson owns Brundage Office
Supply in addition to K &L. He
also is a gold and silver broker
and is involved in a business that
recovers gold and silver from film
and other items.
He was raised in Twin Falls,
served in the National Guard, has
worked as a corporate pilot, and
served in various management
positions for gold and silver
recovery companies.
ar NE w+ s
McCall OKs attorney
contract
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
The McCall City Council
Thursday night approved its first -
ever contract with City Attorney
Robert Remaklus for legal ser-
vices that Remaklus provides to
the city.
The contract sets a $7,200 re-
tainer for Remaklus to perform
basic services such as advising the
council, preparing ordinances
and contracts and issuing legal
opinions.
That figure is down from the
$10,000 retainer currently paid to
Remaklus, who has been city at-
torney for more than 35 years.
In addition, the council set a
rate of $50 per hour for
Remaklus to perform additional
services, such as prosecuting city
criminal cases.
Also, Remaklus will now sit in
on the twice - monthly council
meetings for no more than six
hours per month. He currently
stays during the entire meetings.
Council members brought up
the idea of cutting the city's legal
costs and drafting a contract dur-
ing this summer's budget -
drafting sessions.
Overall, legal costs are pro-
jected to be about $25,100 in the
1987 -88 fiscal year that starts
Thursday, compared to $27,900
budgeted for the current year.
Remaklus said that the $50 rate
to which he agreed is far below
what other attorneys charge, and
that he was making around $30
per hour for time spent under his
flat -rate retainer.
However, he said he wanted to
continue to be city attorney
because the city was "an old and
valued client." Also, cutting his
hours on the Thursday meeting
nights would allow him to be
fresher in his Cascade office on
Friday mornings, he said.
PAGE A-- 3 - -THE STAR - NEWS -- WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 198
Allen, McCall council sworn in
John Allen was sworn in as
mayor of McCall Thursday night,
assuming a new office at an age
when most politicians have long
since retired.
Allen, 88, took the oath of of-
fice for the post for which he was
elected in last November's city
election. His accomplishment has
been widely noted since his elec-
tion, but a special bit of praise was
read during the installation cere-
mony.
Allen received a personal note of
congratulations from former
President Gerald R. Ford, with
whom Allen served in the U.S.
House of Representatives in the late
1940s and 1950s.
"Betty and I are proud of your
recent success in the political
arena," Ford wrote from his home
in Rancho Mirage, Calif. "We
know you will do a first -class job,
as you always have."
Allen also received letters of
congratulations from officials in the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
Under the Eisenhower Administra-
tion, Allen served as undersecretary
of transportation when that office
was still under the Department of
Commerce.
Also sworn in Thursday night
were three members of the McCall
City Council. Bob McCarty and
Richard Moltke were sworn in for
new terms, while former council
member Francis Wallace was re-
turned to a seat he held in the
1970s.
The three also were elected in
November, and they joined council
member Gary Van Komen, who
was not up for re- election. Wallace
replaced Marion Johnson, who de-
cided not to run for a new term.
McCarty also was elected council
president by his fellow members.
Johnson was presented with an
award for her service to the city, as
was outgoing Mayor Clyde Archer,
who finished 19 years of service as
either mayor or city council mem-
ber. Archer was unsuccessful in
November in his bid to move from'
the mayor's post to the city coun-
cil.
John Allen takes the oath as McCall mayor Thursday.
In other business by the council
Thursday night:
• Council members approved a
city ordinance which bans animals
in city parks.
A new version of the proposed
ordinance was passed after questions
were raised on the language of an
earlier version. The earlier version
banned animals in any park within
the city, but questions were raised
whether the ban included Ponderosa
State Park.
Council members decided to ex-
clude the state park, which operates
under state rules. The ordinance was
passed in response to complaints by
citizens of safety and health hazards
from dogs, horses and other animals
in city parks and on city beaches
along Payette Lake.
Violations of the ordinance are
punishable by a fine up to $300 or
up to 30 days in jail.
by E6. B.
• City Administrator B
Schmidt said he believes co
plaints by some city employ
over smokers in McCall City F
had been resolved.
Schmidt said a broken fan in
room designated for smoking 1
been repaired, and that city h
employee Alta Pierson had been
located to another office in
building to help ease her reactii
from breathing cigarette smoke.
9113 X-1-
Moltke to resign again
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Dick Moltke, who has been ap-
pointed twice, elected once and re-
signed once on the McCall City
Council, now wants to quit again.
Moltke told council members in
a letter last week that he wants to be
replaced by the middle of October
because he expects a new overseas
assignment early next year from the
International Executive Service
Corps.
Mayor John Allen said he did
not know when he would nominate
a successor to Moltke.
Moltke, a former sawmill owner
and swimming pool manufacturer,
had quit the council in June when he
received an earlier assignment by
the IESC, a non - profit group, to go
to Barbados in the West Indies.
Moltke had expected an ex-
tended stay to draft economic de-
velopment programs for locally -
owned businesses, but the trip was
cut short after just a few weeks due
to unusual circumstances, he said.
Meanwhile, city council mem-
bers could not agree on a replace-
ment for Moltke, with one nomi-
nee, Dan Krahn, rejected by the
council. Moltke was then asked by
Allen to take his old job back.
Moltke originally was ap-
pointed to the council in 1987 and
was elected in his own right in last
November's city elections.
In his latest resignation letter,
Moltke urged the council to ask vot-
ers to adopt a 1 percent local sales
tax to fund capital improvement
projects in the city such as bicycle
paths, parks and bathrooms.
"The future of McCall lies in
these improvements," Moltke's let-
ter said. "Sure, we can cut a few
dollars out of the budget here and
there, but get going on putting the
question to the people on a ballot of
the real issues and needs."
Council members have tenta-
tively set the city's operating bud-
get for 1988 -89, but a discussion on
possible capital improvement proj-
ects has been scheduled for Sept. 8.
Paving fund falls short
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
McCall will receive $80,000
less for street paving this year than
the city was led to believe, McCall
City Council members were told
Thursday night.
During its regular meeting, the
council was informed by City Ad-
ministrator Bud Schmidt that only
$30,000 would be received from a
new countywide property -tax levy
for roads and bridges.
Previously, Schmidt said he be-
lieved that the city would receive up
to $110,000 under the new levy,
which was authorized by the 1988
Idaho Legislature. That was the
amount put into the current year's
city street budget, and a variety of
street- paving projects were planned
based on a $96,700 paving fund,
Schmidt said.
But on Thursday, Schmidt said
he had met with Valley County
Clerk Leslie Irwin earlier in the
week, and Irwin told him the actual
amount from the new levy would
be closer to $30,000. That would
draw the street- paving budget down
to $22,000.
As a result, just two paving
projects will be performed by the
city this year, Schmdit said. Those
projects include new paving on
Deinhard Lane between Idaho 55
and Samson Trail, and paving the
only unpaved section of Boydstun
Street between Idaho 55 and the Rio
Vista subdivision.
Schmidt said he had based his
original, higher projection on a
conversation with Irwin last sum-
mer during the city's budget plan-
ning sessions. But Irwin said on
Monday that Schmidt and other city
officials apparently did not properly
understand the nature of the new
levy.
The levy, which is dedicated
only for roads and bridges, is al-
lowed to be levied by all counties.
But six counties, including Valley
County, had not levied the tax
when property -tax restrictions were
imposed in the late 1970s as the
result of the One Percent Initiative,
Irwin said.
The 1988 legislature allowed
those six counties to levy a portion
of the total allowed under the tax,
with half of the total to be dis-
tributed to cities within those
counties.
Irwin said that McCall officials
must not have properly divided out
the amount to be received by the
cities. Also, the assessed valuation
of the county turned out to be less
than original projections, which
also could have affected the total
dollar amount of the road levy, she
said.
Despite the reduced revenues,
other non - paving projects planned
by the street department this year
will go on, Schmidt said. Those
projects include seal coating of
Mather Road, dust oiling of dirt
streets, storm drain repair in Art
Roberts Park, and drafting of a
master plan for storm drains.
In other action Thursday night:
• Council members sent com-
ments to the Idaho Department of
Lands saying they had no objec-
tions to the proposed expansion of
a log boom in Payette Lake oper-
ated by Millpond Construction of
McCall.
Millpond is seeking a state per-
mit to extend its log boom and
breakwater used to store logs for the
company's dock - building opera-
tions.
McCall sets June 6 vote
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
McCall voters will go to the
polls on June 6 to judge a
proposed $1.1 million package of
park and recreation projects.
The proposed bond issue would
build a new waterfront parr on
Payette Lake, develop a path be-
tween downtown McCall and the
McCall Airport, build a recreational
bridge over the North Fork of the
Payette River, and make other im-
provements.
The McCall City Council on
Thursday scheduled the election,
which would ask voters to levy a
new property tax on themselves.
The $1.1 million park bond will
appear on the same ballot on June 6
as a $450,000 revenue bond pro-
posed by the city to finance a new
clubhouse at the McCall Golf
Course.
The clubhouse issue would not
be paid with property taxes, but
would be financed through fees paid
by golfers.
The council's vote to propose a
bond issue for parks and recreation
comes nearly a year after a public
meeting in June 1988. At that
meeting, nearly 100 people told
council members that improve-
ments to the city were needed and
that they would be willing to pay
more taxes to fund those improve-
ments.
Several ways of financing the
improvements were discussed, in-
cluding a city sales tax, but council
members chose to seek a new
property tax.
Council member Richard Moltke
abstained on Thursday's vote, say-
ing he still believed a sales tax
should fund part of the improve-
ments. Council members Bob Mc-
Carty, Gary Van Komen and Fran -
cis Wallace voted to send the mea-
sure to an election.
Only registered voters living in-
side the city limits of McCall may
vote in the June 6 election, and a
two -third majority will be needed
for passage of both the park and
clubhouse bonds.
The $1.1 million package ap-
proved Thursday night would fund
the following:
• Waterfront Park: Funds
would be allocated to buy private
land and develop improvements
along the Payette Lake shoreline
between the McCall Mall and the
city's Lake Street water station.
The city already has made several
improvements to city -owned land
on park bond
between the water station and
Sports Marina, including installing
sod on part of the land and expand-
ing the city boat ramp.
The funds from the bond issue
would buy two parcels of land now
owned by Brown Tie and Lumber
Co. and Century 21 -AA Realtors,
which would bring the entire vacant
lakefront under city control. Cost of
those parcels has been estimated at
$400,000.
An additional $120,000 would
be spent to complete the parcel into
a usable park, including building
public restrooms.
• Railroad Pathway: A total
of $280,000 is allocated in the bond
issue to buy and develop the aban-
doned Union Pacific Railroad right -
of -way between Idaho 55 and the
McCall Airport.
Part of the the right -of -way is
still owned by Union Pacific, but
other parcels reverted to adjacent or
former property owners when the
railroad pulled up the tracks in the
early 1980s.
The old roadbed would be paved
to provide a scenic recreational
walkway or bike path that also
would be used by snowmobiles in
the winter.
McCall officials have been
negotiating with the railroad to buy
a separate section of railroad right -
of -way between Idaho 55 and the
McCall Golf Course, but that land
is not part of the June 6 bond issue.
• River Bridge: The bond is-
sue lays out $35,000 to build a
recreational bridge over the North
Fork at the end of Deinhard Lane
near the airport.
Council members have eyed
such a bridge to serve as a second
access over the river for walkers,
cyclists and snowmobilers who
must now use the Idaho 55 bridge
over the river.
Legs from the dismantled Mc-
Call water tower would be used as
the base for the bridge, which
would not be large enough to carry
car traffic.
The city already owns land ap-
proaching the river from the east,
but the bond would provide funds to
buy land on the west side now
owned by Keith Stein of Boise.
The Stein land would provide the
link to snowmobile trails on Red
Ridge, an area that has been diffi-
cult to reach following the closure
of the Sheep Bridge by its private
owner two years ago.
• Other Projects: Several
other smaller projects would be ac-
complished with the bulk of the
money from the proposed bond is-
sue.
A total of $20,000 is dedicated
toward building a picnic shelter at
Mill Park to expand the uses at that
park. The shelter would require the
demolition of the burner from the
former Boise Cascade sawmill.
City officials have said the old
burner is a safety hazard and struc-
turally unsound, and cannot be
saved.
A total of $7,500 would be used
to rebuild four tennis courts at Mc-
Call- Donnelly High School, and
$7,000 would be used to rebuild the
courtyard in front of the McCall
Public Library to encourage more
public use.
Other unspecified money would
be spent to designate and build bi-
cycle paths other than the path pro-
vided by the railroad right -of -way.
Finally, $100,000 would be
spent to buy the existing golf
course clubhouse site on Davis
Street. Although the clubhouse is
city- owned, the golf course operates
on a separate non -tax fund that
must support itself, City Adminis-
trator Bud Schmidt said.
Tax money would be put into
the golf course fund, and the city
would hold the land as a possible
future park site or tennis courtq.
kf
`M
Carla Donica will work the late shift as newest McCall off
This cop '
s alia
YTOM GROTE
Star -Newt
Carla Donica will hit the
streets on Jan.] as the first female
police officer hired in the history
of the city of McCall.
Donica, 34, will become the
sixth officer on the city police
force and will plug a hole in po-
lice coverage late at night. She
will work the "graveyard" shift,
between 10 p.m, and b a.m.
Those hours are not now covered
by city patrols on most nights.
With her hiring, Donica joins
192 other women who serve as
law enforcement officers in Idaho,
said Bill Overton, public affairs
officer for the Peace Officers
Standards and Training Academy.
There are 1,510 male officers in
the state, Overton said.
Donica's position was autho-
rized by the McCall City Council
during budget deliberations -last
summer. Chief Ed Parker re-
"I wanted to do something in the
community that made a difference." F
- Carla Donica
quested the patrol officer as well
as an officer devoted to drug en-
forcement, but the drug officer
was denied due to budget re-
straints.
Donica is a Boise native who
worked for five years managing an
automotive paint store in Boise.
She moved in,1985 to McCall,
where she sold insurance and
served for two years as office
manager of Alpine Insurance. Her
husband, Rocky, is a sawmill
worker, and the couple have a son,
Clint, 10.
Donica said she always has had
an interest in law enforcement. "I
wanted to do something in the
community that made a differ-
ence," she said.
She started on the road to her
full -time position last April,
when she joined the McCall Po-.,;
lice Deparunent Reserves, a ir0
unteer corps of citizens who a0 a,
city officers.
She got her baptism of fire`"
during last summer's Independence
Day weekend, when she worked in
shifts of 10 to 14 hours control-
ling the crowds of youths that de-
scend on the town each year. In
addition, she has ridden alongside
an officer on patrol at least on$l,
day per week.
When the new position bccam o
available, she decided to put in for
(See "Cop," Back Page)
it. "I ,thought 'why not try it.'
Donica said. "There's a place for a
woman in the police department."
She believes the feminine touch
can be useful at times, especially
when interviewing female victims
Of sex crimes. "A woman can com-
municate differently," she said. "If I
were a victim of a sex crime, I
would want to give- my report to a
woman."
But Donica is ready. to take on
the tasks that any male officer'must
face. Even though she is slight, at
5- feet -10 and 122 pounds, she is
skilled in self - defense and is taking
lessons in karate. She also is fully
qualified in shooting her department -
issue 9 mm pistol.
Donica already has completed
160 hours of training as a reserve
officer, but she will enter the state
police academy in March for more
intensive training. Her starting pay
is $13,200 per year, which will go
up to $14,600 if she graduates from
the state academy.
During her patrols, Donica will
be on the lookout for drunken
drivers following the closing of area
tavCM; Parker said. She also will
pl ice regular security checks on the
Lity's businesess and serve as a late -
night fire watch.
G Donica also hopes to become in-
"wolved in education in the schools,
'especially in preventing drug abuse.
Parker said that Donica was se-
Iected strictly on her qualifications.
She came our on top in both the
written exam and physical test,
.which includes running 1 -1/2 miles,
Parker said.
"Women are finding n placg:i
"law enforcement," said PA,k�..'.'
ommanded women when he,
police sergeant in Fountain'
,�'
`Calif. "They've proven they,'
heyc h be
effective."
He said the other male officers
unanimously endorsed Donica's se-
lection, and he has heard nothing
but praise from citizens and busi-
ness owners.
"She's expected to do the job,
Parker ,said. "There will be no spe-
cial considerations." Other officers
on the force are Parker, Lt. Mike
Tambini, investigator Dean Mu-
chow and patrolmen Pat Patterson
and Clay Bright.
Donica said her family has sup-
ported her decision. In fact, the job
may improve her family life, I since
she now will get home about the
same time as her husband, who of-
ten works the late shift as well.
"I enjoy the work and enjoy the
change," she said. "It's a good way
knn what's going on the com-
iti.S �� ��, / 99d e ! ( �d - G° T
cCall 0 s
K Payette pen:,s -
trout
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
A project to raise cutthroat trout
in a net pen for release into Payette
Lake has been given the support of
the McCall City Council.
Council members last Thursday
endorsed the project, which is a
joint effort between the Idaho De-
partment of Fish and Game and
VALUED, Valley County's eco-
nomic development task force.
The plan calls for construction of
a dock to house two fish- rearing
pens on the lake adjacent to Sports
Marina in an area occupied by
Millpond Construction.
F &G will stock, feed and release
into Payette Lake a special strain of
cutthroat trout brought from
Canada, said Larry Smith of Mc-
Call, chairman of VALUED. The
docks would provide access to the
public as a tourist attraction, Smith
said.
The F &G already has given
$10,000 toward the project, with the
rest of the $18,600 cost to be gained
through donations of materials or
cash, he said.
One pen already has been in-
stalled at the site and about 10,000
young trout have been planted there,
said Don Anderson, fisheries biolo-
gist for the F &G in McCall.
The F &G already also has
planted about 13,000 of the cut-
throats in tributaries around Payette
Lake, and the -net pens will add to
the effort to enhance the fishery in
the lake, Anderson told council
members.
After their release, the trout will
mature in three to five years, wit h
mature fish of up to 15 inches lon g
expected he said. The mature fis
hSmith agreed, saying local vol-
unteers would maintain the board-
walk. A similar project in Kettle
Falls, Wash., has resulted in a dra-
matic increase in visitors to that
area at no cost to the city, he said.
In other action last Thursday
night:
• Trash Dumpster: Council
members declined an invitation by
Valley County Commissioners to
pay for a trash dumpster at the
corner of Idaho 55 and Warren
Wagon Road during the summer
months.
will return to the area of the pens, Commissioners asked the city to
which should lead to an increased pay the $241.92 per month cost to
catch for anglers close to downtown help in a program to increase the
McCall, he said. number of public dumpsters in the
Several areas around the lakecounty.
were studies for the fish pens, but The county will continue to
the site near the marina was chosenmaintain a dumpster near the inter -
because of its closeness to traffic bysection of Eastside and Lick Creek
the general public, Anderson said. roads on the east side of Payette
Council members agreed to ac -Lake and is considering placing an-
cept ownership of the project andDther dumpster near North Beach, a
provide liability insurance coverageletter from commission chairman
through the city. But council mem -Adolf Heinrich said.
hers said they did not want to be Council members said most of
held responsible for maintenance orthe trash that would be placed in a
operation of the site. Warren Wagon Road dumpster
would originate from outside the
city, and that it would not be appro-
priate to spend city funds. The city
already maintains a dumpster at Ro-
tary Park.
• Census Figures: Council
members decided to write a letter of
protest to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture after a preliminary U.S.
Census count showed the city had
lost population.
Preliminary figures sent by the
Bureau of the Census set McCall's
1990 population at 1,991. That is
down from the 2,188 people counted
in the 1980 census and the 2,670
population estimated in a 1986 up-
date.
• Appointments: Council
members approved the following
appointments made by Mayor John
Allen. All appointments are for
three years:
McCall Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee: Max
Williamson, Kathy Killen. McCall
Transportation Advisory Commit-
tee: Tom Kerr. McCall Airport Ad-
visory Committee: Gordon Col -
burn.
Hearing set
on Payette
The McCall City Council
tonight will air plans for the pro-
posed Payette Lake Lodge on
Payette Lake.
A public hearing is set for 7:30
p.m. tonight in the multipurpose
room at McCall - Donnelly Elemen-
tary School. The lodge plan is the
only item on the agenda of the spe-
cial city council meeting.
Council members will consider
the request of San Diego developer
Douglas Manchester for certain
waivers and requests to build the
150 -room Payette Lake Lodge on
the former site of the Boise Cascade
Corp. sawmill.
The site was previously zoned
commercial by the city to allow the
combination lodge and convention
center to be built, but Manchester
said he needs the variances for the
lodge to be a success.
The council will hear the rec-
ommendations of the McCall Plan-
ning and Zoning Commission that
were issued following a 3 -1/2 -hour
hearing on Aug. 7 that drew more
than 100 people. The public will
then be allowed to speak in favor or
against the proposal.
P &Z members recommended
against part of Manchester's request,
and Manchester has since accepted
some of those changes.
Manchester has said he hopes to
begin construction on the lodge next
spring, but he also said the project
may be delayed by several factors,
including worsening economic con-
ditions in the nation.
%r tonight
Lake Lodge
Here is a summary of Manch-
ester's requests to be heard tonight
and the P &Z action on them:
• Height Limit: Manchester
has asked for a variance on the city's
35 -foot height limit so that the top
of the four -story lodge can rise up to
85 feet tall. The P &Z approved the
variance as long as Manchester
pledges to buy a fire truck with lad-
ders that could reach to the top of
the four -story building.
Manchester said he hoped he
wouldn't have to finance the fire
truck entirely, since the city would
use the truck for other purposes.
• Waterfront Setback:
Manchester also is asking for a vari-
ance from the city's 50 -foot setback
requirement from the Payette Lake
waterline. A restaurant had been
planned for the edge of the lake, but
P &Z members said the building
should be moved back 15 feet to al-
low public access to the beach.
Manchester has since agreed to that
change.
• Residential Lots: Manch-
ester also wanted special -use permits
to build on the residential lots that
he owns within the 15 -acre sawmill
parcel. Two lots toward the rear of
the site were proposed for part of a
small -scale golf course or guest cot-
tage, while a third lot fronting the
lake would be partly covered by a
swimming pool and health club.
P &Z members rejected the re-
quest on all three of the lots after
hearing complaints from residents of
Sunset Subdivision, which is adja-
cent to the sawmill site.
Manchester said he would accept
the P &Z recommendation on the
rear residential lots, but that the
lakefront lot was essential for the
project.
He said the lakefront lot slopes
down toward the lake, and that a line
of trees buffer the view from Sunset
Subdivision. Those factors should
soften the effect of the project on
nearby residents, he said.
• Street Vacation: Manch-
ester's final request is to have an ex-
tension of East Lake Street that
pokes into his property turned over
to him to allow development on it.
The city has the power to vacate
streets to surrounding property own-
ers, and the P &Z recommended
granting that request.
A/e, w s
McCall OKs
apartments
The McCall City Council last
Thursday approved a request by a
Boise man to build 20 apartments at
Washington Street and Idaho 55.
Ronald C. Yanke asked the city
council to grant a variance to its
zoning codes that say no more than
12 units per acres are allowed on
commercially zoned property.
In his application, Yanke notes
that the city approved a building
permit in 1981 for 24 units on the
one -acre site. Since then,
foundations for 20 units have been
built and sewer and water service are
in place.
Council members approved the
variance despite opposition from
neighboring property owners Lyn
Clark and Jean Odmark.
The city council required con-
struction to be completed within
two years, and said that Yanke must
provide the necessary water flows to
fight a fire if it should occur.
- /— &(j / /9qv
e ZQ f2 `V,,e� S
McCall gets outbid
on bike path route
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
A Boise man on Friday outbid
the City of McCall for a key section
of land that the city has designated
as part of a cross -town bicycle path.
A city official said steps would
begin immediately to acquire the
land, either through condemnation
or a negotiated purchase.
Richard Hoyle, through a repre-
sentative, bid $40,000 for the half -
mile strip of state -owned land that
runs along the former railroad right -
of -way between Deinhard Lane and
the McCall - Donnelly school com-
plex.
The auction was conducted on
Friday by the Idaho Department of
Lands at the request of McCall offi-
cials. Under law, the state cannot
sell public land directly, but must
put it up for auction.
The city wants the land as part of
a planned cross -town bicycle and
walking path between the McCall
Airport and downtown McCall us-
ing the former Union Pacific Rail-
road right -of -way.
A $1.1 million bond issue passed
by McCall voters in 1989 contained
funds dedicated toward purchase of
the right -of -way and development
into a path.
The state regained control of the
MD School Path.
•
•
cn
0
=3 ■
c
em
cD
� Z
Ln
01
Deinhard Ln.
Airport
Color shows area of land
auctioned; dotted line is
railroad right -of -way.
100 - foot -wide strip of land after
Union Pacific pulled out its tracks
in the early 1980s, said Bill Petzak,
McCall -area supervisor for the lands
department. A clause in the original
agreement with Union Pacific said
the land would revert back to the
state if the parcel was ever used for
(See "Path," Back Page)
(Continued from Page 1)
anything other than a railroad, Pet -
zak said.
At the auction, McCall City
Administrator Bud Schmidt opened
the bidding at $37,000, which was
the appraised value of the land. Then
Boise real estate agent George
Mack, representing Hoyle, bid
$40,000. No other bids were entered
and Hoyle was declared the success-
ful bidder.
Schmidt said he did not place a
higher bid because he was under in-
structions from the McCall City
Council not to run up the price on
the parcel, which contains about six
acres.
Schmidt said the city will now
begin condemnation proceedings to
acquire the land or attempt to nego-
tiate a purchase. How much addi-
tional cost will be paid by the city
E —)b— (qqt
will depend on the difficulty of the
proceedings, he said.
Hoyle operates Hoyle and Asso-
ciates Insurance Inc. in Boise. In an
interview on Monday, Hoyle said he
for the land at the time of the auc-
tion.
"I'm kind of surprised," he said.
"We had just seen the ad in the
Boise paper."
Hoyle, who owns a vacation
home in McCall, said he had hoped
to develop the land, perhaps build-
ing condominiums on it. "It's a
beautiful area, and if Valbois goes
through, it will be a real nice area
for future development," he said.
Hoyle said he might be willing
to negotiate a sale to the city with-
out the need for condemnation, but
that he was confused by the auction
process. "It seems kind of strange
that you put it up for public auction
and then let the city take it away
from you," he said.
STAR NEWS - THURSDAY, SEPTMEBER 24, 1992
Law drafted to restart P &Z
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
A hearing will be held on
Tuesday, Oct. 6, on a law to for-
mally establish the McCall Area of
City Impact Joint Planning and
Zoning Commission, even though
McCall officials say such an action
is not necessary.
The hearing, before the McCall
City Council, will start at 7 p.m.
on Oct. 6 in the lower level of
McCall City Hall.
The proposed ordinance was
drafted following the declaration last
month by Valley County
Prosecuting Attorney Jamie
Shropshire that the impact area
P &Z was not properly formed 12
years ago.
The commission was formed in
1980 to screen planning and zoning
applications for areas surrounding
the McCall city limits that one day
may become part of the city. A sep-
arate panel, the McCall Planning
and Zoning Commission, hears ap-
plications for property within the
city limits.
Following Shropshire's declara-
tion, McCall Mayor Larry Smith
temporarily halted the meetings of
the impact area P &Z until the dis-
pute could be resolved.
Since then, seven applications
have been put on hold, McCall
Planning and Zoning Clerk Sue
Harley said. More applications
likely are pending, but applicants
are holding them back while the
controversy is settled, Harley said.
In 1980, Valley County com-
missioners agreed to give up control
of zoning matters in the impact area
to the McCall City Council. No
formal ordinance was adopted by the
city council at the time, which
Shropshire contends was a mistake
and which put all decisions of the
panel over the last 12 years in jeop-
ardy.
Smith and City Attorney Ted
Burton argued that the agreement be-
twen the city and county was suffi-
cient to allow the panel to be
formed, but Smith agreed to negoti-
ate an ordinance to ensure no ques-
tion remained.
On Sept. 9, council members and
county commissioners met in a spe-
cial joint meeting and agreed to the
ordinance that will be considered on
Oct. 6.
The proposed ordinance includes
language that ratifies the actions of
the impact area P &Z since 1980,
and also says that the ordinance
should not "be construed as an ad-
mission by the City of McCall"
that the commission was not legally
formed 12 years ago.
The proposed ordinance says the
impact aera P &Z must have three
members who must live within the
city and two who must live within
the impact area.
The previous commission had
the same split, but one impact area
seat is vacant and the holder of the
second seat, Mike Anderson, has
moved within the city limits. The
other three members, Chair Julie
Eddins, Joe Johnson and Johnny
Boydstun, all live inside the city.
Smith said that to ensure a bal-
ance, one of the curent four mem-
bers would have to resign voluntar-
ily or be asked to quit. He said he
hoped to receive a resignation so he
would not have to force out a mem-
ber
Once the new commission is
formally re- established, one of its
first tasks will be to resume the re-
view of a consolidated zoning ordi-
nance to cover both the area of im-
pact and the city, Smith said.
A joint review of a draft of the
consolidated ordinance was underway
by the impact area P &Z and the city
P &Z when Shropshire declared the
impact area P &Z to be illegal.
Currently, the impact area and
the city are governed by separate
zoning ordinances that have grown
different over the years. Smith said
he hoped the consolidated ordinance
could be put into final form and
adopted by the end of the year.
One idea Smith would like to see
in the new zoning ordinance is the
combination of the two five -mem-
ber zoning panels into a single,
nine -member body.
The mayor has said that combin-
ing the two panels would produce
consistency in recommendations to
the city council, but opponents of
the idea have said that one commis-
sion would be overworked during
periods of growth.
Smith still seeking
members
McCall Mayor Larry Smith said
this week that he is still seeking
members to serve on a blue- ribbon
committee to study whether McCall
should change its form of govern-
ment.
Smith said that his search has
been made more challenging by his
decision to seek only city residents
to serve on the five -member panel.
Several qualified candidates live out-
side the city limits, he said.
The mayor announced on Aug.
27 that he would form a study
committee on the city's govern-
ment, and that the members would
be appointed in three weeks.
Smith has missed that self -im-
posed deadline by two weeks, but he
said on Monday that he hoped to
have a panel appointed as soon as
panel
for
. C14,
possible and assigned to their task.
The blue - ribbon committee's task
will be to examine whether another
system of government is preferable
to the current 10- year -old system in
which a paid administrator reports to
a non - voting mayor and four council
members.
One system that has been sug-
gested is the council - manager form
of government used in Lewiston and
Twin Falls. In that arrangement, a
five - member city council hires a
city manager to handle day -to -day
duties of the city. A mayor is se-
lected by council members among
themselves, but the post is largely
ceremonial.
A vote of the people would be
required to convert to a council -
manager form of government.
16I 1I6Y
,3tan - lU e w S
McCall council OKs
hiring of planner
BY JEANNE SEOL
The Star -News
McCall City Council members last
Thursday approved advertising for a
city planner to replace recently -re-
signed planning technician Sue
Davidson.
"We can serve a lot of community
concerns right now by hiring a city
planner," council member Lance Eck-
hardt said.
The council's approval came after
City Manager Gary Shimun made the
recommendation for the change, partly
in response to citizen requests by the
McCall Vision 2020 group for the
city to hire a full -time planner.
Such a planner will also act as a
zoning administrator, Shimun said.
In other business last Thursday,
the council:
• Learned recruiting for the posi-
tion of McCall Golf Course superin-
tendent will have to be redone after
the applicant who was originally of-
fered the job declined the position.
Shimun hopes to find a qualified can-
didate within 30 days.
• Appointed Rick Fereday and John
Russell to fill two of three open posi-
tions on the McCall Redevelopment
311� /i99 3
Agency. Fereday is co -owner of May
Hardware and Russell is a surveyor.
• Received a report outlining Win-
ter Carnival costs from Public Works
Director Bill Keating. Public works
crew compensation and equipment
costs totaled $7,030 for the carnival,
which was held Feb. 2 -11, Keating
said.
Services provided included deliv-
ery of snow for ice sculptures, clear-
ing parking lots and walkways, filling
boxes on the railroad right -of -way for
the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Cham-
pionship, sanding the downtown area
for foot traffic and setting up and
removing barricades and burn bar-
rels.
1.
McCall council
to put manager
fonn on ballot
BY TOM GROTE
The scar -News The day -to -day operations of the
McCall voters likely will soon city would be handled by a city
be voting on whether they want to manager, a full -time employee hired'
change the way the city is governed, by the city council. The manager
according to McCall City Council would have broad powers and could
members. only be removed by a vote of the
All four council members council.
interviewed by The Star -News this Council members Gary Van
week said they would vote to place Komen, John Larson, Cindi Le
on the ballot a proposal to change Brett and Francis Wallace all said
the city's form of government to this week that they would vote to
one run by a weak mayoi, a five -" put the proposal before the people.
member city council and a full -time "We're at a point that we need to
city manager. shake up something somewhere,"
The council - manager form of Larson said.
government was unanimously "If the committee said that's
recommended to the city council by what they want, and the people
the Mayor's Select Committee, a showed interest, then I`would put it
six - member panel appointed last fall out to a vote," Wallace said,
by Mayor Larry Smith to study the Le Brett said that she personally
structure of city government. opposes any change in the current
A report listing the panel's government, in that any problems
recommendations was delivered to can be worked out within the
council members at a special existing structure. But Lc Brett said
meeting on May 12. However, the she would not oppose polling the
council could take no action on the people.
plan because there was a lack of a Van Komen said he has always
quorum. been an advocate of changing the
The issue will be taken up at the current system, either by adopting a
council's next meeting on May 27 city manager system or by allowing
at 7 p.m, in the lower level of a full -time mayor to run the day -to- '
McCall City Hall. day duties of the city.
. The panel said that both The committee held its fir$t
strengths and weaknesses exist in meeting on Dec. 17, 1992 and met
switching to the city manager form I several times over the next five
of government, but that the largest months. The panel read reference
threat to a new system is lack of materials on varying forms of
political support. government and met with a graduate'
The community must be ready assistant of the Boise State
to allow a manager to manage and
to listen to new ideas with open University Public Affairs Program
minds," the report's summary said. in February.
"The ultimate factor in a well - The recommendation was formed
functioning government is the desire from deliberations among the
of the elected officials to serve the committee members. The panel's
people efficiently, effectively and chair was Dan Krahn of Krahn's
openly." Home Furnishings, and members
Currently, the city is governed were former city clerk Margaret
by a four - member council, an Fogg, surveyor Tom Kerr, Shaver's
elected mayor and a hired city manager Larry Bouck, Washington
administrator. Under the council- Federal Savings manager Dennis
manager form of government, a Carlson, and former Girl Scout
five- member council would be official Marilyn Arp,
elected, which in turn would pick a If the council votes on May 27
,mayor from among themselves. to place the measure on the ballot,;
The mayor's role would be largely an election would be held within the
ceremonial, and the mayor would next 60 days. If the system is
have no administrative powers. adopted by a simple majority, an
election for all five new seats on the
.5 f a 1^ n%e W S 5I) 3/93
council would then be held 60 days
after the first election.
The new council would then
appoint the new mayor and hire the
city manager.
The mayor's committee listed
several strengths and weaknesses of
the city manager system:' Strengths
included:
• The plan, by state law, would
have to stay in effect for at least six
years. This fact also was listed as a
weakness.
• The duties of the manager are
listed in state law and cannot be
easily changed by the political
whims of the mayor or council.
• The manager would be hired
based on training, education and
background, and the day -to -to day
functions of the city would be
placed in the hands of a trained
professional.
• The manager, likely, would
stay on board even after elections,
unless the council fires him or her.
• The council would have more
time to concentrate on the city's
overall mission, goals and policies.
Weaknesses of the manager
system outlined by the panel
included:
• The community would feel
lack of direct participation.
• The need for the manager to
enforce city codes would lead to
citizens believing the manager is
not interested in citizen's comments.
• Factions and small -town
politics could make for a short
tenure for the manager.
4PV064T E 5/19193
Strengths and weaknesses of Council /Manager form of government
MCCALL — In addition to the recom-
mendation and issues studied working up to
it, the Mayor's committee also included in
its report a listing of the strengths and weak-
nesses associated with the Council /City
Manager form of government.
Listed as strengths of a CounciVMayor
form of government are:
It promotes cooperation, with legisla-
tive and executive functions residing with
the full council, which includes the mayor.
• The mayor would continue to perform
ceremonial functions, preside over council
meetings and represent the city, and would
have equal voting power with other council
members.
• The council, including the mayor,
would have time to concentrate more on
overall mission, goals and policies for the
city.
The duties and responsibilities of the
manager reconnuends and carries out that
policy.
• The manager would be hired by the
council based on training, education, and
background experience, and world answer
to the council. The manager could also be
fired by the council at any time for any rea-
son, thus promoting responsiveness.
The manager, unless fired by a major -
ity of council members, would continue in
the post regardless of election changes.
Political patronage is eliminated and
hiring is done on merit.
• The council should feel free to com-
ment on the work and effectiveness of the
manager, thus improving the quality of tnan-
agement.
• Administrative and routine operational
duties are in the hands of a trained profes-
sional, and department heads would have a
clear understanding of the chain of authority.
ticipation as the council is between the city
manager and the public.
• The requirements of the manager to
enforce code and other regulations could
lead to citizen perception that the manager
is not interested in citizen input.
• Factions and small town politics could
make for short tenure of the manager.
• Hiring a qualified city manager may
require a higher salary than is currently paid
to the city administrator /city clerk. However,
the report suggests that the salary of the
mayor could be reduced to slightly above
that of council members.
• In addition, to avoid conflict of interest
and for efficiency, the committee suggests
hiring aseparate city clerk.
• The expertise of the manager may al-
so be intimidating to elected or appointed of-
ficials.
manager are defined by Idaho Code and can- Weaknesses of a Council /Manager form Listed as both a strength and a weakness
not be easily changed due to political fluctu- of government listed by the committee in- is the fact that should the council vote to
ation. elude: adopt the council /manager fi .)rm of govern-
- Politics and administration remain sep- merit, it would remain in place for at least six
arate — council determines policy and the • Citizens may feel a lack of direct par- years under Idaho Code.
JWt Y L /.4,A
McCall
delays vote
on manager
system,
BY JAMES L. KINCAID
The SLrNews
The McCall City Council last week
delayed adoption of a report prepared
by Mayor Larry Smith's Select Com-
mittee recommending a council -man-
ager form of government for the city.
Council members said they hoped
to make a decision on adoption of the
suggested new form of government in
time for the scheduled city election in
November.
The mayor committee, formed last
fall, suggested the new form of gov-
emment, which would include a sepa-
rately elected mayor from the coun-
cil, in order to serve current and future
needs of the city.
According to Idaho code, the coun-
cil could select one of its members for
the mayor's position for two years, or
the public could elect a mayor for a
two -year or four -year term, McCall
City Attorney Ted Burton said.
"The mayor would not have a veto,
but would serve as a ceremonial head,"
Burton said.
The six - member committee re-
leased its recommendations last
month, after which all four council
members said they supported placing
its recommendations before the
people.
An initial vote would have to be
held to see if the public wanted to
change from the current form of gov-
ernment, which features a strong
mayor, four city council members and
a hired city administrator.
If the public approves the change
in government, then a second election
would be held to elect new officials.
Those new officials, in turn, would
hire a city manager whose duties are
specifically set down in state law.
McCall mayor
proposes
resort tax for
1994 budget
MCCALL — McCall Mayor Larry Smith has proposed a
1994 fiscal year budget to the McCall City Council that antici-
pates no increase in the existing tax levy rate to city residents,
but that calls for enacting a .75 percent Resort City Tax that
would generate an estimated $200,000 per year in additional rev-
enue.
The proposed budget, which was presented to the Council at
its meeting last Thursday, also proposes the creation of one new,
position in city government, a legal /executive secretary to be
shared by Smith and City Attorney Ted•Burton.
Also included in the budget proposal is a 4.5 percent cost of
living salary hike for all city employees. The heads of the vari-
ous departments have also recommended merit increases for sev-
eral city employees. But the proposal also defers all of those in-
creases until Jan. 1, 1994.
The total general fund budget proposed for next year is near-
ly $2.4 million, about $250,000 more than the current year budget
of $2.15 million as it was amended.
The 1993 fiscal year budget was originally about $1.87 mil-
lion, which was, in turn, up from about $1.4 million for 1992.
Among the general fund areas that would see significant in-
creases from the current budget are:
• Culture and recreation, which would see an increase from
the current year's budget of $129,490 to $427,250 under the may-
or's proposed budget.
"Additional park developments will be requiring additional
funds," Smith said in his memo accompanying the proposed bud-
get. "Completing the Legacy Park plan, development of the
Riverside area for park purposes, bikepath developments and mi-
The Advocate 41 /6; /,?V
nor improvements in existing parks all must be accomplished."
The Resort City Tax would be allocated only to capital improve-
ments such as park facilities, public safety equipment as well as street
and road improvements, he said. He said the $200,000 that could be
generated from such a tax would fund "critically needed programs
and services which are not addressed in this operating and mainte-
nance budget."
But he said revenue from the tax could also be allocated to pub-
lic safety equipment as well as street and road improvements, in ad-
dition to the park facility improvements.
Approval of the tax would have to come through a proposition
placed on the November general election.
• The police budget will also see an increase of from $341,840, as
amended, to $375,920. The bulk of that increase is in salaries, which
would see an increase of from $149,490 to $186,375 under the pro-
posed budget.
Other departments are in for increases in the $10,000 to $15,000
range.
Smith said that capital outlay for equipment is mostly being han-
dled on a lease - purchase basis.
Equipment that is slated for acquisition includes a
snowplow /dump truck for the Public Works Department; a patrol unit
for the police department; and a retrofit of fire engine #7.
Other equipment slated for acquisition includes computer equip-
ment and software for the City Treasurer and Police Departments; an
alcohol sensor, weapons, hand held radios and other law enforcement
equipment; meter reading equipment and software for the water de-
partment, which will be paid out of the water fund; and a greens roller
and radios for McCall Golf Course.
Projects that will be pursued under the proposed budget include
the bike path connection; McBride Street Water Line Replacement;
Septage Management System; Airport Sewer Line; Kasper Street
Sewer Line Replacement; tree replacement at the golf course; Golf
Maintenance Facility Improvements; rebuild the #6 green at the golf
course; Fairway Park renovation; and airport/taxiway construction,
which is to be paid for with a Federal Aviation Administration grant.
Smith said that hiring a city planner, additional police officers, a
city engineer, and accomplishing various park improvements and oth-
er projects requested by the various departments are not included in
the budget.
Business owners rap
proposed 1% sales tax
BYTOMGROTE
The Star -News
Business owners told the McCall
City Council last week that a pro-
posed one percent local sales tax would
hurt their businesses.
The businessmen appeared before
the council in the first of two forums
scheduled to hear comments on the
proposed local - option tax. The sec-
ond forum will be held at the council's
next meeting next Thursday.
The council wants to hear com-
ment on putting a measure on the
Nov. 2 ballot to levy a one percent
general sales tax. Estimates say the
tax could raise about $300,000 per
year.
Council members have said the tax
could be dedicated to capital improve-
ments such as parks police and fire
protection, and the building of the
Deinhard Lane - Boydstun Street
Connector.
Dan Krahn of Krahn's Home Fur-
nishings said a local sales tax would
discourage customers from shopping
in McCall, especially on expensive
items where the tax would be espe-
cially visible.
"It would give people one more
reason to go elsewhere for purchases,"
Krahn said. If a general sales tax is
levied, then exemptions for high- ticket
items should be allowed, he said.
Local residents would not escape a
sales tax, which has been promoted as
a way to tax visitors and non -resi-
dents, Krahn said. "It is just shifting
it; another way to get it from the same
pocket," he said.
Krahn urged another look at the
motel and liquor -by- the -drink tax that
the city imposed between 1982 and
1987. Such a tax would more directly
target visitors, he said.
Rick Fereday of May Hardware
said he did not oppose a new tax to
raise revenues, but that a sales tax
would make businesses uncompetitive
with those located outside the city.
"With a room tax, you would hit people
during our peak season," Fereday said.
Brundage Mountain Co. President
Judd DeBoer said that a sales tax
would "put them (businesses) at a
complete disadvantage."
DeBoer, former president of Pay-
ette Lakes Lumber Co., now
Lumbermen's Building Supply, said
McCall would get a bad reputation
from a local tax. "It would label
McCall as an expensive place to stay
or shop," he said.
He suggested seeking a change in
state law to allow a countywide tax or
levying a tax on real estate transac-
tions.
DeBoer read a letter from Brund-
age Mountain Operations Manager
Larry Shake, who also opposed the
tax.
Shake said that selling season lift
tickets for Brundage Mountain would
become complicated if an extra one
percent had to be charged at the area's
office in McCall, but not on the ski
hill, which is located in Adams
County.
Henry Dalrymple of Lumbermen's
said that one percent could make the
difference in winning or losing a bid
on a large order.
"Has McCall become so elite that
we think people will come no matter
what we charge them ?" Dalrymple
asked.
Support for the general sales tax
was also expressed at last week's
meeting. Ernie Woods, owner of The
Woodsman Motel, said he would not
be opposed to paying an extra tax if it
did not discriminate against one class
of business owners.
"If it's for the good for everyone,
then everyone should pay," said
Woods, who was a vocal critic of the
now - expired bed- and -booze tax.
Richard McChrystal of McCall
also favored the sales tax, saying that
the Deinhard Lane connector was im-
portant for public safety.
"I can't believe one percent will
l e Slat- News
Aq i443
make any difference in the minds of
purchasers," McChrystal said.
Alison Nelson of McCall also sup-
ported the tax, noting that those who
live outside the city would help pay
for city services.
Nelson said that the use of the tax
should be broad - based, and not lim-
ited to a single project, such as the
connector.
McCall City Administrator Bud
Schmidt said that the Idaho State Tax
Commission will collect a local op-
tion sales tax for the city as long as it
does not vary from the general state
sales tax.
Any variation would require the
city to collect the tax itself, and ad-
ministration costs likely would match
or exceed the revenue from the tax,
Schmidt said.
k7-7 a� Z��64Z-
s /,Af�3
McCall Council hears views on proposed
1- percent sales tax
MCCALL — Raising extra money for some much- needed projects
around McCall is a good idea.
But those attending last week's meeting of the McCall City Council
weren't so sure that a proposed I percent local option sales tax, allowed
resort communities in the state, was the best way to do it.
During what the Council hopes was the first of two public sessions on
the idea, which the city hopes to place before voters in November's gen-
eral election, several speakers warned that passage of the resort sales tax
may prompt new businesses to locate outside city limits.
Such a problem would be particularly bad for businesses that sell large
ticket items or those involved in competitive bidding, such as building
supply companies, where the l percent sales tax could swing the bid toward
the firm that wouldn't have to collect it.
That was particularly true with Lumbermen's Building Center, within
the city limits. and its relationship with Franklin Building Supply, locat-
d outside the city.
"I think you're giving people a reason to go elsewhere to make their
purchases." McCall businessman Dan Krahn said.
He said he wondered if maybe the local option "bed and booze" tax that
was at one time in force in McCall wasn't a better option. Perhaps the
reason with that tax's unpopularity was that the money generated by it
�Nasn't going where citizens thought it was going, he said.
Rather than removing some of the tax burden on locals, which the bed
and booze tax did. lie said the proposed sales tax keeps it on those who do
Council member Gary Van Komen asked if those at
the meeting thought the Boydstun - Deinhard Connector
was important, and if so, how they would fund it.
As proposed, some of the revenue generated by the
sales tax would go toward that project, with some of
it going to public safety, and some to city parks.
Van Komen said he wanted to see all of the money
generated by the tax dedicated to the connector pro-.
ject. That v* isn't shared by others on the council,
however. ZtioY'
Others at the m tin , weve�n't keen on the
bed and booze tax.
Ernie Woods, owner of The Woodsman Motel, said
he would oppose a tax that was just on beds rented to
.visitors. He did say, however, that the connector pro
-
i:
r�ect was worthy of support with revenue from an addi-
tional tax. % ,_, 1_ fg93
"I could cooperate if everyone paid," he said. Visitors
don't notice the additional sales tax on a drink, he said,
but they do see it on a motel or hotel bill.
Several, including DeBoer and Krahn, said the city
ought to look toward impact fees charged to develop-
ers to pay for some of the additional infrastructure need-
ed by the city.
City Administrator Bud Schmidt reminded those who
wanted the city to pursue establishment of a citizens
committee to look at the issue that the city must pass a
resolution by Sept. 9 to place the matter before voters
at the November election.
The Council will conduct another public session on
the issue at its Sept. 9 meeting.
In other action, the Council decided to reschedule the
sale of the surplus McCall Golf Course Clubhouse, and
delete the minimum bid requirements that were in a
prior solicitation for bids. A recent offering resulted in
no bids being made for the property.
He reminded members of the council that the city's
1994 budget is premised on the sale of the clubhouse
to generate matching funds for a bikepath grant.
most of their shopping in McCall, local residents.
Krahn, who operates Krahn's Home Furnishings, said
such a tax might work if something could be done to
limit the tax to smaller items.
Rick Fereday, another downtown businessman who
didn't necessarily agree with the blanket sales tax,
thought that voters ought to be given a choice that might
consider some sort of bed tax.
He suggested a citizens' committee that might con-
sider the options available to the city. He also said the
sales tax might promote strip development along some
of the roads leading into McCall that are outside city
limits.
Another McCall businessman, Judd DeBoer, also said
he thought more public input on the matter ought to be
sought. He said that McCall business operators are the
backbone of the community.
"It's unfair to put them at a competitive disadvan-
tage," he said. He also noted that by adopting such a
tax, McCall would join only three other cities in the
state.
"That's not a good image," he said.
That position was echoed by Henry Dalrymple, of
Lumbermen's.
"Has McCall become so elite that people will come
here no matter what the price ?" he asked Council mem-
bers. "I think it'll be very damaging to the city's image."
DeBoer, who is the president of Brundage Mountain
Company, also read a letter from the ski area manag-
er Larry Shake, who said the tax would deter tourism,
besides creating additional bookkeeping problems for
the ski area and other businesses. Brundage would col-
lect the optional sales tax on season passes sold at the
McCall office, but not on daily lift ticket sales made
at the ski area, which is outside the city limits and actu-
ally in Adams County.
Those who spoke at the meeting were also concerned
about what the money raised by the tax would be spent
on.
McCall voters say YES to government change
MCCALL -- By an overwhelming been influenced by the Blue Ribbon necessarily see it that way.
margin, voters here said Tuesday that they Committee being for it, and the editorial "I don't know that it was any
want to see a change in their city position of the Star -News was for it. It against current administration " he
government.
Though the turnout was relatively
light, voters said they wanted to try a City
Council /City Manager form of
government by a more than 3 to 1 margin.
Of those casting ballots, 336 voted for
the change of government, while 101
voted to retain the current Mayor /Council
form of government. City Administrator
Bud Schmidt said about 1,530 voters were
eligible to cast ballots.
McCall Mayor Larry Smith said, "I'm
not too surprised. I think they may have
was something left for the citizens to
decide for themselves."
He said there was no real
campaigning for or against the change of
government.
"I guess if they want a city manager
government, they should have it," he said.
"I don't know that the people know
any more than what they observed and
read about," he said.
Asked if he viewed the vote as a
mandate against the current administration
in City Hall, Smith said he didn't
$10 million water bond gains
strong support of McCall voters
MCCALL -- Voters, and not very
many of them at that, voted to bring
the City of McCall's water system
into compliance with new
Environmental Protection Agency
regulations regarding drinking water
standards.
By a 276 to 161 vote, voters gave
their approval to the issuance of
nearly $10 million in revenue bonds
to fund construction of a new water
system.
The bonds, which will be repaid
with revenue from increased city
water rates, will allow the city to
construct a new water treatment
facility and upgrade the city's water
system improving water pressures
throughout the city.
"I'm ecstatic," City Administrator
Bud Schmidt said Tuesday night. "I
think this is a clear signal to all of our
citizenry that the city's battling with
its future and is ready to meet it."
He also said the success of the
measure should also hold out a light
for the rest of the cities around the
country struggling to comply with the
new regulations.
He said the message is that if it
needs doing, better do it yourself.
The measures passage comes on
the heels of word Tuesday that some
areas of the city and surrounding area
should boil the drinking water they
draw from Payette Lake because of
presence of cryptosporidium, a bug
that can cause serious intestinal
distress, and is particularly serious for
infants and senior citizens.
McCall Mayor Larry Smith said
he was also pleased with the outcome.
"That `s a situation where I think
the needs were identified, well
studied, a good plan was come up
with, and it was the right thing to do."
mandate
said.
Asked if his plans included running
for Mayor or member of the City Council,
Smith said he hadn't given it much
thought.
"But I feel I've got quite a bit
invested in trying to help the government
and I may well consider wanting to
continue," he said. He also said he
believes the current administration has
been working well for the citizens of
McCall.
With the measure's passage, the
entire City Council, of Gary Van Komen,
John Larson, Cindi LeBrett and Francis
Wallace, will have to stand for re- election
in the November general election.
The present Council will have to
decide when it sets that election if voters
will cast a separate ballot for the position
or if they take no action, the Mayor will
be selected from the five successful
candidates for seats on the City Council.
In order for the vote for Mayor to be a
separate issue, the Council would have to
take action by ordinance.
The vote:
Should McCall adopt a
Council /City Manager form
of government?
Yes......................... 336
No.......................... 101
Should McCall issue $9.5
million of water revenue
bonds to a new water
treatment facility?
Yes.......................... 276
No........................... 161
��7 1 _ 4 1 V 3
M C C A L L
V o t e r s e l e c t t o h a v e m a n a g e r
r u n c i t y ; w a t e r b o n d p a s s e s
T h e r e s o r t c o m m u n i t y o f M c -
C a l l i s m o v i n g t o a c i t y m a n a g e r
f o r m o f g o v e r n m e n t .
M c C a l l r e s i d e n t s v o t e d 3 3 6 -
1 0 1 l a s t w e e k t o c h a n g e f r o m t h e
c u r r e n t m a y o r - c o u n c i l g o v e r n -
m e n t . A l l c o u n c i l m e m b e r s w i l l
b e u p f o r e l e c t i o n i n N o v e m b e r .
T h e c u r r e n t C i t y C o u n c i l w i l l
d e c i d e w h e t h e r v o t e r s w i l l e l e c t
a m a y o r , w h i c h w o u l d h a v e
m o s t l y c e r e m o n i a l d u t i e s , i n N o -
v e m b e r o r w h e t h e r t h e n e w m a y -
o r w i l l b e p i c k e d f r o m t h e f i v e
p e o p l e w h o w i n C i t y C o u n c i l
s e a t s .
V o t e r s a l s o a p p r o v e d a $ 1 0
m i l l i o n b o n d t o f u n d a n e w w a -
t e r s y s t e m b y a 2 7 6 - 1 6 1 v o t e .
9 /z /v3
ivicuall UKs
city manager,
water bond
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
McCall voters on Tuesday gave
resounding approval to changing the
way the city governs itself and to
spending $9.9 million to improve the
city's water system.
Voters cast 336 ballots in favor
and 101 against converting the cur -
rent mayor- council form of
government to the city manager form
of government, for a margin of 77
percent.
On the question of a $9.9 million
revenue bond to fund water - system
improvements, voters gave approval
on a vote of 276 in favor and 161
against, for a 64 percent majority.
A total 437 voters cast ballots out
of 1,536 voters registered, or a 29
percent turn -out. The number of vot-
ers was more than the 400 people who
voted in the last city council election
in 1991.
The vote on reorganization of gov-
ernment means that the current form
of government will be changed to one
to that is run by a city council, a weak
mayor and a full -time city manager.
Currently, the city is governed by
a four - member city council, a sepa-
rately elected mayor with broad
administrative powers, and a city ad-
ministrator whose powers are set by
the council.
The city manager form of govern-
ment is used by two other cities in
Idaho, Lewiston and Twin Falls. The
passage of Tuesday's measure means
that all four current council members
and the mayor must stand for election
on Nov. 2.
The current council still must de-
cide whether to call for direct election
of the mayor, which was recom-
mended by a citizens' panel that called
for the change in government.
If the council chooses not to di-
rectly elect a mayor, five council
members would be elected, and they
would then appoint a mayor from
among themselves.
The powers of the mayor would be
the same no matter how he or she is
selected. The council will take up the
matter of direct election at its meeting
set for next Thursday.
Nominating petitions for
anyone wishing to run for
the city council are now
available at McCall City
Hall. The first day signed
petitions will be accepted is
Sept. 23, with the final day
for filing being Oct. S.
The new council elected on Nov. 2
will then be charged with hiring the
city manager.
The water bond issue will com-
pletely rebuild the way the city draws,
treats and distributes its drinking wa-
ter, and will put the city well on the
way toward accomplishing the goals
in its master water plan.
The work will be funded by
monthly water fees now paid by city
water users. There will be no increase
in property taxes.
The following events are expected
to take place over the next 18 months
to two years:
• The largest part of the plan will be
to build a water treatment plant re-
quired by new federal regulations.
The plant will filter diseases that could
be present in Payette Lake, from which
the city draws its water. Current chlo-
rination .methods do not kill those
diseases.
• The money also will be used to
replace inadequate water lines as a
way to increase pressure and water
supplies. That supply is especially
important during hot summer days
when irrigation use is high.
• Other funds will install water
meters in all homes in the city to
encourage water conservation, build
aground-level water- storage tank and
remove the McCall Golf Course irri-
gation system from its current hookup
into the domestic water supply.
The city's master water plan would
take about $17 million to fully fi- I
nance, but council members decided
to limit the bond issue to under $10
million in order for the measure to be
more salable to the public.
McCall will
contribute
9 -1 -1 funds
BYTOMGROTE
The Star -News
McCall City Council members last
week reversed themselves and agreed
to levy city property taxes to help pay
for the countywide 9-1 -1 emergency
dispatch system.
Council members last Thursday
rescinded their earlier decision not to
pay the $19,726 fee levied by Valley
County commissioners to help fund
the 9 -1 -1 system.
The reversal came after pleas were
made to the council by county Com-
missioner Bonnie Allen and Cascade
MayorTad House, who said the city's
decision last month to hold back fund-
ing came too late.
"If you were discussing it five
months ago, we didn't know," Allen
said. "This is the first we've received
any notification."
"The entire program would be jeop-
ardized" if the city withdrew its
support, House said.
Council members restated their
objection to being billed separately
for the city's allocation of the 9 -1 -1
system. The system is funded through
acombination of $1 per month charges
on telephone lines, general Valley
County property taxes and fees
charged to agencies for which the 9-
1-1 system handles calls.
The proposed 1993 -94 budget for
the system is $146,600, of which about
$67,500 would be paid through line
charges, $28,000 is charged to agen-
cies, and $51,00 is paid with county
property taxes.
Council member Gary Van Komen
said that he and other council mem-
bers strongly support the 9 -1 -1 system,
but that they felt it was unnecessary
for the city to directly levy taxes to
pay the county's fee.
"It is still easier for the county to
do the taxing," Van Komen said, not-
ing that the county could increase its
general property tax levy to cover
their costs.
Both House and Allen said they
were willing to discuss changes in the
funding formula with the city, but that
the budgeting process had progressed
too far to be changed now.
The county will hold a public hear-
ing on its 1993 -94 budget on Tuesday,
and the budget is set to go into effect
on Oct. 1.
Council members said they thou;; h;
the county had been informed monl h s
ago of the city's objection to the 911 t'
1 fee, but Allen said the first the
commissioners had heard about Me
objections was when they receive d -a
letterdated Aug. 13 from MayorUrry
Smith.
In a memo to the council, Sn011
noted that concerns over the 9-11
funding were raised as early as last
November in a joint meeting held
between the city council and the cc,mvi-
missioners. Also, the county's 9 -; t
advisory committee was told in Jvii(
of the city's concerns, Smith sakcgf l
Smith's memo said that the clr"
has requested that an agreement* be
drafted outlining the mission of the 4-
1-1 system, but that agreement hoq'
not yet been completed. Also, the c i Y
has not received any financial repo -rs
on the 9 -1 -1 system, the memo sr1i4
i
?"he_ Sf d r (ve- w s x¢ri,, I?f3
me
Call annexes Rio Vista
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Despite strong opposition to the
idea, the McCall City Council last
week voted to annex the Rio Vista
subdivisions located southwest of the
current city limits.
The annexation of the Rio Vista
area means that residents of the area
may now run for the city council and
vote in the city elections set for Nov.
2.
But the annexation also means in-
creases in property taxes to support
city services and to correct problems
with streets, and water and sewer lines
within the area.
Council members Gary Van
Komen, John Larson and Cindi Le
Brett all voted to annex the area with
its estimated 365 residents. Council
member Francis Wallace was absent
due to illness.
Eleven of the 40 people attending
the hearing spoke on the proposed
annexation, and most were in opposi-
tion. Two letters received were split
on the issue.
Stan Sears said he could find no
one in favor of the annexation in a
survey of his neighborhood. Sears
called the annexation "a totally un-
reasonable burden for the people to
the point that many people would
have to leave the area."
Ralph Colton said he could be con-
vinced to 4upport annexation if he
could clearly see the benefit of city
services. .
"I'd like to find out what you are
going to do for me for my buck,"
Colton said. "Just saying I'm from
McCall is of no benefit to me."
Ray Smith said he also saw little
value from being annexed. "We don't
need street lights, curbs and gutters .
..it's going to cost a ton of money,"
Smith said.
Brian McMahan said the city
should not take over an area which
has so many problems. "Why would
the city want an old, substandard de-
velopment if it wouldn't accept any
other old, substandard development ?"
McMahan said.
Speaking in favor of annexation,
Richard McChrystal said he valued
the improved police response
from being within the city. Currently,
Valley County Sheriff's officers can
require more than 30 minutes to re-
spond to a call, McChrystal said.
McCall attorney Bill Killen, who
is not a resident of the area, said there
was value in being able to vote and run
for elected office in order to influence
city affairs.
"We need as many competent, valu-
able people in McCall as we can get,
and if it means we have to do it kick-
ing and screaming, so be it," Killen
said.
Council members said that annex-
ation was appropriate, and challenged
residents to support the city parks,
library and other amenities they now
use.
Council memberGary Van Komen
said he would drop his support for
annexation if residents would be will-
ing to give up city water and sewer
service that is now provided in much
of the area.
Color shows Rio Vista Subdivision.
McCall Council
reverses ground
on funding for 9 -1 -1
i
MCCALL — The McCall City Council, at the urging of Valley
County Commissioner Bonnie Allen and Cascade Mayor Tad
House, did a turnabout on funding the county's emergency 9 -1-
1 telephone system at the council's meeting here Thursday.
The decision to contribute nearly $20,000 toward the rough-
ly $146,600 1994 operating budget of the county -wide dis-
patching program came following discussion about when the
council decided not to contribute to the program, and about how
and when the county was notified of the council's decision.
When and how that notification was made to the county proved
to be the key point in the reversal. But Council member Gary
Van Komen emphasized several times during the discussion
that he believes the current method of funding is inefficient at
best.
"I still think it's easier for the county to levy the tax," he said.
Van Komen's position is based on the fact that the money the city
would ante up for the program passes through the county any-
way. He said the county might as well levy and collect it, rather
than having the city levy the tax, have the county collect it and
pass it on to the city, which then turns around and pays it back
to the county for the program.
And though the Council decided at a May meeting that it would
not support the program, it was until mid - August that County
Commissioners were notified in writing of that decision.
However, McCall Mayor Larry Smith said both during the
meeting and in a memorandum presented to Council members
prior to last week's meeting that he had notified McCall Fire
Chief Dale Points in early June that "the Council had formally
adopted a position that agency participation should be placed
on the County property role for the 93 -94 budget."
But Allen told the Council that Commissioners first learned
of it at their August 23 meeting when they received Smith's let-
ter.
"Our budget has been advertised, it's been set," she said. "We
can lower the budget, but we can't raise it." The county would
have had to find a way to make up the budget deficit had McCall
not reversed its stance.
"My concern is it's so late in the game," House told the McCall
Council. "I don't want to see this program jeopardized. I'd like
to ask the Council to reconsider."
Allen said County Commissioners want the issue taken before
the 9 -1 -1 advisory committee, which includes representatives
of the three communities and emergency agencies that use the
system for dispatching services.
"Everyone needs to agree on this," she said. "If McCall is
going to pull out, we all need to come to the table and discuss
it."
Van Komen said several times during the meeting that he'd
asked last May and.June if the county had been notified, and
that he'd been assured that it had.
Smith also said the city's position of no support was also based
on the lack of completion of a memorandum that outlined pro-
tocol and how the system would be managed.
"When it came up to budget time, I advised the council that
nothing had happened" regarding the policy and procedures
document, he said.
"The city wants to support 9 -1 -1, " Smith said. `But there heeds
to be a total expression of what's going to be done, who's going
to do it."
Allen said she agreed that those documents need to be com-
pleted, but said the changeover inzthe Valley County Prosecutor's
Office, among other things, have slowed that process.
"Are we being reprimanded for not issuing the Standard
Operating Procedures on time ?" she asked-,She noted that McCall If
City Police and government officials weren't too excited about
9 -1 -1 being in the control of Valley County Sheriff Lewis Pratt's
control anyway. ,
But shy emphasized that the service has been good and is get-
ting better, and that adZlitional staff have been hired for the 24-
hour- per -day service. Additionally, she said McCall accounts
for more than 40 percent of -the system's usage, and that $20,000
is no where near that percent of the system's total budget. About
$60,000 is generated from a'$1 per month charge on each tele-
phone line the county, and the balance comes from other agen-
cies, including the Valley County Sheriff's Department, and
from county taxpayers as a whole.
"The city has been in a posture of expectancy," Smith said.
"I'm sorry, I though we all agreed how it was going to be run
and funded last November," Allen said.
"I think we're beating a dead dog here," House said. "The rea-
son I came here is the issue of public safety."
Council member Cindi LeBrett said that in light of no paper-
work noting official written notification, the Council had to
reconsider making the appropriation.
McCall City Administrator Bud Schmidt said he was asked
by the Council on May 28 to draft a letter to the county stating
its position on the issue.
He said he drafted that letter and delivered it to Smith June 4,
and didn't see a final version of it for mailing to the county until
Aug. 12.
Three McCall council members call it quits
"It's a thankless job. There is a lot of unfinished business,
in sewer, water and growth."
BY TOM GROTE
The Stu -Ncws
Three of the five elected members
of McCall city government said this
week they will step down from their
posts, while the remaining two said
they would seek new terms.
McCall City Council President
Gary Van Komen and council mem-
bers John Larson and Cindi Le Brett
all said they would not seek re -elec-
tion to the council in the Nov. 2 city
election.
McCall Mayor Larry Smith said
he would seek one of five council
seats to be filled on Nov. 2, and coun-
cil member Francis Wallace said he
also would seek re- election.
Today is the first day candidates
for the city council may file nominat-
ing petitions for the Nov. 2 vote.
Petitions maybe turned in until 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 5.
Five council seats will be elected
under the new council -city manager
form of government approved by city
voters on Aug. 31.
The mayor's job will be reduced to
a ceremonial position, and the five
new council members will name a
mayor from among themselves. The
new council also will hire a city man-
ager to nin the day -to -day affairs of
the city.
Any qualified voter who lives
within the city limits is eligible to run
for the city council. Residents of the
recently annexed Carico and Rio Vista
subdivisions also are eligible to run if
they have been residents of the city
for 30 days by Nov. 2, City Adminis-
trator Bud Schmidt said.
A total of 21 signatures from quali-
fied city voters are needed on the
nominating petitions, Schmidt said.
The petitions may be picked up at
McCall City Hall. Residents of Carico
and Rio Vista who were registered to
vote as Valley County residents are
automatically qualified to vote within
the city, Schmidt said.
— Councilman Gary Van Komen
Van Komen, a certified public ac-
countant, said he was weary after
spending eight years on the council.
"It's a thankless job," he said.
"There is a lot of unfinished business,
in sewer, water and growth."
Larson, owner of Old Town Mar-
ket, said his single four -year term was
enough for him. "It just isn't fun any
more," he said. "You need to feel like
you can accomplish something."
Le Brett, who has served two years,
said she decided to "table my political
energies at the moment."
"I don't feel government allows a
council person an effective commu-
nication process, and I refuse to be
restricted from speaking to the con-
stituency," she said. "I will find
another arena to work in."
Smith, who was elected mayor two
years ago, said he likely would seek a
seat on the new five -member council.
Smith, a retired corporate man-
ager, noted that he recently was elected
to the board of directors of the Asso-
ciation of Idaho Cities and serves on
the AIC's legislative committee. He
said he would like to stay involved in
AIC activities as well as continue to
address city matters.
"We have unfinished business for
the city, and I want to ensure there is
continuity in ourgovernment," he said.
Wallace said he will run again even
though he recently suffered a heart
spasm which put him in the hospital.
Wallace also cited the need for conti-
nuity between the current council and
the council that will take office in
January.
Wallace, a mechanical inspector
for the Payette National Forest, has
served on the council for 12 years,
including the past six years and six
years served in the late 1960s and
early 1970s.
For information on candidacy re-
quirements, call McCall City Hall at
634 -7142.
McCall
Council
race attracts
large field
Cascade, Donnelly don't
Those wanting a change in city government at
McCall will get their wish as only one member of
the present City Council, Francis Wallace had filed
a petition to run for the Council in November's
general election.
In addition, McCall Mayor Larry Smith had
filed a petition to run for one of the five seats up
for grabs. But McCall City Administrator Bud
Schmidt said shortly before noon Tuesday that
there was some question about whether Smith
would run. He declined to elaborate.
The other members of the current council, Gaff
Van Komen, John Larson and Cindi LeBrett, all
decided against running for a spot on the new
council.
Btsides those two, nine other candidates had
filed petitions and been certified as candidates as
of noon Tuesday. They are:
• Lance Eckhardt, owner of Heartland Travel.
• Kirk Eimers, owner of Lake Fork Lodge.
• Wayne Gutowski, a McCall construction work-
er.
• "Travis Hatfield, a McCall business manager.
• Bill Killen, a McCall attorney.
• Dean Martens, a Forest Service employee.
• Richard McChrystal, a retired corporate exec-
utive.
• Tom McReynolds, owner of Shear Performance.
• James (Woody) Woodson, owner of W.W.
Enterprises.
Candidates had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to submit
their candidacy petitions to City Hall.
The entire Council is up for grabs in the wake of
last month's overwhelming vote to change the struc-
ture of McCall's city government from a Mayor /Council
form to a Council /City Manager form.
/r0 {1q Ud1Iey A�U0Gdfe-
C� DC-1- G, 1993
In addition, Council members last month voted
to have the Mayor, largely a ceremonial position
under the Council /City Manager form, selected by
Council members from among the newly elected
Council.
The top five vote getters will be named to the
new Council.
In Cascade, where the seats of Terry Ford and
Jackie Williams will be up for election in November,
p',only two candidates have filed. Ford, a Cascade
Forest Service employee, has filed again for his seat,
and Chriss Jordan, an Idaho Power employee, has
filed for the seat now held by Williams.
Louise Roberts, Donnelly City Clerk, said she
had received only two nominating petitions by noon
Tuesday — one for Mayor and one for one of the
three council seats up for election.
There are two four -year council seats and one
two -year seat up for election.
The Mayor's post has been since the death ear-
lier this year of Mayor Don Coski, who was killed
in an automobile accident near Spokane, Wash. The
Council has conducted business under the direction
of Tom Penry, council president.
Dan Jones is the only person to have. filed for that
seat up to that point, Roberts said.
Roy Motichka, who was appointed to former
Council member's Dan Donica's seat a year and a
half ago, has filed for a full -term in that seat. Penry's
seat is also up for election as is that of Candy Anderson,
who's seat is the two -year seat up for election.
Anderson moved from within the city limits.
4.0 h$ l/Jley Ad afe OCf /3, 1993
October 13, 1993
McCall Council votes to dedicate sales tax
revenue to Deinhard- Boydston connector
MCCALL — The McCall City Council, in a special
- "I think the public wanted this very defined and they
meeting here Thursday night, voted to dedicate the rev - -,.
wanted one item to cope with," she said. "One item, five
enue from a proposed I percent local resort option sales'
years for x- number of dollars."
tax to building the Deinhard - Boydston connector. i
But the concern was also raised that as a single issue,
The Council also set the term that the tax would be in,
there might not be enough of a constituency to gain approval
effect at seven years.
for the tax.
The action came after the Council considered a Capital
"There are other constituencies who might feel shut
Improvement Plan proposed by Mayor Larry Smith that
out," Smith said.
would have seen revenue generated by the tax, should,
City Administrator Bud Schmidt agreed and said an
voters approve it Nova 2; pay for things like video cam-
approach that would offer something to a number of dif-
eras, a police car, parks improvements, carpet and paint
ferent constituencies might enjoy better support from vot-
for the library, and some money for engineering and map-
ers. He also said the Council could adopt the Mayor's list
ping of the connector.
as the genesis of a capital improvement plan, but within
Included on that list were a $15,000 police vehicle,
that plan state that the connector would be the only pio-
and radar and video cameras for city cars estimated to
ject that gets revenue from the sales tax.
cost about $6,400; an animal control vehicle at an esti-
Schmidt also said there is a concern relative to the
mated cost of $17,550; sprinklers and a shed to be built'
state's recent announcement that it is delaying funding a{
at Fairway Park and a cost of nearly $9,000; docks for
bypass for McCall, and that some citizens may view the
Davis Beach, $5,500; a fence and sidewalk for Legacy
connector as the bypass, and that truck traffic will be
Park, $6;200; and $25,000 for the design of Riverfront
.diverted around town on that connector.
Park.
"My concern is how much of a constituency there is
Also on the proposed list were public works sheds,
$12,000; a compressor f?rpvlic works, $8,000; engi-
with a single issue," Schmidt said.
Van Komen said he didn't hear anything about that at
meetings of the
neering and mapping for the connector, $85,0 traffic
two previous Council at which members
signals, $5,000; replacing fire fighting apparatus, $25,000;
public had a chance to comment on the sales tax.
and carpet and paint for the library renovation, more than
` . "There again, we had a public meeting and we're ignor-
I $18,000.
ing it," he said. "You had a public meeting and most there
The revenue estimated from the first year of the tax,
said they wanted the road. "
which would 1,-- a shortened year extending from Jan. 1
to Sept. 30, 1994, was estimated to be about $237,000.
There was also some concern raised over
That revenue would be expected to increase to about
the cost and need ' some of the equipment
included on Smith's s list.
$338,000 in 1995, and to more than $361,000 the year
"We've been buying $5,000 (police) cars,
after that.
Over the 7 -year life of the tax, the city could expect
and here you've got $15,000 for one," Council
member Francis Wallace said.
to generate about $2.8 million toward the connector pro-
Council members also discussed the pos-
ject.
Councl member Gary Van Komen said he couldn't
sibility of divvying up the money based on
Percentages — dedicating percent, for exam -
support the tax unless a specific, single use of the funds
ple, to police equipment, or 15 percent for
t,
was designated. He also said most of the public opinion
upgrading fire�,e nt.
gathered at previous Council meetings was in support of
ed B urton said "that would
City Attorney Ted B
dedicating sales tax revenue to the connector.
He also said that the connector is the only project that
probably pass muster as far as legal require -
is too big for the city to handle just as a matter of course.
meats for designating the use of the revenue
Council member Cindi LeBrett also asked Smith if the
generated by the tax.
As adopted for funding in the event the tax
proposed sales tax was a way to address some things that
gains the support of voters the scope of the
should have been included in the 1994 fiscal year budget
project would include the actual road, a bridge
the council adopted in September.
She agreed with Van Komen's reading of public sen-
across the North Fork of the Payette River,
and other amenities like a pedestrian way/bike
timent on the proposed tax at previous meetings.
- - • -
path/snowmobile trail, and stop signals where
needed.
Under Idaho law, any money generated by
the sales tax in excess of what is appropriat-
ed by the Council, is used for property tax
relief the next year.
McCall councilin, 1% blown out
Four new faces and one familiar
name will lead the city of McCall as
the result of Tuesday's city election.
Dean Martens, Bill Killen, Francis
Wallace, Lance Eckhardt and Ralph
Colton emerged as the top vote -get-
ters in the field of 16 candidates on
Tuesday's ballot.
McCall voters heavily defeated a
proposal to levy a one percent general
sales tax in the city. The vote was 69
percent opposed to levying the tax,
which would have funded the pro-
posed Deinhard - Boydstun Connector.
Martens, Killen and Wallace will
serve four -year terms, while Eckhardt
and Colton will serve two -year terms.
Martens is a soils scientist with the
Payette National Forest, Killen is an
attorney, Wallace is an incumbent
council member and mechanical in-
spector with the Payette forest,
Eckhardtowns aMcCall travel agency meetings and have other ceremonial City elections also were held Tues-
and Colton is director of special edu- duties. day in New Meadows and Donnelly.
cation for the McCall - Donnelly The council also is charged with In New Meadows, Bryan Kellar
School District. hiring a city manager who will oper- defeated Caryl Fausett for a two -year
A total of 783 ballots were cast, ate the day -to -day affairs of the city. seat on the New Meadows City Coun-
which city officials said represented a The current council authorized adver- cil. The vote was 77 for Kellar and 55
47percentvotertum- out. Hand- count- tisements for applications, and 151 for Fausett.
ing the paper ballots was not applications had been received this In the two unopposed races for
completed until 5:30 a.m. Wednes- week, Mayor Larry Smith said. four -year seats on the New Meadows
day, City Administrator Bud Schmidt Smith said 33 of the applicants council, Kathy Barnett received 111
said. appeared to be fully qualified, with votes and Brad Dreyer received 107
The new council will implement many having served as city managers votes.
thecouncil- city managerformofgov- or who are currently holding such In Donnelly, Daniel Jones received
emment approved by McCall voters posts. 24 votes in his unopposed bid for
in August. The date that the new coun- Advertisements were placed in the mayor. Karen Ellis had 26 votes and
cil will be seated will be the topic of Wall Street Journal and in the bulle- Roy Motichka earned 22 votes in their
the next meeting of the current coun tins of the Association of Idaho Cities uncontested races for four -year terms
on the Donnelly City Council.
cil on Nov. 11. and the International City Manage-
Frances Coski, widow of former
M
Once the new council is seated, ment Association. Cost of the
hey will elect from among them two- advertising was about $600, Smith ayoear seat r Don Coski, was elected u a
selves a mayor who will conduct said. 0 the Donnelly con-
_ cil, receiving 30 votes.
McCall City Council
(Top Five Elected)
.g5.9
t raids Wal�ae
Richard McChrystal ..... 296
Travis Hatfield ............. 222
Wayne Gutowski .........156
Cheryl Hickman ...........155
Daryl Ann Yandell ....... 143
Kirk Eimers .................12.1
Tom McReynolds ........113
Scotty Davenport ...........90
James W. Woodson .......77
Stan Sears ......................57
Warna Sears ................... 56
1% Local- Option Sales
Tax
(60% in favor needed)
Yes .................... 242(31%)
No .....................535 (69 %)
a1r c/yocc� -
/ / / /o1, 3
Veteran vote counters have seen changes in polling
Ray Stout
The Long Valley Advocate
MCCALL — In 80 years of elections in Long
Valley, it's not just the races between the candidates
that have the ups and downs. Those who have mon-
itored those elections have had plenty themselves.
Julie Eddins, 64, and the current McCall Precinct
election judge, has served about 35 of those years
as a member of the election board.
"It's always fun to watch the people," she said.
"They have a tendency to walk around behind the
booths to try and enter them instead of lifting up the
curtains in front.
"Sometimes it seems like the minute they get to
the polling place, their brain goes out to lunch."
But even for the election board, lunch can often
seem like a long, lost vision, said Margaret Fogg,
73, who has been on election boards
for about 45 years. Though the board
members would often have restau-
rant meals delivered to them, they
wouldn't get a chance to eat them
for several hours.
They soon decided to have their
own potlucks and keep their food
behind the voting booths until they
could get to it, she said. "But one
time, we had one voter who went
back there and helped himself to
the food," she said.
One of Eddins' favorite memo-
ries of booth folly is the Catholic minister who had
also been a football coach and who happened to have
a hot temper. When he couldn't figure out how to
get into the booth, the election constable jokingly
told him to "crawl under." To the surprise of the
board, he crawled under. Upon discovering the futil-
ity, he fumed.
"He looked like his collar was going to pop off,"
she said. "He didn't appreciate that we were joking
with him."
Others who show emotional reactions don't even
get to vote at all, she said — those who find out at
the polls that they are no longer registered.
"We've had them get mad, and we've had them
cry," said Eddins. "You try your best to soothe their
feelings or take their embarrassment away."
And it's not always the voters who get the sur-
prises. Eddins recalls one election day spent in a
depot which had been used for the Winter Carnival:
just a short time before. There'd been no plumbing
problems, so why think to check the pipes?
The pipes froze. Even the restrooms'. "After a
while, you start looking for any container in the
room," she said, laughing.
Fogg laughs at how often a conscientious voter
will often sign his name to the ballot — to a "secret"
ballot.
But she doesn't get the last laugh every time. A
day which starts out sunny and beautiful may end
up entirely different, said Eddins.
"You're ready to go home, and you open the door
and there's 12 inches of snow on the ground," she
said. And you've still got to load up all those sup-
plies and equipment.
Protecting themselves from the cold has been a
challenge indoors as well, said Fogg. She remem-
bers winter days when they would wear long draw-
ers, snow boots and wool socks to help
the electric heaters and blankets keep
them warm.
As if that weren't enough of a trial,
"Several times we blew the fuse," she
said.
Eddins remembers that too — per-
haps the very same place and time as
Fogg does. It was a Veterans' build-
ing, said Fogg, or an American Legion
Hall, said Eddins, where Eddins said
their "three crockpots, a couple of cof-
feepots and a couple of heaters" all
going at once were just too much for
the ancient wiring system in the building.
Fuses notwithstanding, it must be some comfort
to know that voters can be even more careless than
they. Eddins told of a lady whose baby carrier wouldn't
fit into the voting booth. At her request, the board
members let her leave the infant on the floor at the
end of the table, where it slept soundly.
Quite some time later, after the woman had cast
her votes and left, "we looked down, and we had a
baby," said Eddins.
"She realized about the time she got to the drug
store downtown that she'd forgotten to take her baby
from the polling place."
It was a grown man, however, whom Eddins per-
haps thinks of first when she remembers highlights.
An incumbent sheriff, running for re- election, stepped
out of a booth looking suddenly grim and pale.
"He said, `Oh, no. I voted for my opponent.'
"You know, you can almost tell when they come
out of that curtain that they made some sort of mis-
take or another."
Recount Monday
on McCall election
BY TOM GROTE
The Sw-N —s
A recount will be held Monday to
determine whether there was an er-
ror in the original results of the Nov.
2 McCall City Council election.
Richard McChrystal, who missed
a spot on the five -member council
by two votes, asked for the recount
from the Idaho Attorney General's
Office under aprovision in state law.
An order from the attorney general
to set the recount was received at
McCall City Hall on Friday.
The recount will begin at 11:30
a.m. Monday at McCall City Hall.
Only votes cast for McChrystal and
Ralph Colton, who finished fifth in
the running, will be counted, McCall
City Administrator Bud Schmidt
said.
Colton received 298 votes and
McChrystal earned 296 votes in the
original count. McChrystal is a re-
tired executive with
Morrison - Knudsen Co. Inc. and
Colton is director of special educa-
tion for the McCall-Donnelly School
District.
McChrystal said in an interview
that he did not intend to cast doubts
on the quality of the original count-
ing by thecity's election judges. The
original count was not concluded
until 5:30 a.m. the day after Election
Day.
It was entirely possible that a
human error had been made," he
said. "I would have always fretted
and worried about it, so I would like
to have the matter resolved."
The other four persons elected on
Nov. 2 were Dean Martens, Bill
Killen, Francis Wallace and Lance
Eckhardt. The five new council
members will start up the city coun-
cil -city manager form of government
passed by McCall voters in August.
The seat to be recounted will be
for a two -year term. Eckhardt also
was elected to a two -year term, while
Martens, Colton and Wallace were
elected to four -year terms.
Widow files claim over street
curve and no skid marks were found
on the road.
The wrongful death claim filed by
Robyn Heyrend, the victim's widow,
says the agencies may be at fault
because "the road was defectively
and negligently maintained in a num-
ber of ways." The curve is located
outside the city limits of McCall.
The claim states that, in addition to
the lack of proper road warning and
speed limit signs, the roadway where
the accident occurred did not have
adequate, clearly visible lines which
could have warned of a curve coming
up ahead.
The widow and son of a man who
died in a Warren Wagon Road acci-
dent in May have filed a negligence
claim naming the city of McCall,
Valley County and the Idaho Trans-
portation Department.
The tort claim, filed Oct. 29, states
that Michael F. Heyrend, of Boise and
Steven J. Rudy, of Sandy, Utah died
May 14 because of negligence on the
part of some or all of the agencies.
Although a dollar amount was not
specified in the claim, it indicated the
claimants' damages would exceed
$100,000.
Inadequate road maintenance and
the lack of proper hazard and speed
limit signs may have contributed to
the death of the two men May 14, the
claim said.
Heyrend and Rudy were traveling
north on Warren Wagon Road about
3.5 miles north of Idaho 55, when the
1989 model specialty kitcar they were
driving missed a curve and rolled
end - over -end.
Both men were ejected from the
vehicle and were pronounced dead at
the scene, police reports said.
An Idaho State Police report said
the car was traveling between 50 to 60
miles per hour as it approached the
McCall targets
street vendors
BY TOM GROTE
nw, stwNews
A proposed ordinance that would
place stiffer restrictions and levy
higher fees on street vendors was re-
viewed Monday night by the McCall
City Council.
The ordinance, supported by the
McCall Area Chamber of Commerce,
would update the city's current ordi-
nance on street vendors, also known
as "hawkers."
The proposed ordinance passed the
first of three required readings Mon-
day night and will bebrought up again
at the council's next meeting set for
Nov. 29.
As proposed, the ordinance would
raise the daily fee for street vendors
from $25 per day to $100 per day, or
the vendor could buy an annual per-
mit for $2,500.
During the McCall Winter Carni-
val, the daily fees would increase to
$200 per day. Non - profit groups
would pay $10 per day any time of the
year, the same fee as now levied.
The proposed ordinance would
place a series of requirements on street
vendors. A permit must be sought
from the city at least three days in
advance, and detailed information
about the vendor, the stand and the
merchandise to be sold must be sub-
mitted in advance.
The application requirements in-
clude photos of the vendor and of the
stand, background information of the
vendor, evidence of safe electrical
wiring and notarized permission of
the owner of the property on which
the stand would be placed.
Mike Pedersen, a chamber mem-
ber and manager of Paul's Market,
said the revised ordinance is needed
to control street vendors who make
money in the city but do not pay
property taxes.
Chamber President Lisa Mohler
said the ordinance is intended to im-
prove the appearance of the town when
vendors are present.
In other action Monday night:
• Manager Ordinance: Council
members received without comment
a proposed ordinance to formally
adopt the council -city manager form
of government approved by voters
last August.
McCall City Attorney Ted Burton
said he wrote the proposed ordinance
as a discussion document which the
current council could adopt or leave
for the incoming council members
who will take office in January.
The ordinance is based on the law
under which Twin Falls operates,
Burton said. TwinFallsandLewiston
are the only cities in Idaho that use the
city manager form of government,
but Lewiston has experienced high
turnover of managers in past years, he
said.
The proposed ordinance provides
the opportunity for a hearing if the
city council wants to fire the city
manager, and proposes that the of-
fices of city attorney, city clerk and
city treasurer not be under the super-
vision of the city manager.
The draft also calls for formal con-
tracts between the city and the city
manager as well as city department
heads.
• P &Z Member: Council mem-
bers approved the appointment of Phil
Gilman to the McCall Planning and
Zoning Commission. Gilman will fill
the seat vacated by Larry Levitt, who
resigned.
Gilman is a retired employee of
the U.S. Forest Service who was for-
est planning officer for the Payette
National Forest in McCall. He has
worked part time at the McCall Golf
Course pro shop for two summers.
r^awy
!/a I /'p-,y
McCall City Council wrangles with pay raises
Incumbent. councilman -elect Wallace tenders resignation
MCCALL — One of the last
three meetings of the incumbent
McCall City Council was high-
lighted by controversy surround-
ing a resolution offering appar-
ently inequitable pay raises to city
employees.
The meeting also marked the
last formal sitting of Councilman
Francis Wallace, who announced
his resignation from the current
council at the end of the session.
He was scheduled to take the oath
of office for the Valley County
Commission Monday morning.
Wallace must also be sworn in
to the new council to which he
has been elected and from which
he plans to resign immediately.
The first meeting of the new coun-
cil is scheduled for Jan. 13.
The employee- classification
resolution drew strong objection
from Councilman Gary Van
Komen, who said the resolution's
salary increases of several thou-
sand dollars for some of the top
city officials are not what the coun-
cil intended when it approved on
Sept. 23 what it thought was a bal-
anced budget. Having made the
motion for approval himself, he
said, he understood that the coun-
cil had sanctioned only $900 in
pay raises for every employee in
an effort to narrow the gap in the
range of salaries.
The amounts presented in the
resolution at the meeting reflect-
ed both a merit increase and cost -
of- living adjustment, or COLA.
Councilman John Larson said
he had thought the council's
approval in September had been
for $900, and Wallace said he
agreed that $900 was a fair salary
increase. The Council voted three
to one to approve the classifica-
tion plan but amend it so that
salaries for management are
increased only with a COLA.
Voting against the motion was
Councilwoman-Cindi Le-Brett, who
said she felt it wasn't fair to deny
merit pay raises to employees who
deserved them.
In other action, the council:
• agreed to request advice from
McCall Fire Chief Dale Points on
the in -place closure and the decom-
missioning and removal of two
underground storage tanks in the
neighborhood of Neal Street near
Lardo's Restaurant.
• approved paymew for con-
struction of a water line in the
vicinity of Jacob Street in a new
subdivision south of town.
• adopted an ordinance grant-
ing city access to Eisman Street
properties for the maintenance,
repair and replacement of utilities.
• approved a declaration of
vacation and relocation of ease-
ments for Richard and Darlene
Hehr, Clayton and Barbara Morgan
and Lomie Larkin on property near
their homes in the Meadow Lake
Estates subdivision.
• approved issuance of a cer-
tificate of occupancy for the Best
Western Motel to Laxmi Inc. for
design, construction and installa-
tion of culverts and a water line
in the vicinity of the motel.
• deferred award of contract for
the 1994 airport improvement pro-
ject to allow engineers to further
negotiate on utility installation and
to consult with the airport design
committee.
McCall switches
councils tonight
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
A new era in local government
will begin in McCall tonight when the
city council -city manager form of
government officially goes into ef-
fect.
Four new council members elected
on Nov. 2 will be sworn in at 7 p.m.
tonight in council chambers located
in the lower level of McCall City
Hall.
In interviews last week, the four
council members said there is a lot of
work to be done in the city, but they do
not plan to rush important decisions.
The first decisions that incoming
council members Dean Martens,
Lance Eckhardt, Bill Killen and Ralph
Colton will face are how to start up
the city manager form of government
approved by McCall voters last Au-
gust.
One of the four must serve as
mayor, whose powers have been
stripped to largely ceremonial duties
under the city manger form. In inter-
views, the four said that no
front - runner for mayor had emerged,
and that the topic was up for discus-
sion tonight.
The group also must appoint a fifth
member to their group to replace
Francis Wallace, who was re- elected
in November but subsequently ap-
pointed to a seat on the Valley County
Commission.
All four council members said they
were in no hurry to fill the seat, and
favored putting out a call for applica-
tions from any interested citizens.
Letters of support already have come
in for retired corporate executive Ri-
chard McChrystal, who placed sixth
in the balloting last Nov. 2.
There also is no feeling of urgency
to hire a city manager, the powerful
administrator that is the cornerstone
of the new form of government.
In interviews, the four incoming
council members said an interim city
manager likely would be appointed
tonight. The current city administra-
tor, Bud Schmidt, is a logical choice
for the post, but all four incoming
members again said they would not
make up their minds until tonight.
"We're not going to make any
quick and rash decisions," Eckhardt
said.
McCall Mayor Larry Smith placed
advertisements last fall for the city
manager post in the Wall Street Jour-
nal and the bulletins of the
International City Management As-
sociation and the Association of Idaho
Cities.
Smith received more than 150 ap-
plications, of which about 50 were
from people currently serving in city
management or had previous man-
agement experience.
Smith forwarded the applications
to the new council members, but sev-
eral of the incoming members said
they may wish to re- advertise for the
post.
Of particular concern was the
offer of at least a $50,000 salary
that was noted in the ad placed by
Smith.
"I'm concerned about the ad
being realistic," Killen said, say-
ing that the city budget needs to be
reviewed before a salary for the
manager's post can be set.
The new council members have
not been idle since their election.
They have met in five Monday
work sessions with Schmidt to re-
view general topics such as bud-
geting, personnel polices, plan-
ning and zoning, and role of other
government agencies in city af-
fairs.
Discussion of the operation of
individual city departments has
not occurred during the work ses-
sions, Schmidt said.
The new council members are
not novices to government, either.
Eckhardt served as chairman of
the McCall Planning and Zoning
Commission and Martens served
on the McCall Parks and Recre-
ation Advisory Committee.
Killen briefly served as city
prosecuting attorney and is the
former chairman of the Idaho Per-
sonnel Commission, and Colton is
familiar with the workings of bu-
reaucracy through his work as spe-
cial education director for the
McCall - Donnelly School District.
In the interviews, the incoming
council members placed planning
for the future as their most impor-
tant priority.
The group wants to draft a com-
prehensive plan for the city that
takes in not only land use planning
but also the future of city services
such as police, fire protection,
streets, water, sewer, parks and
recreation.
"With Rio Vista brought into
the city, there hasn't been any real
planning, just more area ," said
Colton, a Rio Vista resident. "I
plan to go to every single depart-
ment and have them tell me what
they do."
Eckhardt also wants to see a
comprehensive plan drafted just
for the downtown area to address
parking, sidewalks, traffic and
building design.
q`�
PAGE 4 THE STAR -NEWS - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30,
McCall changed
government &
its boundaries
BY TOM GROTE
The Star-News
Change swept through the city of
McCall during 1993 like a midwin-
ter snowstorm. The city threw out its
form of government, pumped money
into its water system and enlarged its
boundaries.
Construction continued to boom
in McCall during 1993, with building
permits for new homes rising from 62
in the first nine months of 1992 to 87
permits through September 1993.
Total value of permits reached $13.8
million during that period.
Several major projects got under
way during the year, and dump trucks
were running up and down Idaho 55
in a nearly constant parade of progress.
Work began on two large subdivi-
sions, the 750 -lot Spring Mountain
Ranch and the nearby 250 -lot The
Woodlands. Accompanying the sub-
divisions are the construction of a by-
pass road to the east of the city and a
new, nine -hole addition to the McCall
Golf Course.
Major commercial projects in-
cluded a new 33,000 square foot
Shaver's supermarket on Deinhard
Lane, and a 51 -room Best Western
Motel on Idaho 55 at Colorado Street.
• City Manager: The most sig-
nificant change for McCall during the
year was the decision by its voters to
overhaul its form of government.
By a 77 percent majority, voters on
Aug. 31 approved abolishing the
mayor -city council form of govern-
ment and replaced it with a council -
city manager form, used in Idaho by
only Lewiston and Twin Falls.
The seeds for the city manager
election were sown the previous sum-
mer, when Mayor Larry Smith de-
cided he wanted to exert the power
given to him under state law and take
on more duties.
To Smith, that meant abolishing
the city administrator's post held by
Bud Schmidt. Smith got mixed sup-
port for the idea among members of
the McCall City Council, so he ap-
pointed a citizen panel to study alter-
native forms of government.
In April, the so- called "blue -rib-
bon" committee recommended that a
city manager form of government
would cause the least confusion over
lines of authority within McCall City
Hall.
After the city manager form was
adopted, then a new election for city
council was held. The Nov. 2 election
drew a huge 17- candidate field and
led to a clean sweep of the current
elected officials.
Four of the five sitting officials,
including Smith, declined to seek new
terms. The fifth, Francis Wallace, was
re- elected but then was appointed to a
vacancy on the Valley County Com-
mission.
• Annexation: Before phasing
themselves out of a job, the current
McCall City Council decided to en-
large the city's boundaries through
annexation.
Two areas were targeted, the so-
called Carico area located north of
Lick Creek Road, and Rio Vista, a
large established subdivision on the
west side of the North Fork of the
Payette River.
The Rio Vista annexation drew the
most opposition, as residents doubted
if they would be getting their money's
worth for the additional property taxes
they would be paying.
Council members held their
ground, however, pointing to im-
proved police protection and other
services, participation in city affairs
and a general ethic that an area so
closely related to the city ought to be
within it.
• Water Bond: The summer of
1993 was a cool one that did not
produce a great demand on the city's
water system, but city officials al-
ready were laying plans to upgrade
the system for future hot summers as
well as to handle growth.
Voters on Aug. 31 were asked to
approved $9.9 million in revenue
bonds to finance a range of improve-
ments, and they did so by a 64 percent
margin.
The bond issue will address sev-
eral issues as it is implemented over
the next two years. The part that will
be most expensive, and which also
irritated city officials the most, is the
building of a water - filtration plant to
screen disease - causing viruses that
might be present in the water taken
from Payette Lake.
The plant was mandated as part of
new federal clean -water regulations
adopted nationwide, but council mem-
bers thought requiring filtration for
pure alpine water was bureaucratic
overkill.
The rest of the bond issue will
replace pipes in areas that have prob-
lems with supply and pressure, plus
finance the installation of water meters
in every home served by the city.
• By -Pass: Decade -old attempts
by McCall officials to have the Idaho
Transportation Department fund a
western by -pass of Idaho 55 around
the city came to a screeching halt in
September.
That month, the Idaho Transporta-
tion Board officials kicked the by-
pass off its state funding list.
Idaho 55 through McCall has ex-
perienced near - gridlock during peak
summer weekends, as all traffic be-
tween northern and southern Idaho is
squeezed around a 90- degree turn
downtown and channelled onto a
single bridge over the North Fork of
the Payette River.
The by -pass had been planned since
1982, but updated cost figures plus
opposition from a landowner near the
proposed route caused ITD officials
to put the project on the shelf.
With no by -pass looking likely,
the city council decided to put new
emphasis on the Deinhard - Boydstun
connector, a proposed local street that,
proponents say, would bring the same
relief as the longer by -pass.
The council turned to local voters
on Nov. 2 and asked whether they
wanted to levy a one percent across -
the -board local sales tax to finance
the Deinhard - Boydstun Connector.
The answer was a resounding no,
with 69 percent voting against the
sales tax. The effort was shot down by
business owners who did not want to
pay the tax and from residents who
thought a local sales tax should be
spread around to more than one build-
ing project.
l:"en$ VC) ile � Adv0Cd'te
New McCall City Council takes
helm, charts its roles
New McCall City Council members, from left, Bill Killen, Lance Eckhardt, Dean Martens and Ralph
Colton, are sworn in by City Administrator Bud Schmidt prior to last Thursday's council meeting.
Ray Stout
Staff Writer
MCCALL — Four departing council members and
their mayor stepped down Thursday night to make
way for new council members to be sworn in, thus ini-
tiating the new city- council /city- manager form of gov-
ernment adopted by city residents last August.
The new form is a change from the mayor /city-
council regime of the previous government. The coun-
cil /manager form calls for a city manager to run the
city's day -to -day affairs and for the mayor to have vir-
tually no more power than the councilors.
After taking the oath of office, the new city coun-
cil elected as mayor Dean Martens, who had received
the highest number of votes for the new council in the
No 2 special election. Councilman Bill Killen
was elected council president and will perform the
mayor's duties — which will be chiefly ceremonial
in meetings at which Martens is absent.
The council also declared a vacancy, created by the
resignation of incumbent Councilman -elect Francis
Wallace who accepted an appointment to the Valley
County Commission that came shortly after being re-
elected to the council. It chose to not appoint the replace-
ment immediately but to advertise for the vacant posi-
tion.
The possibility of a 2 -2 tie on a call for votes was
cause for concern expressed by Rod Davidson of
McCall, an audience member, who suggested the new
council not take any action until the vacant seat is
filled.
"I don't think anything should be acted on until
you have the final contingent of the city council,"
Davidson said.
As for hiring a permanent city manager, uncertainty
of procedure and wariness about salary negotiations
led the council to call a special meeting for Monday
evening to discuss the matter in more detail. City
Administrator Bud Schmidt agreed to accept the coun-
cil's appointment as interim city manager on the con-
dition that they meet with him in executive session to
discuss terms and conditions of his employment as an
interim city manager.
Schmidt expressed concern about the rule that as
a city manager under the new form of government he
could be fired on a 3 -2 majority whim of the council
in session. City Attorney Ted Burton pointed out that
the city administrator's job under the old form was
subject to a 4 -1 vote.
Monday's special meeting will also cover organi-
zation of the city government.
The council chose to adopt a "Parliamentary
Procedure" set of rules regarding proper ways to make
motions and whether the motions may be seconded,
debated or amended. The guidelines will replace the
"Robert's Rules of Order" that had been in force with
the old council.
Jdh '9,/9
Loq woley lUvocate-
Schmidt accepts job as interim city manager
Private discussion with council members affects hi-, dpcicinn
MCCALL — An offer from the McCall City Council
to Bud Schmidt to stay on as interim city manager
pending the hiring of a permanent one was accepted
at a special meeting Monday night after a thirty- minute
period in executive session.
Schmidt, who currently serves as city administra-
tor and city clerk for McCall, had asked to meet with
the council in order to discuss compensation, work-
ing conditions and their expectations of him as the
interim manager.
In eight years of service for McCall, Schmidt said,
he had received only one or two merit salary increas-
es. A recent resolution calling for merit increases —
actually budgeted -for reclassification adjustments, he
said — had been rejected by the last council in December.
He said the three city staff members — which
include himself, City Attorney Ted Burton and City
Treasurer Jim Henderson — have taken on new assign-
ments but received no additional compensation.
"I don't feel the compensation I'm receiving now
(as city administrator /clerk) covers the iob. That's the
bottom line," said Schmidt. "(For a city manager),
You're asking a great deal from one individual for
that level of compensation."
He said he had heard that a UPS driver makes about
the same amount of money that he does except that
the driver gets paid overtime for working Christmas.
City Attorney Ted Burton vouched for Schmidt,
attesting that their jobs are quite demanding.
"Bud, Jim and I put in hundreds of hours of over-
time without compensation, yet if in any pay period
we fall below 80 hours, we get docked," Burton said.
Schmidt said his situation was exceptional in that
McCall is a small city, yet has a lot of issues to be
dealt with.
"If I'm appointed acting manager and then termi-
nated, I'm considerably interested in what my status
is," said Schmidt. "Presumably, I would not work
here.
"I hope that's one of the issues that will come up
in this form of government."
When asked by the council if he planned to apply
for the permanent city manager position, Schmidt
said he wished to go into executive session, to which
the council agreed.
Before going into the private meeting, Schmidt
explained that the overload of work had taken a toll
on both his job performance and his health. City
Treasurer Henderson then confirmed that the city
does have the money to pay a salary within the
$42,0(X) to $47,000 range Schmidt had recommended
to the preceding mayor, Larry Smith.
Schmidt also advised the council against vesting
both the city- manager and city -clerk duties in one
person under the new form of government. He cited
a Prineville, Ore., situation in which such a dual -
function official, fired from one of his positions,
remained at his desk for a long time afterwards at
the advice of his attorney while receiving pay.
The council then met with Schmidt in executive
session while Burton and Henderson remained out-
side the room. Upon returning, Schmidt accepted
the appointment as interim city manager with a salary
of $41,161.60 retro- active to last Saturday.
Also on the agenda was the. appointment of a per-
manent city manager. While most council members
initially felt the proposed 90 -day limit was too short,
Councilman Ralph Colton said he felt it was a good
safeguard against procrastination. Moreover, he said,
they should be prepared to act immediately in a worst -
case scenario, such as if Schmidt were to suddenly
resign.
The council voted to allow themselves until their
April 28 meeting to hire a city manager, about 100
days.
It also voted to direct the interim city manager to
circulate a new ad until Feb. 28 in the Boise, Lewiston,
Spokane and local newspapers for a city manager.
The ad is to offer a first -year salary of $42,500 plus
standard benefits to persons with at least three to
five years' experience as a city- department head or
higher.
Former Mayor Larry Smith placed advertising
for the new City Manager position in several nation-
ally circulated newspapers and trade periodicals, and
offered a salary of $50,000 for the job.
1,i k / 9, /999
��?
M c C a l l c o u n c i l g e t s t o w o r k
B Y T O M G R O T E
T h e S t a r - N e w s
T h e n e w M c C a l l C i t y C o u n c i l
w e n t r i g h t t o w o r k a f t e r b e i n g s w o r n
i n l a s t T h u r s d a y , b u i l d i n g a f r a m e -
w o r k f o r t h e c i t y m a n a g e r f o r m o f
g o v e r n m e n t .
N e w c o u n c i l m e m b e r s D e a n
M a r t e n s , B i l l K i l l e n , L a n c e
E c k h a r d t a n d R a l p h C o l t o n w e r e
s w o r n i n m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e s t a r t o f
T h u r s d a y '