Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

During the November City Council Meeting the council spoke about still not having a replacement council member to fill the position for Ward 1. The ward traverses the west side of Spruce Street to just west of the city limits. According to Mayor Mark Sheets, no one has submitted a letter of interest; however, the requirements are very basic and include residing within the ward. More information on requirements can be found by contacting City Hall, or through the city website. If there is more than one applicant the council will vote on the candidates, after interviewing them. The new council member would serve until November of next year, after which municipal election would take place. If the new council member should wish to run again, they can, according to Sheets. The current term would officially end December 31, 2021.

The city also discussed two pieces of property they have up for sale; one on Adams Street and the other on Maiden Lane. These properties have received no interest as of yet. According to Sheets, locals have expressed interest in purchasing these properties before, and the city has no future plans to utilize them. “It’s a good time to dispose of them,” said Sheets. Currently, the city is looking at lowering the asking price to pique more interest.

The main issue of the meeting was the town’s garbage situation. Recently Bob Butte, owner of Butte Services, who contracts through the city to handle garbage cans in the downtown area, contacted the city saying that he would no longer do so starting January 1. According to Sheets, who addressed the council at the meeting, the city has 31 cans from Wild Goose Landing to Ainsworth Park.

Butte Services picks up the cans once a week, however said that it takes too long, and that the cans are always overfilled. Sheets added that there are a lot of residnets who use the cans to dump large amounts of household garbage, and tourists in fifth wheels that pull along side the cans and dump large bags into them. The city is looking for ideas from the community and is putting out a letter to the businesses on Main Street. Locals with ideas to deal with the garbage cans can drop off suggestions at City Hall. The mayor asks that these ideas consider the safety of workers that would have to empty the cans. Butte Services is also offering a few options, some of which limit the number of cans and the size of garbage that can be inserted into the cans. Mayor Sheets asks that city residents use the transfer site for dumping instead of the cans.