The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday approved the second reading of the town’s zoning ordinance, which will take effect in 30 days. The ordinance sets forth guidelines for types of buildings, usage and maintenance.
The zoning ordinance approved by the council sets boundaries for commercial properties and residential. It also includes details such as the number of tiny houses that can be erected per city lot, how many parking spaces are required, and what type of fencing can be used. The zoning ordinance states that marijuana sales can only be conducted in the central business district, which includes the Main Street corridor in Thompson Falls. As the ordinance does not take effect immediately, the council on Monday also approved an extension to the Emergency Marijuana Ordinance that prevents marijuana businesses from establishing in residential areas.
The Thompson Falls City Council on Monday approved changes to the city-county agreement for the Thompson Falls Public Library. The city agreed to maintain insurance on the library building. Sanders County Commissioners met last with Thompson Falls Mayor Mark Sheets to discuss the transfer of the Thompson Falls Public Library to the county. Since the city and county already have an agreement for the library operation, the entities will update that agreement for the county to take over administration of the library. Sanders County Clerk & Recorder Nichol Scribner said that a special audit of the library fund will be required before the county can take any funds from the city.
Also at Monday’s city council meeting, the council voted on a resolution to annex properties that are connected to city services but not in city limits.
Sheets said at last week’s meeting with the commissioners that as part of the city’s water project, they are looking at drilling another well for storage. He also said that Rural Development has funded 100% of Phase 4 of the sewer project, which will include connecting the remaining city properties on the east end of town to the community sewer system.
The resolution passed Monday puts in motion the process for annexing properties, which will include a public hearing within 60 days. Residents of Elk Street in Thompson Falls attended Monday’s meeting to express opposition to the proposed annexation. If the residents decide to deny the annexation, Sheets has said previously that the city water would be shut off and the residents could drill wells or form their own water district.
“How can you legally and morally turn off people’s water?” asked resident Cricket Johnston, who called a March 2021 ordinance allowing the action “moral blackmail.” Representative Paul Fielder attended the meeting with the residents, citing a newspaper article from 1954 in which the property owner then gave the city an easement for the water line as long as the city provided water to property owners. Fielder suggested the city do a title search to determine the conditions of the easement. Sheets said that city records from that time period have not been found and the only evidence is a plat map filed with the county that showed the Mountainview Townsite area in question was annexed in 1954 along with the Golf Course Addition. Council member Katherine Maudrone stated that the golf course addition was added to the city tax rolls at that time, but the area of Elk and Hill streets was not. City Attorney noted that once the sewer system is installed in that area, any property with a septic system that fails will have to connect to the city service as they are within 500 feet of the system.
Sheets said the water line under the Mountanview Townsite area is corroded steel and scheduled to be replaced, which would happen along with the sewer hookups in phase four of the city’s project. Funding has been secured for phases three and four of the sewer project, which will include connecting properties east of Grove Street to the community wastewater system.
City Clerk Chelsea Peterson said the city has seen an increase in issues with domestic animals in the city. Peterson stated that residents are not allowed to have roosters in town and are permitted to have no more than five adult rabbits.
At Monday’s meeting, Mayor Sheets reported that the current water project is almost finished and also reminded the county that the end of the contract for phases one and two of the sewer project is approaching in September. He said it doesn’t look like all of the properties will be hooked up to the system per the contract, so the council will decide how to proceed at next month’s meeting. The next council meeting is September 12 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
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