Crossett accepts manager job

POLSON — After being without a city manager for a little less than two years, the city has found someone to take interim-city manager James Raymond’s place.

The council announced its intentions to hire city manager candidate Todd Crossett at a special meeting on May 11 and according to Raymond, Crossett has accepted the position and plans to move to the area in mid-June.

Crossett is coming from a county commissioner position in Bonner County, Idaho, and will bring his two children and wife to Polson, along with his collaborative approach to city government.

Raymond said details of Crossett’s contract have yet to be finalized, and no documents have been signed.

Before the city council meeting Monday night, all public comments heard on the annexation of Brown’s Lakeview tracts — from Bret McCrumb, Gertrude Miller and Ken Soward — were those of opposition.

After the land owners made their positions known, the council quickly voted on the matter. Everyone except for councilwoman Elsa Duford voted in favor of the annexation.

“There’s nothing much I can do about it now,” Ken Soward told the Leader.

Dale Nelson approached the board again, with the issue of late user fees and the amendment of ordinance 645 to include user fees for city sewer, water and storm sewer.

There was also discussion between Nelson and councilman Mike Lies as to possible tax payer contribution for the private road that will be put in.

“The city never put a street in, but platted the lots,” Nelson told the Leader of this particular zoned industrial commercial area on 6th Street, between 9th Avenue East and 10th Avenue East. The storm sewer was put in last fall, and the late user fees will go toward this. The council already gave permission for the private construction of the road, which Nelson said can be used by the public.

“Roads are done by SIDs,” Lies said, with Nelson rebutting that the road has already been approved.

Other business included comprehensive, overtime pay for city employees who are on-call.

“There’s already a policy in affect,” Lies told Assistant Water and Sewer superintendent Ashley Walker.

Walker denied that the policy works, if in fact it is place. He told the Leader that last Christmas he and fellow employees were not paid anything extra for working on the paid holiday, adding that all the water and sewer employees are full-time and on-call.

“The situation happens very rarely,” he said of on-call runs, adding that when he does go on-call it is often in undesirable weather. He added that the police department has this over-time policy in place.

Councilman Fred Funke made a motion to “provide equity for called-out personnel,” which was seconded by Jim Sohm and unanimously passed.

“The state says two contradictory things,” said city attorney and interim-city manager James Raymond of over-time pay that is under 40 hours.

Another thing of note, Raymond asked the council to help reduce city costs of the fire department, by sending run sheets to private insurance companies who will in-turn bill the people. He said many of the calls the department responds to are out of the city limits.

Sohm made a motion to approve a contract for billing fire response services, while Funke seconded. The motion passed unanimously, with an “after thought” from Duford, asking whether the council will review the insurance company and the policies that Raymond decides on. Raymond said that will not happen.

The council unanimously voted to renew the 2-year, city attorney contract with Raymond.

Following the monthly cash report, Raymond informed the council that Polson’s redevelopment code is on the city’s website.

“The project website is up and running,” he said, adding that potential zoning maps can be found there.

Just before Mayor Lou Marchello’s proclaimed May 30 Paint Polson Purple Day, and Sept. 28 Family Day, local businessman Rory Horning informed the public of open council seats at the upcoming election.

“The entire philosophy of running the city could change,” Horning told the Leader. “It’s time for our government philosophy to change.”

There are three council seats — Bruce Agrella ward 1, Mike Lies ward 2, and Fred Funke ward 3 — and the mayoral position is also up for grabs.

Filing for the seats began May 4, and will run through July 2. Interested residents within the wards specified need only pay $15 to be placed on the ballot for a council position. The mayoral position requires a $60 fee. Forms and fees can be purchased at the elections office in the Lake County Courthouse.