Council settles water dispute

SANDPOINT - The City Council braved last Wednesday's inclement weather to resolve a number of nagging issues at its December session.

After months of debate and negotiation, the council unanimously agreed to settle a dispute with the Syringa Water District over excess water use. The district has one year left in 40-year contract with the city to purchase water for its nearly 200 members.

A 1993 council resolution upped the district's overage charge to $50 per 1,000 gallons of excess water, but for reasons unknown the resolution was never put into effect and the district's bills did not reflect the changes. In July, Sandpoint Treasurer Shannon Syth discovered the resolution and informed the district it owned more than a half million dollars in backdated overage charges.

After months of discussion between the city and district, the council agreed to drastically lower the overage charge to $5,000.

In a 4-2 vote, the council approved using $15,000 to modify the Farmin Park Bandstand with a design that allows for the installation of a new roof if funding becomes available in the future. Councilmen John Reuter, Stephen Snedden, Doug Hawkins Jr. and Councilwoman Carrie Logan voted in favor of the plan, while Councilman Michael Boge and Councilwoman Helen Newton dissented. The bandstand's roof was removed last spring after it was deemed a safety hazard.

After turning down a nearly $77,825 grant from the Safe Routes to School program earlier this year, the council voted unanimously to apply for another Safe Routes grant meant to fund a sidewalk project on Spruce Street. A proposed Highway 2 crosswalk that was to be funded by a Safe Routes grant was scrapped earlier this year after several business owners complained the project would impede customer traffic.

The council also filled two open positions on its Planning Commission and one on its Urban Renewal Board. Former Planning Commissioner John O'Hara was confirmed as the city's newest Urban Renewal board member, while Rob Herrera and Shelby Rognstad were placed on the Planning Commission.