Rex Theater owners open doors for Thompson Falls council meetings

Mar. 20—The March Thompson Falls Council meeting was standing room only, which has been a frustration for many city residents over the last few months.

Local resident Donna McQueen commented, "We call this the town hall meeting because everyone stands in the hall."

Attendees have suggested the meeting needs to be moved to a larger venue. The most popular suggestion was the Rex Theater. Conflicting schedules between theater and council meeting times needed to be addressed.

Those scheduling conflicts were resolved for the March meeting when Rex Theater owner Eric Wilson offered his venue to the City Council for future meetings, bringing loud applause from those in attendance.

Monday's meeting, with over 40 in attendance, started with public comments on a proposed fee schedule. The comments seemed to be equally divided between those for and those against the fees.

Nancy Johnson said, "I think this is a strong arm, overreach of the government."

Thompson Falls Mayor Rusti Leivestad spoke about the additional items that have been added to the fee structure, including the zoning permit section.

Rusti adjourned the fee schedule comment section of the meeting and opened the monthly City Council meeting.

Committee reports were approved by the council and an informational discussion was given by Gussie O'Conner and Katherine Dewitt on proposed solar-powered radar speed signs. Dewitt, vice president of the Thompson Falls Women's Club, is spearheading the project and fundraising for the proposed signs.

"We are very enthused about it and happy to lead the way, and we have a lot of ideas for fundraising," Dewitt said.

The signs would not have cameras recording the vehicles. The price for two signs would be between $8,000 and $10,000.

A discussion on the upcoming beautification days scheduled for April 25-27 was led by Joni Mosher. She started off by thanking the city for their support over the last 21 years.

The idea for beautifications days started humbly with the first trash can in front of the library and grew each year to a community wide project.

Those interested in helping can email Joni Mosher at tfallsbeautification.mosher@gmail.com. Financial supporters for beautification days are: First Security Bank, Whitefish Credit Union, Valley Bank, Thompson Falls Main Street Merchants, City of Thompson Falls, Sanders County, Frisbee Morebella Foundations and Blackfoot Communications.

A discussion on farmers market vendor and annual park fees was raised by Veronica Ingle. She proposed a flat fee for the usage of Ainsworth Park of $100. Also, a proposed fee of $5 per vendor per day. Opening of the farmers market would be at the end of June or the first of July.

Several individuals commented that vendors usually did not make much money and charging a vendor fee would make their participation not worth their while. Local resident Howard Inks said he would pay all vendor fees.

Mayor Leivestad spoke on moving the 25 mph speed limit signs posted both east and west 500 feet farther away from town. The 35 mph signs would be moved the same distance.

A new commemorative sign was made by the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers, honoring Dave Thompson's accomplishment surveying the Pacific Northwest during the early 1800s. At this time, the proposed location for the plaque will be in Ainsworth Park. Thompson was responsible for establishing the Salish House for the North West Company in present day Thompson Falls around 1809. The post was established to encourage trade with the Salish and Pend d'Oreille tribes.

The fee schedule as proposed was voted on and accepted by the council with no abstaining votes.

Council members voted unanimously to cancel the agreement with Northwestern Energy regarding the care and maintenance of Goose Landing. The responsibility for upkeep will return to Northwestern Energy. Possible improvements by Northwestern Energy will be restroom upgrades.

Requests for wastewater reimbursements for phases one and two for $97,660 were approved. Phase three and four reimbursements requests were authorized for payment in the amount of $53,908.

Gunner Jange talks about the city's proposed fee structure at the Thompson Falls City Council meeting last week. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)

Howard Inks offers to pay all vendor fees for those selling at the farmers market during the Thompson Falls City Council meeting last week. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)

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