[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480071,"mediaKeyId","5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3","parentId",5691922,"title","Council approves Sawyer Storage short plat to split two existing businesses into separate parcels","audioSeconds",309,"startMs",4141000,"endMs",4450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3&start=4141&end=4450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3/thumbnail_4141000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480071/Rathdrum/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Council-approves-Sawyer-Storage-short-plat-to-split-two-existing-businesses-into-separate-parcels","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480071-fe1c4bf7aeab87658caa6c369416f035/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177660&Signature=FAiBa6yoapWlXMgByq~Ex5~4aNC3fEloadoIFLOEqpSHq6KA6qoXDaVda1wvX7~bAXVfotF6iO0xg7qeVEd6ZdliifE4zd32uqp2yc4Zz1vedwkaTjXX7X8Y~BGFuORythAPr8HCNlmqK9cA5u3uI5IsFdeWeiio7oSnRf5LQQ8AZbWSAxvVvVoVWtOnx5aP~mmzO5V-e7sXdbII8-o6e4TlltWEyzhsl0H2o7fgOi7wa8ydCzNMniQed55xclyGjEevptKh~ntxCU5vHKwARgW0~TxPLe3T6a3v4OLKIOHQzh7CIEnOoCPaQYhA6K89Hf~X39eY8dkp98yXjiCgQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rathdrum","date","2025-08-28T13:55:23Z","article","The City of Rathdrum on Aug. 27 approved a short plat dividing a parcel that currently contains Sawyer Storage and Sawyer Plumbing so the two businesses will occupy separate legal parcels.

Planning staff said the properties were already developed with required landscape buffering and that no public improvements — such as new sidewalks or utilities — are required for the short plat because the existing development met code requirements at the time of construction.

Councilmember John moved to authorize the short plat; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote recorded in the meeting record.

Planning staff told the council that the city’s updated design code requires sidewalks in new development, but the short plat would not make the existing development noncompliant because it met standards at the time it was built.

The council approved the short plat with no additional conditions recorded in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 27, 2025 - City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Rathdrum council authorized a short plat separating an existing parcel with Sawyer Storage and Sawyer Plumbing into two parcels; staff said both businesses are already compliant with development requirements at the time they were built.","taxTitle","Rathdrum, Kootenai County, Idaho","taxId",55014,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480076,"Council approves Westwood Pines Commercial Park preliminary plat for seven lots near Highway 53",911,3431000,4342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3&start=3431&end=4342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3/thumbnail_3431000.jpg","/articles/6480076/Rathdrum/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Council-approves-Westwood-Pines-Commercial-Park-preliminary-plat-for-seven-lots-near-Highway-53","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480076-a660bd526f7fe82ee53d20856899ab2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177660&Signature=bFqzYh72EplCnX-l3bEzSRYQFApZuiBGqJ-JqHnLKAHhhCacUxVfjsg5QwKNaSPIIVUBC10pBPHd5kOkF5lKWaNW7AFSMi4dix2w0XGoFnzQa40XPtQ56nAEWkIrSJcVY4s6ln1Gz~0ns1M3V42VdXprc5A-eQwwUi8e8Urr711ugyNMM6lfePAfqeZjA4WPxT7fK0wVNymRS3Um1EpCr995KMbeuFPzvIbdKpIY2BMdFKog48uZ8Tnu2XDWer-xO9t6ZaSqpjhUWl56BSRVXKg7u904OWSHfOPOuDwSHRrlNws~WZURtASC6gdtcjQmxOvQkf3aQ8sgMK3A6tHEyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rathdrum City Council on Aug. 27 approved the preliminary plat for Westwood Pines Commercial Park, a proposed seven‑lot commercial subdivision on roughly 10 acres at Cloverdale and State Highway 53.

Planning staff explained the property has been zoned C‑2 (commercial) since annexation in 2011 and that the preliminary plat met code requirements for lot sizes and zoning. A staff presentation described average lot sizes of about 1.02 acres and lot ranges from about 0.56 to 2.4 acres.

Council and staff spent substantial time discussing where in the entitlement process the city can require traffic studies or other impact analyses. Planning staff and the city engineer explained that some conditions are most appropriately identified and imposed at the preliminary‑plat stage, while others are identified during annexation or rezoning — and that plats trigger time limits that move a proposal from concept toward development.

Several councilmembers expressed concern about additional traffic on Cloverdale and access to Highway 53. Staff noted the Idaho Transportation Department denied direct commercial access to Highway 53 at the flagged parcel edge and suggested future site traffic may be directed to the existing signal at Meyer and 53. Staff reiterated they lacked authority to add state highway signals; state approvals determine highway access.

Councilmember Merrill moved to approve the preliminary plat; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote recorded in the meeting record.

Planning staff reminded the council that preliminary‑plat approval does not remove the council’s ability to require specific impact studies or conditions at later steps if future submissions (final plat or site plans) demonstrate unmet criteria.","The council approved the preliminary plat for Westwood Pines Commercial Park, a proposed seven‑lot, roughly 10‑acre commercial subdivision at Cloverdale and Highway 53. Staff and planning commissioners discussed access, traffic and the stages at which the city can require impact studies and conditions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480081,"Rathdrum council approves move to BS&A cloud services, citing improved access and capacity",281,3137000,3418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3&start=3137&end=3418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3/thumbnail_3137000.jpg","/articles/6480081/Rathdrum/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Rathdrum-council-approves-move-to-BSA-cloud-services-citing-improved-access-and-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480081-80e81dda691b2b816712741b702e20ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177660&Signature=gWRgS38OTTwUfnXbPOP1jTyTWgS5FXTZfUvNvdoevOGclg0vwfPtujJqAHE7u8uG1dKC1ZLfXBtgBesJP9mHOTtDpNorplcVrnQlmtMb-JArvxtjZTz~NiMasO596fboGSJ-M4~kFJg3MCYvc~46Vz7kRRJJKlz7tiZ4EXd2-~Jo2PySmQvfT5jRon9i-jSdUIbeW9pXoxcyGqKPvNOT8hzpDM-TjOWeMe~mCty44YpoBKH~8IgDUOGyd3OEdV~Es8904DHzDgczuMiM7le6V0rEmjXWKq9F4djb-3zed8z~NerleS-HplQikl-mMbintwKPclvHIVaTwwAR5XFWiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rathdrum City Council on Aug. 27 authorized the mayor to sign a contract to migrate the city's BS&A financial/payroll system to the vendor’s cloud offering.

City staff explained the city’s current server‑based implementation has reached capacity and staff had to reallocate storage to support backups. Leon, a city staff member, said moving to BS&A’s cloud platform will provide additional storage and features, improve reporting functionality and give the police department secure, direct access to their own reports and payroll functions rather than routing requests through city hall.

Jody, a staff member who works with BS&A tasks, told the council the cloud platform offers more up‑to‑date features — the vendor has shifted primary development to the cloud — and that two staff members were registered for October training to begin the transition.

Councilmember John made a motion authorizing the mayor to execute the contract; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call with all voting council members recorded as voting in favor during the meeting.

Staff said the contract’s initial setup costs were included in the fiscal year 2025–26 budget the council had just adopted, and that the implementation schedule will be set after the contract is signed because the vendor schedules migrations on a first‑come, first‑served basis.","Council authorized the mayor to execute a contract to migrate the city's financial and payroll system to BS&A cloud services, citing server capacity limits and anticipated improved reporting and access for the police department.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480085,"Rathdrum council adopts $46.99 million 2025–26 budget; council removes 1% foregone tax",2999,177000,3176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3&start=177&end=3176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5691922-a0b0bfc437c9971227be485acd9b98a3/thumbnail_177000.jpg","/articles/6480085/Rathdrum/Kootenai-County/Idaho/Rathdrum-council-adopts-4699-million-202526-budget-council-removes-1-foregone-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480085-9518f61957ac90d5ef0638cc3f98ae3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177660&Signature=B5drGlx4F36XNYi9sTeF2knwPg0Ooqsd7hKHYxylWX44mONkT5ybEHudMZaAMDwFSNs0xDPirf-RYxjR5v33tZ2~QSQzS4gAm~u12tQnwZ9CCfwwKlhhGPDMTTI3naQTNGpCpdn2DsC9M0mQbW69YVyb6Z8~UvRjJqnts3C3OQMi0R0gI6URqY~zwAwx9z9YdL5GF-yr-dXBC8Sd47-e4xqZ0SBtj5fnz25n57GAJjAppytIz6RgNqvubeIqpfQehgqOA1K8n3T6T76U1O~bMig7NIOxFIo8X7OKWJDpbW0Ki02xJ1tQujCqocSVNbE6ZVUTtnYpsrMf-gAxsOI1Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Rathdrum on Aug. 27 adopted a $46,990,355 fiscal year 2025–26 budget and voted to publish the ordinance in full, after discussion about proposed property tax and foregone levies.

City staff said the budget is balanced and includes $18,931,253 in budgeted general fund revenues, which combine property taxes, fund balance transfers and other revenues. Leon, a city staff member, told the council that $10,000,000 of projected revenue is a planned transfer from the general fund into a special revenue fund to pay for a new city hall project and that the transfer appears in several places in the budget presentation to reflect where the dollars will be spent.

The adopted budget includes a 1.9% property tax increase (listed as $72,624 in the presentation) and an initially proposed 1% foregone tax amount (listed at $40,893). Councilmember discussion focused on whether to take the full proposed increases and whether several position conversions and new hires were needs or wants. Council members noted the proposed increases would fund two law enforcement positions and convert two parks and recreation employees from seasonal/part-time to full-time, as well as equipment for two police vehicles.

Councilmember John (surname not specified in the record) argued the parks positions were a “want” rather than a demonstrated need and requested more metrics showing the necessity of converting seasonal/part‑time positions to full time. Staff and other councilmembers responded that planned park projects — including expansion of Raptor Mountain Park, a new park at the city hall site and the Brookshire subdivision park if a pending grant is successful — will increase workload and that parks staffing shortages can lead to employee turnover.

Council deliberations clarified how Idaho tax law interacts with local levy calculations. The council discussed House Bill 389 and its effect on new construction and annexation calculations (the presentation stated the bill reduced the city’s recoverable new‑construction/annexation value by roughly 10%). Staff said the levy rate (the city’s tax rate) was projected to fall despite the budget increases because assessed market values and new construction raised the overall taxable base; staff gave a numeric example showing a $400,000 taxable home could see its city tax fall from $888 to $826 under the presented assumptions.

After debate, the council placed the annual appropriation ordinance on first reading by title only under suspension of rules and waived second and third readings, then voted to adopt the ordinance and to publish the budget in full. Separately, the council approved a motion to remove the 1% foregone tax increase of $40,893 and to reduce the 1.9% property tax increase so that the net dollar change from staff’s initial high‑watermark proposal was $43,017; the council approved that motion by recorded vote.

Votes at the council’s roll calls were read aloud by the clerk during the meeting; the record shows the motion to remove the foregone and reduce the property tax passed by a majority vote.

The council and staff noted next steps: because the council chose not to take the full foregone at this meeting, staff will research whether the city can reserve the foregone amount for a future year and return a resolution at the next meeting if required.

The budget presentation included additional details the council referenced in deliberations: special revenue funds for streets ($1,725,541), police ($1,025,000), parks ($3,600,000), the city hall fund ($10,000,000 transfer), cemetery special revenue, a water fund balanced at $4,569,561 and a sewer fund balanced at $7,121,000. Staff emphasized that the $10,000,000 transfer is a balance‑sheet movement from the general fund into the special revenue fund for construction of the new city hall.","The City of Rathdrum adopted a balanced fiscal year 2025–26 budget totaling $46,990,355 and approved publishing the ordinance in full. Council voted to remove a proposed 1% foregone tax increase of $40,893 and to reduce the proposed 1.9% property tax increase, yielding a smaller net taxpayer impact than originally proposed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Sawyer Storage short plat to split two existing businesses into separate parcels

Council approves Westwood Pines Commercial Park preliminary plat for seven lots near Highway 53

Rathdrum council approves move to BS&A cloud services, citing improved access and capacity

Rathdrum council adopts $46.99 million 2025–26 budget; council removes 1% foregone tax