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Snowflake council approves tax notice, purchasing-limit increase, garbage rules, golf equipment and traffic changes
Summary
Council approved a notice of intent to consider raising sales tax from 2% to 3%, raised the purchasing agent's spending authority to $50,000, adopted rules on garbage containers, approved a golf-course equipment purchase and authorized installation of 4-way stops; motions were recorded unanimous with one member absent.
At its Nov. 2, 2021 meeting, the Snowflake Town Council approved several administrative and operational measures that the town said address procurement, public safety and code enforcement.
Brian Richards, listed among town staff in the meeting record, said that Taylor has submitted a notice of intent to raise the local sales tax from 2% to 3%; the council voted to begin the public-notice process for that change. Joe Jarvis, town staff, presented Ordinance 2021-10 to raise the purchasing agent spending limit from $15,000 to $50,000; the council approved the ordinance (first reading and then final passage recorded) with a unanimous vote and Allison Perkins absent.
Jarvis also introduced Ordinance 2021-11, aimed at defining garbage containers and nuisances related to dumpsters placed in town rights of way. Councilmembers discussed whether to hold both property owners and waste companies liable and whether to coordinate with trash vendors. Council approved the ordinance unanimously with Perkins absent.
On capital purchases, staff recommended buying golf-course equipment from Stotz Equipment; council approved the purchase. For traffic calming, Chief Martin described using patrols and temporary speed trailers to assess problem streets and recommended installing four-way stops at selected residential intersections; council approved installation of the proposed four-way stops. Council discussed speed bumps but noted winter snow plowing as a concern.
Other items approved during the meeting included a special-use-permit change to allow a site-built secondary structure in place of a single-wide on an agricultural parcel and a variance authorizing a property split for the Christiansens, both approved unanimously with Perkins absent.
Why it matters: These votes adjust how the town spends and enforces code (purchasing limit and garbage rules), initiate a public process on a possible sales-tax increase that would affect local consumers, and enact traffic-calming measures intended to address neighborhood safety.
What’s next: The notice of intent begins a process that will include a public hearing before any sales-tax increase would take effect; procurement and code changes will take effect per ordinance timelines.
