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Onida council roundup: phones on FirstNet, licenses, audit, hires and other votes
Summary
At the meeting the council approved moving some city phones to FirstNet, renewed malt beverage licenses, approved the annual report and audit proposal, held a first reading of a fireworks ordinance, and approved multiple personnel hires and wage adjustments. Several routine items (building permits, bills) were also approved.
The Onida City Council took a series of routine and substantive votes, approving phone service on FirstNet, renewing licenses, accepting the annual report, approving an audit proposal, and taking multiple personnel and hiring actions.
On communications: the council voted to move two city phones to FirstNet, an AT&T-based priority network, after staff said FirstNet plans were cheaper than the city's current vendor and offer priority network usage in disasters. The monthly cost for the two phones was presented as $84.98; a motion to approve the change carried on roll call.
On licenses and routine business: the council approved malt beverage license renewals for John's Food, Blue Goose and Toons and Friends; approved five building permits (decks, driveway work, an 82-foot privacy fence, a shed and a patio/fence combination); and approved payment of the city's bills as presented.
On finances and oversight: the council approved the 2025 annual report as submitted and approved the proposed 2024—2025 audit engagement for $16,250; the chair said the lower audit cost reflected the absence of federal dollars this year. The council also received an airport update noting the Aeronautics Commission will participate in revenue-producing projects and reduce the city's match to 2.5%.
On personnel and summer programs: the council approved a motion to increase an employee (Scott) to $18 per hour with a requirement that he be in a city vehicle while on-site at the dump; it approved several seasonal hires, including a lifeguard/pool manager appointment and hiring Preston Kenny for summer recreation for $6,000 (contingent on listed conditions). The council moved to adjourn after approving the personnel items and paying bills.
Ordinance: the council conducted the first reading of Ordinance 2026-01, amending section 8.6 of the city ordinances on fireworks to authorize discharge between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. June 27—July 5 and until midnight on July 4; the ordinance will return for a second reading at the May 5 meeting.
What comes next: the council set the May meeting for May 5 at 7 p.m. and asked staff to circulate contracts (garbage contract renewal) and follow up on implementation items such as the FirstNet phone migration and audit engagement.
