Priest River council approves code-enforcement policy and OKs police vehicle payment

The Priest River City Council approved its consent agenda at a Dec. 15 meeting, adopting Resolution 25-062, the city's new Code Enforcement Policy & Procedure and Building Permit Policy & Procedure, and authorizing payment to Mountain Home Auto Ranch for a 2026 Dodge Durango to be used by the city police department. Council Member Mullaley moved to approve the consent agenda with the additional payment; Council Member Turner seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The consent agenda also included approval of previous minutes (Dec. 2, 2025), payables, a November 2025 reserve transfer and the Treasurer's monthly report. Mayor Jeff Connolly presented Building & Zoning Assistant Lynda Ayers with a plaque honoring 15 years of service and advised the public to prepare for a forecasted windstorm.

During the public comment period, resident Dick Chase of 69 Saccs Lane said he filed a complaint about a neighbor's property and told the council that, according to the Police Chief and the Code Enforcement Officer, enforcement staff had sent a letter but would not enter the neighbor's property to inspect alleged violations. "He asked that the City enforce the codes," Chase told the council. The council did not take a separate enforcement action on the complaint at this meeting.

Resolution 25-062 was listed on the agenda as part of the consent package; the record shows the resolution was adopted by the unanimous consent vote. The agenda packet did not list a purchase amount for the police vehicle; the vendor was identified as Mountain Home Auto Ranch and the vehicle as a 2026 Dodge Durango.