February 24, 2026 STATEMENT ON WHY ANNEXATION IS NECESSARY

TOWN MANAGER STAN FOSTER REPORT TO TOWN COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 24, 2026 

STATEMENT ON WHY ANNEXATION IS NECESSARY 

I accepted this position with Lakeview to try and help the Town Government get back on its feet.  I did this because I believed that the community of Lakeview was a group of people that came together when necessary to support each other.  A town is dependent upon all its citizens working together and each supporting their fair share of what it takes to have a community.  If you live here, work here, shop here, were educated here you have an obligation like each of your neighbors to support the things that make this place home.  You are all dependent upon having water, sewer, streets, police and fire protection, medical services, schools, parks and local government.  No one gets this for free in America, we all must pay for these services.  The Town of Lakeview needs everyone to help us to have the kind of Town we all can be proud of and thrive in.  Lawful annexation of an area is a tool for addressing the citizens that are receiving all the same services that everyone else in this community is receiving but not paying the same as their neighbors that surround them. This is a shared community responsibility.  If the people in this Town are not willing to support themselves then there is no future for the Town of Lakeview and you will never be more than you are today.  It takes everyone, not just those inside or outside, an artificial line that is only real on paper and meaningless to the life we all live.  You live in Lakeview, that is where you call home. 

SUMMARY OF TOWN MANAGER ACTIVITIES  2/20-2/24 

1. Continued efforts to secure the signatures of NXTclean and Veracarbon, Inc. on our mutually negotiated agreement.  I have met with the CEO of Veracarbon. I was informed that the CEO of NXTclean has signed the agreement with the town and it is being FedX to the Town Hall today. 

2. Four applications for the permanent Town Manager position have been received.  One application was withdrawn so the citizen screening committee will review and score the three remaining applications to determine who the Town Council will invite for a formal interview in Lakeview.  We are hopeful that a suitable and qualified candidate will be selected before March 31, 2026.  This committee is Landon Dybdal, Darryl Anderson, Ray Sims, Marc Obrien, Kim McFall and Jessica Calvin.  The review and scoring will be complete by March 6, 2026. 

3. Multiple requests have been made by state agencies and private citizens for official statements on matters on the town water, appointments to Town commissions and the Town Council.  These will be answered in order of importance and we expect to have all requests answered by February 27^th. 

4. I want to extend my gratitude to the County Clerk and Assessor for their continued professional support of Town requests and assistance in completing necessary actions in support of various issues being handled by the Town of Lakeview. 

5. A formal request has been sent to Lake School District #7 to assist the Town in paying for the Student Resource Officer for FY 26-27. 

6. Revised job descriptions for the two lead positions in the Public Works Department to reflect the water/wastewater certification requirements and relationship with the Town contract Consulting Engineer have been prepared and are in the hands of the Teamster Union representative for review and approval.  This is an internal management modification and will not increase the number of PW personnel just adjusting operating protocols and position assignments. 

7. The most recent bid process for surplus equipment has closed and one bid was received and presented to the Town Council for approval. 

8. Citizen Committees will complete their work by March 10^th for incorporating their recommendations into the Five-year sustainability plan for the Town of Lakeview which will be reviewed and approved by the Town Council at the March 24 Council meeting. 

9. Questions on snow plowing were received by the Town.  It is the policy of the Town that we do not plow snow until 3-4 inches has accumulated on the streets of Lakeview.  This is a management and budgetary measure to preserve equipment and snow removal budgets. 

10.  Two additional Planning Commission positions are open and the Town will be receiving applications for these position on or before March 10^th.  Interested Town residents are encouraged to submit their application for this voluntary position to Town Hall. 

11.  A meeting between the Lake District Hospital and Lake Co. School District #7 was convened on February 23 to discuss moving the transfer of Barry Geothermal Well forward to Lake Health District (Hospital) ownership by March 31, 2026. 

12.  Ownership of the property known as “Don’s Market” will be transferred to Town ownership on February 25^th to facilitate the removal and clean-up of this property under EPA/DEQ supervision and paid for by the federal government at no expense to the town 

13. A final decision to proceed with awarding a Water tank clean-up contract to the lowest bidder will be made this week by consensus of the Town Council.  It is our hope for this work to occur within the next 60-90 days.