REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
April 13, 2010
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
ROLL CALL: Council members present: Darcie Bagott; Roger Marcus; Mike Milano; Norm Schorzman; Jeff Snook; & Randy Zehm. Absent: Rick Wekenman. Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; City Attorney Stephen Bishop (7:20); Police Chief Jerry Neumann; City Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Tom Wolny, Pete Hertz, Jeslyn Lemke.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Bagott MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of March 23, 2010. Councilmember Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report. Additionally, they are doing the ground work for the new playground equipment. They also planted four of the new trees at the RV Park.
POLICE REPORT: Chief Neumann submitted an activity log. Additionally, Chief is working with Marc Van Harn regarding the Rat Rod show and street closure. He is requesting Main Street from Bridge St. to Hall St. be closed June 5, 2010. The detour will be Hall St. to Whitman St. to Bridge St. Chief is meeting with Marc Van Harn this week to go over the P.D.’s expectations and to make sure all bases are covered. Their goal is to make this a family-friendly venue and generate business for Palouse. City staff will get all the paperwork into the Dept. of Transportation requesting approval for this street closure. Councilmember Zehm commended Chief Neumann on his work with Van Harn and the plans for this event.
NEW BUSINESS :
Interlocal Agreement with the City of Garfield for renting their chipper . This agreement gives the city another option for chipper rental. An agreement has already been signed for use of the County chipper. Garfield charges $20/hour run time based on the meter on the chipper. Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement with Garfield. Councilmember Zehm seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Sealed Bids for old playground equipment removed from City Park : Councilmember Milano MOVED , second by Councilmember Zehm to surplus the old seesaw spring rider. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 2010-05 : open a Public Funds Now account with AWB. Mayor read aloud the resolution in its entirety. This savings account gives the city a little better rate than what we are currently getting at the investment pool. It may also reduce the number of wire transfers to and from the investment pool, which cost $10 each. As stated in the resolution, AWB is approved by the Public Deposit Protection Commission and the balance of this account shall not exceed the maximum amounts insured under FDIC. This isn’t anything we’re locked into; it’s just a savings account that we can be close at any time and the balance sent to the investment pool. Councilmember Milano MOVED to adopt Resolution 2010-05 authorizing Clerk Beeson to open a Public Funds Now savings account with AWB. Councilmember Snook seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Ordinance 868 : Amending the 2010 Annual Budget. Mayor read aloud the ordinance in its entirety. This ordinance amends ordinances No. 865 & 866. Current Expense, expenditures: add a new line item for the chipper operating rental with a budget of $6,000 and decrease ending balance. Arterial Streets, Revenues: increase beginning balance and Highways and Local Programs to reflect actual grant revenue from the completion of the 2009 H Street Project. Expenditures: increase Sidewalks line item for the completion of the 2009 H Street Project and decrease ending balance. In writing the 2010 budget, it was thought that only the retainage would be left to pay. The final payment and retainage were not paid until 2010 to Motley-Motley. Councilmember Milano MOVED , and Councilmember Zehm seconded to adopt the ordinance as written. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Parks, Cemetery, & Buildings-Randy Zehm, chair:
It took about 90 minutes for approximately 25 volunteers to plant about 360 trees at the Palouse River Walk.
Randy spoke with Steve McGehee about the Culton Street building abatement. Steve McGehee still holds the contract. A few weeks ago, the current owner did receive a bid to demolish the building.
Streets & Sidewalks-Darcie Bagott, Chair : Darcie has been speaking with Bev Fox regarding the “Safe Routes to School” Grant. Darcie met with her and gave her a compilation of suggestions to make the traffic/pedestrian flow safer and better.
Personnel & Pool-Jeff Snook, Chair : Jeff is going to write a small report to distribute to residents explaining why the pool is opening later this season.
Water & Sewer-Roger Marcus, Chair: Roger met with Andy O’Neill from RCAC. They discussed the state’s requirements on the water use efficiency report. We will present updated info on gallons used and the amount of waste we have. Palouse is at 90% efficiency which is remarkable. Some cities are at 50%. We will need to hold a public meeting at the 5/11 council meeting. Councilmember Marcus MOVED , second by Councilmember Zehm to hold a public hearing for input to define the City of Palouse goal for water use efficiency. This hearing is set for May 11, 2010, at 7:00PM.
CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT:
Joyce will be meeting with Mary Estes from the Planning Commission to discuss R1 setbacks.
MAYOR’S REPORT :
The Mayor has been busy meeting with different officials to discuss city affairs: Met with Dick Waters from SEWEDA; met with Steven Dunn from the Public Works Trust Fund; and met with Jim Darling of MFA, our Brownfields consultant.
There was a misunderstanding at City Hall and a check was issued to the school for $2,100 instead of first to DOE for approval. DOE only approved $600 of the $2,100. It was not our intent for the city or the school to pay that.
The city received a Public Records Request (PRR) March 23. It was completed March 25. In all, there were 284 pages copied for a total of $28.40 worth of photocopying due to the city. The requestor was notified by email and over the phone that the PRR was completed. It has yet to be picked up.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Snook MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Zehm seconded the motion. Councilmember Bagott abstained due to conflict of interest. Motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN: Councilmember Bagott MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Zehm seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid Ck. #2160 – #2179 & EFT $39,723.45
Claims Paid Ck. #2180 – #2220 $31,276.88
Check Voided Ck. #2191