Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 11, 2014

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson; Bo Ossinger; Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Rick Wekenman; Bev Pearce; Christopher Langsett. Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Donna Langsett; Heather McGehee; Tylor Wilson (GP student liaison).

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 28, 2014. Councilmember Hicks seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.

POLICE REPORT:
No issues at Brewfest.
Had a couple semis attempt going up Bridge Street and get stuck. Public Works helped free one.
Regarding the ATV ordinance, helmets have to be worn. Golf carts will be included as long as they have break lights. Some of the roads we’ve identified as access ways into and out of Palouse are North River and South River Roads, county roads, etc. State highways are not allowed. State regulates decibels of noise. If operated at night, the orv’s must have working headlights, brake lights, & signal lights. There are licensing requirements, vehicle requirements, etc. that all need to be in place. Chief would like to meet with committee to go over it and then maybe have a public hearing about it.

River is predicted to reach 10’ and our action stage is 14’ so we’re okay. The river flow is available on www.visitpalouse.com

NEW BUSINESS:
Award bid for backhoe – City received only one bid. Rowand Machinery bid, with our trade-in, $71,684.73. Councilmember Pearce MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Wekenman, to accept the Rowand Machinery bid of $71,684.73, for the purchase of a new backhoe. The last backhoe was purchased from Rowand. And the county purchases from Rowand. Motion carried unanimously.

Resolution 2014-01: Interfund Loan – Mayor read aloud the resolution in its entirety. It’s a short-term, interfund loan of $10,000, from water fund to the street fund to pay its share of this purchase. This sum, together with interest of 5% per annum, shall be repaid within three years from the date of disbursement. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance. Water Operating is saving for the new well and the projects outlined in the WSP so we know it will need money in the future but for the next two or three years it will be fine; we’re not spending money we’ll need tomorrow. And we might as well pay the interest to ourselves vs. a bank. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to adopt Resolution 2014-01. Councilmember Ossinger seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Ordinance No. 913: Budget amendment – Mayor read aloud the ordinance in its entirety. In summary, of the $1,971,308 estimated revenues, $1,377,170 are appropriated. This budget amendment is what we have to do to be able to purchase the backhoe. Councilmember Hicks MOVED to accept ordinance no. 913, seconded by Councilmember Ossinger. Motion carried unanimously.

Award bid for Palouse TIB LED Implementation Project- The city received two bids for this project. Hemphill Heating & Electric bid $96,725.62; Colvico bid $102,236. TIB recommends Hemphill be awarded the project. This is 100% paid through the TIB grant but the city is going to be expending money on this project before the grant money comes in. It’s our hope that when we submit a request for reimbursement that we get in before the month end. So there may be some months when the street fund ends in the negative until the grant money comes in. Joyce is going to check with the auditors on how tht would be viewed by them. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Hicks to accept the recommendation to award the bid to Hemphill Heating & Electric. Motion carried unanimously. Because this is a total swap-out, we’re going to need a storage area for the units coming down. They will be of value and we’ll need to figure out the future of them.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Finance, Property, & Equipment – Chris Langsett, Chair:
Water & Sewer – Bo Ossinger, Chair:
Policy & Administration – Doreen Hanson, Chair: Will have a meeting for the ATV ordinance.
Personnel & Pool – Bev Pearce, Chair:
Parks, Cemetery, & Buildings – Senja Estes, Chair:
Police, Fire, & Safety – Rick Wekenman, Chair:

Streets & Sidewalks- Mike Hicks, Chair: The city just received word about “Safe routes to school” grant opportunity. Perhaps they could be used for sidewalks in disrepair.

MAYOR’S REPORT:
Next Mayor’s Roundtable is in Albion.

AWC conference is June 17-20 in Spokane this year.

ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Langsett MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Estes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN: Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Estes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 1/31/14 Ck. #5478-5494 & EFT $35,483.91
Claims Paid 2/12/14 Ck. #5495-5518 & EFT $18,743.26

APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________