Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
February 23, 2016
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; Mark Wilcomb; Christopher Langsett. Staff present: Police Officer Joe Merry; Clerk-Treasurer Mike Bagott; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of February 9, 2016. Councilmember Langsett seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.
POLICE REPORT:
Officer Merry reported they have a couple active investigations in both Garfield and Palouse.
No problems with Palouse Brew Fest.
JFB REPORT (2nd council meeting of month only):
Rick Wekenman reported they met on Feb. 15th. All of the financials are in good shape. The county is trying to improve the communication situation for emergency responders and police agencies. The current set up is fragmented. The new system should be up and running before the wildfire season starts this summer.
There were 2 fire calls and 9 EMS calls in January. Palouse is hosting a six-week EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) class beginning May 4. The city is hoping to gain seven new Emergency Medical Responders as a result of this class.
CLERK-TREASURER REPORT:
Acceptance of high bid for surplus 1990 Dodge: Minimum bid was set at $1,000. Bids closed at 2:00 pm Feb. 23. The city received 5 bids. Mayor read aloud the bids which ranged from $1,520 to $2,550. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to accept the high bid of $2,550 from Robert Koepl. Councilmember Hanson seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
Apollo is still gathering information for the solar grant application which is due next week.
The Public Records Bill is not dead yet. State Rep. Joe Schmick said some version will probably come before the House this week. CT Bagott has received numerous PRRs already this year.
DC Thompson requested to use more than one week of vacation at a time this spring. CT Bagott has no objection. Councilmember Hicks MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Langsett, to authorize Ann to take more than one week at a time of vacation this spring. Motion carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
The city received an amended agreement from Department of Enterprise Services (DES). The only changes are the agreement numbers and the attachment numbers. There are no changes to the dollar amounts. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to authorize the mayor to sign the amended agreement with DES. Councilmember Hicks seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Personnel & Pool, Chair Hanson- First round of lifeguard interviews are scheduled for Thursday.
Water & Sewer, Chair Ossinger-
Councilmember Langsett reported that he, Councilmember Hicks, and Mayor Echanove had a committee meeting last week to discuss the old water reservoir on the north hill. This brick reservoir was built in 1910. Public Works took the reservoir off line and drained it because of some major needed repairs. In 1998 Kimball Engineering recommended building a new reservoir and putting it on the south hill to help with water pressure on that side of town. The reservoir has served the city well for over 110 years; no one could have anticipated it lasting that long.
At this meeting they reviewed over 20 SOQ’s and narrowed it down to four engineers: JUB, Century West, Taylor, & TD&H. These four firms have a lot of grant experience. Councilmembers Hicks, Langsett, Ossinger, Mayor Echanove, CT Bagott, and PW Supt. Griffin will interview all four engineering firms for the potential build of a new reservoir on the south hill as well as the replacement of West Church Street’s water main. There is money in place for preliminary work to get a plan from an engineer. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to interview the four engineering firms to move forward with the planning for the potential new water reservoir and the West Church Street water line. Councilmember Langsett seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The city’s other reservoir is right next to this one on the north hill.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board has a renewal request from the Palouse Caboose to serve alcohol. No objections.
Varela & Associates met with the WWTP advisory committee on Feb. 16th. They’re coming up with many ideas. Ellie Key from DOE was present to give feedback on their ideas.
There is a stakeholders meeting next week to discuss the very preliminary West Whitman Street plans.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Estes MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Langsett seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid 2/23/16 Ck. 7274-7296 $37,965.45
ADJOURN: Councilmember Hicks MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Estes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________