Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
January 28, 2014

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:10 PM.

ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson; Bo Ossinger; Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Christopher Langsett. Absent: Rick Wekenman. Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Bev Pearce; Mark Wilcomb; Bruce Reim (Canfield & Assoc); Heather McGehee. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to excuse Councilmember Wekenman’s absence due to illness. Councilmember Estes seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

SWEARING IN OF CHRISTOPHER LANGSETT FOR POSITION #7: Mayor Echanove read Christopher Langsett his Oath of Office and he was officially sworn in.

COUNCIL CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS for vacated council position #6: The city received two applicants: Bev Pearce & Mark Wilcomb. Both applicants were separately asked an identical set of questions. At 7:31 pm Councilmember Estes MOVED, seconded by Councilmember Langsett, to go into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss the two applicants. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor called them back into order at 7:41 pm. Councilmember Hanson MOVED to appoint Mark Wilcomb to council position #6. Councilmember Estes seconded. Discussion ensued. Motion failed 3-2. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to appoint Bev Pearce to council position #6. Councilmember Langsett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

SWEARING IN OF BEV PEARCE FOR COUNCIL POSITION #6: Mayor Echanove read Bev Pearce her Oath of Office and she was officially sworn in.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 14, 2014. Councilmember Langsett seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

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

POLICE REPORT: Following up on ATV ordinance….legislation in the state of Washington has relaxed on the use of off-road vehicles on public roads. Chief Neumann would like to have an ordinance allowing the use of ATVs/ORVs on Palouse’s city streets because he thinks there could be an economic boost. He passed out an example ordinance and requested council to read it and bring back questions and concerns.

Following up on the gas thefts, all the gas thefts were/are in a 2 block radius. They have leads and are working on it.

JFB REPORT: Fire and EMS look good financially. FD had one call in December, 24 total in 2013: 7 city calls, 12 rural, and 5 mutual aid calls. The estimates on replacing the pump on the brush truck came back better than anticipated so it looks like it will be worth going through with. One tire on the tanker truck needs replacing.

EMS is upgrading their training software and supplies. Getting together with Pullman ambulance on AED training. Marv Pillers was appointed to the county 9-1-1 as the Palouse rep. EMS had 72 calls last year: 50 city, 12 rural, and 10 non-residential. 3 Med-Star calls.

NEW BUSINESS:
2013 4th Q Treasurer Report: Joyce discovered last week that the general fund went over budget for 2013. We went over by $4,930 (0.6%). We’re still going to end the year higher than the 2013 beginning balance, increasing current expense reserve balance by $29,282. Joyce clarified some of the report. Everything looks good. Cemetery and street funds lost some of their reserve. Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to approve the 4th Q treasurer’s report as presented. Councilmember Pearce seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Student Liaison Tylor Wilson- is going to talk to the junior class to see if any of them has interest in being the student liaison next year for their senior project.

MAYOR’S REPORT:
Committee Assignments: Mayor handed out his preliminary assignments and requested council to review.

Liquor License (beer & wine) application for “The Brick Wall Bar & Grill” (former home of Palouse Tavern). No objections.

Special Occasion beer/wine license for Palouse Arts Council’s annual St. Patrick’s Day event at the Palouse Community Center March 17th. No objections.

ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Estes MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Hicks 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 8:34 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid, 13th month EFT $ 962.29
Claims Paid 1-28-14 Ck. # 5459-#5477 $5,373.07

APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________