REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
March 28, 2006
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Michael Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00PM
ROLL CALL: Council members present were: Council members present were: Darcie Bagott; Mark Bailey; Mike Milano; Andy O’Neill; Norm Schorzman; Jeff Snook; and Rick Wekenman. Also present were: Joyce Beeson, Clerk-Treasurer; Byron Hodges, Public Works Superintendent; Bev Pearce, Deputy Clerk; Chief Neumann; Dan Gladwill; Shaun Buckendahl; Arson Buckendahl; Marie Dymkoski; Matthew Dymkoski; Mitchell Dymkoski; Quentin Neumann; Tracy Milano; David Milano; Cole Sanderson; Joseph Wilcomb; Tony Nilson; Lisa Neumann; Teresa Mitchell; Chris Mitchell; Wyatt Mitchell.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mark Bailey MOVED to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of March 14, 2006. Mike Milano seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
OPEN FORUM :
Cub Scout Pack 417 presented to the city two plaques, one a photo of the pack working on the Shady Lane benches and the other a national Summertime Pack Award. These plaques are a Thank you to the city for allowing the pack to work on Shady Lane . The council members and Byron Hodges thanked the boys for a job well done and much appreciated.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT : Byron Hodges
Byron gave a city tour to Council Members Mark Bailey and Andy O’Neill. Byron, Joyce and the mayor attended a meeting in Colfax with various state agencies which fund water and sewer projects. Projects discussed included the proposed upgrade to more efficient sludge processing equipment, the Fishers Addition Sewer project and the water reservoir replacement project. Don went to a conference for his waste water license. Byron has received good reports on the Sludge equipment that the city is interested in. There will be a demonstration of the equipment on April 26. He would like to see the council join them for the equipment demonstration. Marc painted parking lines on Main St . It was pointed out to Byron that a culvert at SR27 and Palouse Cove road needs to be looked at. Byron said that it would probably be repaired by the State.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Chief Neumann
Chief Neumann read a letter of resignation from Officer Jim Wright, effective immediately. The chief also explained that the city paid for uniforms for Officer Wright, but the uniforms are not standard size and probably cannot be used any future officer. Officer Wright would like to purchase the uniforms with payments being made over a period of time. The chief and treasurer Beeson have discussed this and are willing to work with Officer Wright. The council agreed. Chief Neumann also pointed out that the city now has in its possession two motorcycles. He feels that it would be difficult to find another officer with motorcycle training at this time. He would like to return one vehicle back to Columbia Motorcycle. This has already been discussed with the company and they are willingly to take back the vehicle. The chief has also contacted the company which the add on equipment was purchased from. Since the boxes have not been opened, they too are willing to take the equipment back. The chief said that at any time in the future, if the city does want to add a second motorcycle to its inventory, Columbia Motorcycle will honor the current lease price and agreement. The chief presented to council a rough draft drawing of the new Police station. There will be an Open House for the public on Friday, April 7 for the new Police Station.
Shawn Buckendahl asked the council about what can be done about parking on Whitman and Beach Street . Some cars park so that there is very little room to get by. The chief said he would check it out.
BUILDING INSPECTOR REPORT: Dan Gladwill
Dan reported that it has been a quiet month; he is working on current open permits. He thanked Byron for helping with identifying set backs for people. Council Member Wekenman asked Dan about the status of the Green-Kent property at Beach and Cannon. Dan said that the Green-Kent’s have secured the area. Dan pointed out that through his continuing education programs he is learning that an inspector can legally only go on to the property with the owner’s permission.
JOINT FIRE BOARD & EMS: Jeff Snook
Council Member Snook reported that there are two action items that need addressing. The first is a Homeland Security grant that Chief Bagott would like to apply for. This grant is in the amount of $275,000, the matching portion required by city and rural fire is $13,750. This grant application is for a new fire truck. Council Member Snook MOVED to allow Chief Bagott to sign and submit this application for a Homeland Security Grant. Council Member Milano seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
The second action item is to approve the purchase of two water cannons for the fire department. The funding is from the DNR grant that the fire department had been awarded. There were three bids: Roadrunner Mfg.-$8,205.84; General Fir-$12,586. and Akron FireFox-$11,750.40. Council Member Snook MOVED to accept the bid from Roadrunner Mfg. Council Member Bailey seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Council Member Snook told council that the JFB agreed to name the Public Safety Building the William A. Wolf Public Safety Building .
Council Member O’Neill suggested that the JFB put together a 5 year history of grant awards and ependitures. This would let the citizens of Palouse know where the funding comes from and to let them know where the tax dollars come from that pays for the updating of equipment and vehicles. Joyce Beeson pointed out that she would like to publish a city newsletter in May. Perhaps that information could be put in the newsletter.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Hazardous Mitigation
The Mayor updated council on the FEMA Hazardous Mitigation project. The mayor gave a brief history of how the project began and the timetable for which the project has proceeded. The Federal Stafford Act of 2000 spelled out in essence that for any local jurisdiction to be eligible for pre-disaster funds they must have an approved hazardous mitigation plan in place. Palouse is 1 of 21 partners that has signed on to the project developed by Whitman County and has been represented on the committee by Councilman Wekenman and the mayor. Meetings have been help for the last 16 months. The Mayor read from “The Daily Evergreen” an article pertaining to this plan which outlined the discussion the city of Pullman had regarding the project. The plan itself includes (2) major parts: the county wide plan and the local jurisdiction annexes. The mitigation plan open public comment period ended March 31st and will be sent to all of the partners for adoption in April. The plan is laid out on the Whitman County website. The Mayor asked that council members review the plan for discussion at the next council meeting. The council continued with a discussion on flood situations and possible preventive work in Palouse.
- Authorization to sign .08 application
Council Member Milano completed and turned in the.08 application for the RV Park. Budget information may need to be amended in the future as estimates are finalized. The review for the application will take place April 18 and sometime in early May the grants will be awarded. Council Member O’Neill MOVED to authorize Council Member Milano to sign any current or future documents regarding the .08 grant application. Council Member Snook seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Council Member Schorzman reported that the WACERT Committee for which he is a member reviewed applications and gave their recommendations to the County Commissioners for their approval. The city of Palouse submitted two projects for ranking. One project was the Fishers Addition Sewer Extension project and the other was the water reservoir upgrade project. The WACERT committee ranked the Palouse reservoir project at number 5 and Fishers Addition at number 10. Dan Gladwill commented that it costs approximately $2.00/gal to build a reservoir. Discussion continued on current water rights issues in Washington and Idaho .
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
PARKS, CEMETERY & BUILDINGS : Mike Milano
Council Member Milano reported under old business
PERSONNEL & POOL : Jeff Snook
Chief Neumann stated that the Police department will proceed slowing with hiring a second officer.
FINANCE, PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT : Norm Schorzman-No Report
POLICE, FIRE & SAFETY : Rick Wekenman-No Report
POLICY & ADMINISTRATION : Mark Bailey
Council Member Bailey has met with Joyce on policy issues. The city attorney is currently working on an ordinance to set forth a planning commission for the city. He will be attending the April 11 council meeting.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS: Darcie Bagott
Council Member Bagott reported that when the concept drawing for the Whitman Street renovation is ready a public meeting will be set.
WATER & SEWER : Andy O’Neill
Council Member O’Neill and Bailey thanked Byron for the city tour. Council Member Bailey stated that the city shop needs to be replaced.
MAYOR’S REPORT :
The Mayor reported that the CTED grant application will not be done by the city for the Whitman Street renovation project because this project does not meet the criteria for the grant. There will be an AWC conference in June in Spokane . The mayor encourages all council members to attend. The mayor read a letter from Community Action announcing a board of director’s vacancy. The mayor discussed updating data loggers in our wells. It would cost about $1,000 to retro fit the data loggers. Byron said that the upgrade would have to coincide with maintenance on the wells, which would take place in a couple of years. The mayor feels that it is important to keep the data loggers going as this measures water levels in the aquifers.
Byron told council that the city has two of the best wells in the area and will have water for a very long time.
The Mayor asked the finance committee to meet and discuss the cities insurance carriers and policy. AWC wants the city business. He instructed the committee to work with Joyce on this issue.
The Mayor informed the council that at the next council meeting there will be a request for annexation.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Norm Schorzman MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed.
Jeff Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN Norm Schorzman MOVED to adjourn. Mike Milano seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:50PM
The following vouchers/warrants are approved for payment:
Claims Paid Warrants: #11639 through # 11655 Payment: $6,505.99
APPROVED:________________________________ ATTEST:________________________________