REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
March 9, 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; Rick Wekenman; & Randy Zehm. Also present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; City Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson. Public present: Pete Hertz; Sandy Schorzman; Cecil Floyd.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Wekenman said to add under new business, Award LPPP… “flood damage control”. Councilmember Milano MOVED to adopt the minutes as amended of the Regular Council Meeting of February 23, 2010. Councilmember Wekenman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
OPEN FORUM:
Sandy Schorzman representing Palouse Arts Council. asked for council’s permission to sell beer and wine at the St. Paddy’s dinner March 17th. No objections. Councilmember Snook MOVED to allow the Palouse Arts Council to sell beer and wine at their annual St. Paddy’s dinner. Councilmember Marcus seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report. In addition, Griffin reported that in May 2008 we installed a VFD on our booster pump and we spoke about how it would pay for itself. It has already paid for itself. We are showing a savings of about 40% a month, from about $1,100 a month to about $600 a month.
The chipper pile is full already. The City has asked the county to rework a section of the language on the Interlocal Chipper Agreement between us and Whitman County. In the future we may have an agreement with Garfield also as another option. Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to authorize the mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with the county prior to our next council meeting if the language is approved by attorney Bishop. Councilmember Bagott seconded. It was decided that Resolution 2010-04 needs to be discussed prior to voting on this issue. Councilmember Bagott then MOVED to table the motion until after new business is discussed. Councilmember Schorzman seconded, and motion carried unanimously.
POLICE REPORT: Chief Neumann submitted a written report. The signs for Union Street are in.
NEW BUSINESS :
Resolution # 2010-04 – adding the chipper/compost use yearly permit fee of $25.00 to City’s fee schedule. This would be an annual fee, January through December. Regardless whether someone purchases their permit in January, June, or November, it expires every December 31. The grant has expired and this is the only way to continue this successful program. As far as policing, we will have to see how things go. Councilmember Milano MOVED to accept Resolution 2010-04. Councilmember Snook seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The fee is effective immediately.
Councilmember Snook MOVED to take from the table the earlier motion, second by Councilmember Zehm. Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Parks, Cemetery, & Buildings-Randy Zehm, chair : $1,000 received already this spring in RV Park Reservations.
Personnel & Pool-Jeff Snook, Chair : Jeff spoke with Annie Manning; she is returning as pool manager. We’re getting rolling on summer hiring. We still need money for pool stairs for the disabled/elderly. The ones we’re looking at are industrial-strength.
Water & Sewer-Roger Marcus, Chair : Roger will be meeting with RCAC to sign an agreement allowing them to work with the city at no cost to the city. Councilmember Schorzman MOVED , Councilmember Snook seconded authorizing Roger Marcus to be the city liaison with RCAC for the rate study and water use efficiency report. Motion carried unanimously. All of this work will contribute to the full water plan that has been tabled for now.
Policy and Administration: Breeding’s Addition Sewer Connection – When the amendment was done to Ordinance No. 839, adding language for when it is physically unfeasible to connect sewer, a portion was inadvertently left out. The sample ordinance handed out to council corrects this problem. This ordinance will be on the next agenda.
MAYOR’S REPORT :
Mayor reviewed for council the parcel of land the county owns below the rock pit in Breeding’s Addition. Since this land is bordered to the north by City right of way and Fairview runs through the middle, the county has asked the Mayor if the city would be interested in acquiring it. It was brought it to council on Dec. 8, 2009 and the motion failed because the city had just received a letter from Jim Farr saying he was not responsible for getting sewer to his property from Fairview. Since then, John Eastburn has sent a letter saying that he understands it is fully the developer’s responsibility to pay for w/s extension costs. John represents himself as working with Jim Farr and Nicole Wood to help get this property developed. To John’s credit, he is making positive efforts to turn this around. Councilmember Marcus stated that they need to understand that it is the developers’ responsibility to extend utilities, no matter who owns the property. Dwayne said the work required is not a job Public Works can do because of the rock and compaction. Councilmember Bagott would like to see the city own that land because it borders Fairview and it is at the top of the list for street repairs. Joyce said ownership just gives us one less step to deal with down the road and sees no downside. Councilmember Schorzman MOVED , second by Councilmember Wekenman authorizing the mayor to sign a Letter of Interest for the transfer of said property from the county to the City. Motion carried unanimously.
The community Brownsfield committee met with the WSU architect students last week. Chris Boyd, property owner, came and spoke with the students about extending the Shady Lane trail all the way around his property across the river.
Mayor and Councilmember Snook will not be at next council meeting.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Schorzman MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Zehm seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Councilmember abstained from voting due to conflict of interest.
ADJOURN: Councilmember Bagott MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Claims Paid #2120 – #2141 $12,557.07
Payroll Paid #2102- #2119 & EFT $37,271.87
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________