PUBLIC HEARING
2008 PRELIMINARY BUDGET
And
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – DRAFT ONLY
November 13, 2007

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Michael Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

ROLL CALL:  Council members present were:  Darcie Bagott; Mark Bailey; Mike Milano; Norm Schorzman; Jeff Snook; and Rick Wekenman. Absent was Andy O’Neill.  Also present were: Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; and Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.  Public present were:  LeAnn Drury, Joe Lynd, Joyce Lynd, Heather McGehee,

PUBLIC HEARING:  PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2008 PRELIMINARY BUDGET: The Mayor opened the public hearing at 7:01.  Hearing no comments, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:02.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:    Councilmember Snook MOVED to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of October 23, 2007.  Councilmember Bailey seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

OPEN FORUM : Leann Drury presented a $200 check to the Palouse PD drug education program.  The money was donated in her name from Schweitzer Engineering Lab for 10 years of service.  Another $100 will be donated to the school in her name.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:  Dwayne Griffin submitted a written report.  Griffin presented three bids to replace the shop furnace which is beyond repair.  It’s between 25-30 years old and runs at only 50% efficiency.  Ackerman bid $1,949.03; Nolan Heating bid $1,920.63; and Pullman Heating bid $2,575.34.  Dwayne thinks Ackerman Heating has the best bid because it’s a higher BTU furnace and includes a thermostat and chimney liner for only $29 more.  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to accept the Ackerman bid for the new furnace.  Councilmember Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  Griffin reported a water leak under the F Street Bridge in the 6-inch line.  All the joints are breaking loose and it’s causing several leaks at approx. 1500 gallons a day.  Dwayne and Don hope that the bands there are using to repair the pipes will last.  Mayor told him to budget what he needs to make a permanent fix if this doesn’t work.  The new booster pump went in at the I Street reservoir.  The new motor is a 25hp instead of 20hp so an electrician had to come to assist in installation.  The old pump is being rebuilt at this time.  The Mayor voiced concern in the quality of the pump which was purchased under this council just a couple years ago.  Dwayne explained that a sump pump would be a good investment so it can be checked on a regular basis.  He is talking with someone about a new system for the booster pump that would regulated the speed it runs based on demand.  Currently the pump runs full capacity  24/7 and we pay approximately $700/month in electricity.  This new system would pay for itself in just a few years and will maintain a constant water pressure for the service area.  The Mayor instructed Dwayne to pursue this technology and send it on to the Water/Sewer committee.

POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT:  Chief Neumann reported he had a Whitman County Communications Meeting.  He got to meet the new manager whose plan is within 5 years to have all agencies using the same radio equipment.  Whitman Co. has $600,000 in the coffers from money already raised from the 1/10th of 1% sales tax.  It’s a 3 to 4 million dollar project.  With Palouse PD’s acquisition of one portable radio we’re in good shape; we can hold off on purchasing any more until we see what happens.  Dwayne Griffin asked whether public works should wait and get on the same system.  Public Works would have to contribute their own money but Councilmember Bailey suggested looking into that because down the road it will cost much more to get on board.  During Halloween Chief Neumann gave out over 100 Halloween safety bags and gave a talk on Halloween safety to all the children in grades K-5.

Chief Neumann reminds drivers to take an extra minute to scrape their windows in the morning prior to driving.  He also reminds drivers that roads are already icy in the morning.

NEW BUSINESS:   Resolution No. 2007-09- Naming the road originating on SR 272 at milepost 17.5 and terminating at North F Street “Lynd Road”:  The Mayor read the Resolution.  The Mayor stated that not only are we making the road safer but we also get to honor the Lynd family.  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED that the City Council for the City of Palouse does hereby name the said road, “Lynd Road” in recognition of Reuben and Mary Lynd.  The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bagott and the motion carried unanimously.  Joe and Joyce Lynd thanked council.

Resolution No. 2007-08 Naming the road originating on east Main Street and terminating at the east city limit line “South River Road”:  The Mayor read the Resolution.  Councilmember Bagott MOVED that the City Council does hereby name the said road, “South River Road”.  Councilmember Bailey seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:

Progress report on Breeding’s Addition sewer extension ; Clerk Beeson said we received the signed notice of award back from A&R Construction.  We will be scheduling a pre-construction meeting.

Palouse River MH Acquisition Project : The Mayor asked council for authorization to sign agreement with DOE.  The project could begin within the next 45 days.  Council member Wekenman asked how the signing of this relates to the real estate sale.  Mayor Echanove stated that we have to get an appraisal and that we are not allowed to begin the process until this is signed and sent back.  Once we’re authorized to proceed, our attorney will begin the process with some of the privately owned units on the property.  Councilmember Bailey MOVED to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement with DOE.  Councilmember Snook seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Palouse Conservation District will be providing oversight on our riparian work.  Councilmember Wekenman asked who was responsible for removing the trees by the carwash.  Bruce Gage, the new owner of the carwash had them removed.  He left the down tree in the river in order to protect the natural habitat. Councilmember Wekenman observed we need to look carefully at the cost for disposal of the trailers.  He thinks we can do it for less than we estimated earlier.  The Mayor agreed, stating that if we can develop savings throughout the project it will really help our tight $181,000 budget.

Whitman Street Project Report :  Darcie read an email from Munir.  The bid notices should be in the paper the middle of December.  Mayor Echanove and Ann met last Friday with Munir, WSDOTRR, and HDR Engineering.  The new track will have a modern rubber mat.  The rubber mat will last forever provided it is drained to storm sewer pipes.  The city pays for WSDOT Rail expenditures and then gets reimbursed.  CTED will want it billed separately.  Our plans have to be sent to Olympia for proper signage at the crossings.  Griffin stated that the city will be replacing one full block of water main.  This needs to be done prior to beginning.  The TIB projects put ADA compliance in all 4 corners at all intersections.  There was concern about the bump outs created with this design.

2008 Budget Discussion : The only major change since the last meeting is that a pay range for the 2nd officer was created to cover both academy-trained and non-academy-trained personnel.  Councilmember Bagott asked Joyce about setting aside $500 for a community parking lot behind the community center.  It’s under the City Street fund- capital expenditures.  Councilmember Bailey got a call from Ecology that they have an additional $20,000 to apply to expanding the compost facility.  Clerk Beeson said a new department will have to be written under Current Expense.  There’s no word yet from the county on the chipper program.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:

STREETS & SIDEWALKS:  Thanks to the citizens of Palouse for passing the street levy and the pool levy.

PARKS, CEMETERY & BUILDINGS:  Mike Milano said the RV Park project is moving forward considering supplies and costs which may be ordered before the end of the year and putting off the electrical contract and purchase until after January 1st.  If we have money remaining we’ll look at safety improvements and lighted boxes, etc.  About 11 months from now we should have a pot of money available from the state office for Recreation and Conservation.   We can look at where we’re at with the trailer park work, and other enhancements around town to see if those projects will qualify for any state grants from that office.  Grant applications will be due in October 2008 for 2009 projects.

MAYOR’S REPORT :  Supreme Court overturned I-747 which limited levy tax increases to 1%.  The mayor reported that he is still in the running for state representative.

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

ADJOURN:   Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to adjourn.   Councilmember Bagott seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  The council meeting adjourned at 8:34 PM.

The following vouchers/warrants are approved for payment:
Claims Paid       Warrants: #12666 through #12698           Payments:  $72,938.94

APPROVED: ________________________________   ATTEST: ________________________________