Palouse City Council
PUBLIC HEARING: 2017 Preliminary Budget
Followed by Regular Council Meeting
November 8, 2016

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson; Bill Slinkard; Senja Estes; Rick Wekenman; Mark Wilcomb. Councilmember Wekenman MOVED to excuse Councilmember Hicks & Langsett’s absences. Councilmember Hanson seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Staff present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Officer Joe Handley; Clerk-Treasurer Kyle Dixon; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.

PUBLIC HEARING: 2017 Preliminary Budget: Mayor opened the hearing at 7:01. Council discussed the preliminary budget. Hearing closed at 7:24 pm.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Slinkard MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of October 25, 2016. Councilmember Wilcomb seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:
Hired Woltering Concrete to repair a sidewalk at H & Main Streets.
Repaired a bad sewer plug because a residence flushed paper towels, hair, etc. Sewer plugs are often pinpointable, as was this one, to the specific house causing the plug. Supt. Griffin again stressed the severe adverse effects that flushing paper towels, hair, wipes and other non-degradable material has on our sewer system. If this continues, the city may have responsible parties clear the debris at their expense.

POLICE REPORT:
Had more incidents than usual at HP this year, mostly alcohol related. The PD brought in some hired help from Colfax and reserves to help this year. Chief Neumann is going to discuss with the Chamber of Commerce increasing pay for outside officers hired for HP next year.

There was a car accident coming into town from Pullman resulting in an arrest for DUI; the driver missed the corner and jumped the bank near the Lions Club Park. This wreck was caused by alcohol and speed. There have been five accidents at that location, including one fatality approximately 15 years ago. Officer Handley would like to see a guardrail there and is speaking with WSDOT about the possibility. It was suggested that a directional arrow notifying drivers of a curve ahead may be helpful as well.

CLERK-TREASURER REPORT:
Solar project is complete and they’re awaiting final inspection. Once that’s done the city will flip the switch.

Our audit begins November 22.

CT Dixon and Deputy Clerk Thompson are training Nov. 17th for our new process of accepting online debit/credit card payments. We’re hoping that will be up and running in December. Watch utility bills for more info.

OLD BUSINESS:
Update on speed reduction request at SR 27 & SE city limits: Mayor Echanove spoke with Jill Dvorkin, a legal consultant with MRSC, regarding whether the city has any authority to lower the speed limit on a state highway that runs through the city. Long story short, there is a multiple-step process for the city to change the speed limits. Once the steps are complete, the State Department of Transportation still has to approve. Ordinance 569 from 1983 set the speeds for our primary state highways Nos. 27 & 272. Council would like to see all five entrances into town be changed to 25 MPH for uniformity. City staff will send word to our attorney to begin the process of amending PMC 10.16.050, making all entrances into the city via state highways 25 MPH.

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS:
Streets & Sidewalks, Chair Hicks-
12 of the 15 sidewalks to be repaired by homeowners have been completed. The city will be sending a letter to the remaining three outlining what happens next.

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

The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 10/28/16 Ck. #7798-7800 & 7868-7884 & EFT $45,411.58
Claims Paid 11/08/16 Ck. #7885-7913 & EFT $79,033.10
VOIDS Ck. #7867

ADJOURN: Councilmember Hanson MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Slinkard seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 7:56 PM.

APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________