Palouse City Council
Regular Council Meeting
September 13, 2016
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Echanove called the Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
ROLL CALL: Council members present: Doreen Hanson; Mike Hicks; Senja Estes; Rick Wekenman; Mark Wilcomb; Christopher Langsett. Councilmember Hicks MOVED to excuse Councilmember Slinkard’s absence. Councilmember Wekenman seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Staff present: Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Police Officer Joe Handley; Clerk-Treasurer Kyle Dixon; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Langsett MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of August 23, 2016. Councilmember Wekenman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.
POLICE REPORT:
~The First Step Internet agreement which council authorized Chief Neumann to move forward on is ready for the mayor’s signature. This is the agreement to install the camera equipment at the sewer plant. They’re shooting for the week of Sept. 26th for installation.
~The invoice and agreement for the police department internet trainings has arrived.
~Resident Tony Wright is requesting a speed reduction on the highway coming into Palouse from Potlatch. He would like the speed to be set at 25 MPH at every entrance into the city limits. Mayor is going to contact WSDOT about trying to get the city the permission to set the speed limit.
CLERK-TREASURER REPORT:
~Budget season is upon us. CT Dixon is meeting with Mayor Echanove, Councilmember Langsett, and former CT Bagott just to lay the groundwork on forecasting, etc.
~The groundbreaking for the solar project begins Monday, Sept. 19.
~We still have $20,500 remaining from a grant with Commerce for testing at the Brownfields site that is set to expire 12/31/16. We are working with consultant from Maul Foster on a 12-18 month extension from ecology so we can test two more times using that money. Two more successful tests will greenlight that area for potential future public/commercial use from ecology.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
CT Dixon and Mayor are attending the IACC conference in October in Wenatchee.
Regarding the West Whitman Street projects, engineer MD&A wants a 90-day construction period and if weather turns bad there will be a grace period until a set date in June at the latest. But the railroad has an approximate 8 day maximum window of closure. The Utility and Transportation Commission is having a meeting with all parties on 10/11/16 in Palouse to work out/approve details.
ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS: Councilmember Langsett MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed. Councilmember Estes seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
The following checks are approved for payment:
Payroll Paid 8/31/16 Ck. 7686-7711 & EFT $46,867.28
Claims Paid 8/24/16 – 9/13/16 Ck. 7685 & 7712-7747 & EFT $49,036.13
ADJOURN: Councilmember Hicks MOVED to adjourn. Councilmember Wekenman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. The council meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM.
APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTEST: ________________________________