MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON
CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by Mayor Walton at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENT: Mayor Gary Walton, Councilmembers Perry Skoglund, Roel Martinez, Monica Pruett, Jim Lobach, and Ron Boyer.
STAFF: City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, City Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman, City Attorney Terry Tanner and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez.
VISITORS: Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Andy Sawyer, Councilmember Elect; Kathy Bingham, Graphic; and Dale Mooney and Jim Harter, interested in the golf course.
CORRESPONDENCE/PRESENTATIONS/APPOINTMENTS
1. James Otis Neal - Requested Council adopt a resolution for a feasibility study for passenger rail service.
Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:
Minutes of the November 26, 2001 Regular Meeting with a correction to page 3 under Resolution No. 2001-08 adding "Councilmember Boyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously."
Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Boyer voiced his concern regarding the activity held at the Community Center on December 8, 2001. Beer bottles were found when the event was not authorized to have alcohol.
Complaints had been received from Wheatland Apartments, which is located directly behind the Community Center, in regards to the loud music, beer bottles and rocks being thrown at the apartment building and the foul language of attendees of the event.
Mayor Walton recommended that the Community Center Committee meet to discuss changes to the Center policy.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agenda with items 17 & 18 to be discussed in executive session. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
WASTEWATER FACILITY
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.
Schedule A – Switching problems were occurring while pumping water to the lagoons, possibly caused by a faulty main breaker in Lift Station A. The pump motors in Lift Station B had both failed and been removed by the contractor to be sent back to the manufacturer for analysis and repair or replacement. The cause had not been determined but could be in the motor control center. The manufacturer (G.E.) would probably be making a site visit to find the cause of the problems. (The lift stations had not bee accepted by the City.)
Schedule B - Well driller at the treatment plant had been unable to do the test pumping because of equipment problems. Until this is completed, there will be no water in the treatment plant to test the chlorination equipment.
Councilmember Lobach moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 8 in the amount of $44,982.60 to Selland Construction. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT UPDATE
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.
Phase I - A few items needed to be taken care of before the project would be recommended for approval. Once these had been completed, a follow up inspection would be scheduled. The pipeline was extended 600 feet past Curry Road. Approximately two thirds of the rock excavation took place past Curry Road. The rock excavation had not been included in the bid schedule but was included in the estimate for the funding application.
Councilmember Lobach moved to approve Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $10,761.06. Motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Phase II - Moving ahead with the designs.
Councilmember Lobach moved to approve Application For Payment No. 2 in the amount of $19,073.26, which included $10,761.06 for the change order, to Selland Construction. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.
TIB - CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported to Council that the design layout had been reviewed by the mayor. The bridge was originally constructed approximately 5 feet south of the center of the right-of-way. The street alignment will be adjusted so when the bridge is widened in the future, the bridge and the street will be correctly aligned. The BNSF railway will design the new crossings and signals to fit the new alignment.
ORDINANCE NO. 746 -ADOPTING THE 2002 BUDGET
City Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman reported that the amount for the Parks and Rec Fund was increased by $20,000. Clerk Treasurer Eckman then read the ordinance in its entirety. The total amount for the 2002 Fiscal Budget was estimated at $11,165,457.
Councilmember Martinez moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2002 - FY 2002 Budget in the amount of $11,165,457. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
COYOTE RIDGE SEWER CONTRACT
Councilmember Lobach, employed by CRCC, stepped down from his position on the bench.
City Administrator Tackett provided Council with a new Sewer Contract between the City and CRCC. The new contract was negotiated at $3,000 per month with an inmate population of 600. This amount had been based on the current charges of $2,500 for 500 inmates. Once the completion of the CRCC expansion has taken place the contract would then be revisited.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Sewer Contract with CRCC. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Lobach resumed his position on the bench.
GOLF COURSE
City Administrator Tackett reported that the Golf Course meeting held on December 3 had gone well. The overall feeling of the attendants were in favor of the golf course. Mr. Tackett further reported that the Feasibility Study and the Business and Operation plan has been completed. The next step would be to contact Steve Larson to discuss financing.
Mayor Walton requested that a committee be started to organize the construction and operation of the golf course and appointed Councilmembers Martinez and Boyer to the committee.
Jim Harter, residing east of Kahlotus, voiced his interest in the golf course.
Mayor Walton and Council gave their consensus for staff to meet with bond council to proceed with the golf course plans.
City Clerk Treasurer Eckman noted that a list would be started for interested persons.
IAC - INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEMORANDUM
City Administrator Tackett reported that he had met with IAC staff. The grant for the field of dreams was coming along. Once the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and NFSD had been completed the City would be ready to sign the contract. The grant would cover expenditures for 2 soccer fields, 1 baseball field, 1 softball field, bleachers, storage and a restroom.
ORDINANCE NO. 747 - AMENDMENT TO ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 689
Mayor Walton reported that since there were two councilmembers absent at the last meeting and there had not been a majority of the Council vote in favor of this ordinance, it did not pass.
Ordinance No. 747 would allow manufactured homes no older than five years and occupied by its original owner into RL (residential density) zones.
Councilmember Boyer voiced his opposition to adopting Ordinance No. 747.
City Administrator Tackett reviewed the different zoning areas with Council.
Councilmember Lobach moved to adopt Ordinance No. 747 amending the RL zone. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried with Councilmember Boyer voting against.
BAFUS PHARMACY - TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
Attorney Tanner reported that the owners of Bafus were selling their business to a new pharmacist and donating the building to the City. They were currently in the process of signing the deed over to the City. The City would then enter into a lease agreement with the new pharmacist.
PAYMENT OF BILLS –
Councilmember Lobach made a motion to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $157,742.60. Councilmember Skoglund seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
NONE
The Mayor recessed the regular meeting at 8:42 p.m. to go into an executive session for approximately 15 minutes, to discuss the Camp property option and commercial development opportunity.
The regular meeting was called back into session at 9:10 p.m. The following business was heard:
CAMP PROPERTY - OPTION APPROVAL
A motion was made and seconded to extend the option for the Camp property for one year. The option amount would be $6000 for the year with $500 of the $6000 being paid each month. When the option is exercised, any remaining amount of the $6000 will be applied to the purchase price. The motion was carried unanimously.
There being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the regular meeting at 9:15 p.m.