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.
CORRESPONDENCE/PRESENTATIONS/APPOINTMENTS
1)
WA State Dept. of Transportation - Granting funding authorization for Elm
Street Sidewalks.
2)
Office of Financial Management - Regarding population for Connell at
2,970.
3)
WA State Liquor Control Board - Request for liquor license renewal for
Odom's Tavern.
There being no comments or objections, the request was passed on to the
approval of the Liquor Control Board.
4)
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center - Second Annual Employee Picnic July 14
at Pioneer Park from 10 am to 4 pm.
CONSENT
CALENDAR
Council
member Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:
1)
Minutes of the June 29,
2001 Regular Meeting - With the correction that Council member Roel Martinez had
been excused from that meeting.
Council
member Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
CITIZEN
COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
APPROVAL
OF AGENDA
Item No.14 and Item No.15 were moved to follow after Item
No.9
Council
member Skoglund moved to authorize the agenda as amended.
Council member Martinez seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING - MARYETTE CAMP ANNEXATION
Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing for the annexation of property owned by Maryette Camp at 7:40 pm. Mayor Walton disclosed that the public hearing would be continued to August 13th and closed the public hearing at 7:41 pm.
A.
Whether the City of Connell would accept, reject or geographically modify
the proposed annexation.
Staff
recommendation was to accept as submitted.
B.
Whether the City of Connell would require the simultaneous adoption
of a proposed zoning regulation.
Staff
recommended that the property continue to be zoned as established by the County.
C.
Whether the City would require the assumption of existing City
indebtedness by the area to be annexed.
Staff
recommended that the property not be required to assume the current City
indebtedness.
Council member Skoglund moved to
accept the recommendations as made by staff on items A, B and C. Council member Boyer seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
City Administrator pointed out that In the Notice of Intention to Commence Annexation Proceedings filed by Maryette Camp, it was stated that the annexation would be subject to the successful purchase by the City of Connell of said property from Maryette Camp and that if the sale of the property should not take place, neither party wished for the property to be annexed into the City.
PUBLIC HEARING - NEAL SMICK ANNEXATION
Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing at 7:50 pm
City Administrator Tackett described where the property was located.
City Administrator Tackett reported
that the following determinations needed to be made:
A.
Whether the City of Connell would accept, reject or geographically modify
the proposed annexation.
Staff recommendation was to accept as submitted.
B.
Whether the City of Connell would require the simultaneous adoption of a
proposed zoning regulation.
Staff recommended that the property continue to be zoned
agriculture.
C.
Whether the City would require the assumption of existing City
indebtedness by the area to be annexed.
Staff
recommended that the property not be required to assume the current City
indebtedness.
Council member Skoglund moved to accept the recommendations as made by staff on items A, B and C. Council member Martinez seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Walton reported that after looking at the building permit issued previously, that the City needed to honor the permit and grant Mr. Davis Bauer access to his property through the park. Mayor Walton requested that this allowance for Mr. Bauer be grandfathered in until such time that Mr. Bauer no longer owned the property.
Council gave its consensus to allow
Mr. Bauer access to his property through the Park but that the allowance
agreement be terminated once the property changed ownership.
City Administrator Tackett reported
that the City would move the light over the pool that shone into Mr. Bauer's
kitchen at a cost of $125 to the City.
Mr. Bauer commented that he did not agree to being restricted from accessing the back of his property. Mr. Bauer also requested that he get a written letter concerning Council's decision.
Mayor Walton assured Mr. Bauer that he would deliver the letter personally.
PROPERTY ISSUE - BEN CASPER
City Administrator reported that he had been approached by Mr. Ben Casper in regards to property located across from the City Hall.
Mr. Casper noted that it was his desire to sell the property. Gas tanks had been pulled out from the property at one time.
At this point Mayor Walton called
an executive session.
MEETING RECESSED
Mayor
Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:10 p.m. to go into executive session
till 8:20 to discuss property issues regarding the purchase of property.
MEETING RECONVENED
Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 8:20 p.m.
and the following action was taken by Council.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
PROPERTY ISSUE - BEN CASPER
Mayor
Walton reported that the City would like to look into soil samples and the
structural soundness of the building before continuing discussion of purchasing
the property.
GWMA – GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT AREA PLAN
Lynn Hall from Ground Water Management Area (GWMA) provided Council with information regarding groundwater. GWMA had been formed about three years ago by members of Grant, Adams and Franklin counties to enable these counties to prepare their own grassroots plan and provide implementation measures that would be appropriate for our area for the reduction of nitrate concentrations.
Mr. Hall asked that the City provide a letter expressing their support for the GWMA Plan.
Council member Martinez moved to
approve the City provide a letter to GWMA expressing their support for the plan.
Council member Skoglund seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
WASTEWATER FACILITY - PROJECT UPDATE
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and council on the progress of the projects. Mr. Seibel provided Council with a Wastewater System Improvements Budget Projection at $3,985,853. This left the City with $64,147 of grant money to expend. Mr. Seibel suggested the City look into some optional improvements once the project had neared completion.
Schedule
A – A partial pay estimate was presented to Council for the
motor control centers, paving and restoration from Apollo.
Council member Martinez moved to approve payment to Apollo for Partial Pay Estimate No. 8 in the amount of $110,425.18. Council member Skoglund seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Seibel
reported that he was in the process of scheduling a test for the pump and the
telemetry system. Once the system
had been accepted the City would want to start the lift stations and pump some
water into the lagoons to store for the testing of Schedule B.
Schedule B –
A partial pay estimate was presented to Council which included
the plant drain lift station, irrigation pumps, piping valves, and the plant
building.
Council member Martinez moved to
approve payment to Selland for Partial Pay Estimate No. 4 in the amount of $106,
089.10. Council member Boyer
seconded motion. Motion carried
unanimously.
Mr. Seibel reported that the piping
had been installed for the treatment plant building and that the irrigation pipe
was being installed. The footings
and stem wall would be completed by the end of the week. Construction for the new well would not be able to begin
until the new DOE representative did a site inspection. Mr. Seibel noted that he would initiate the change order in
the amount of $3,396.86 for the relocation of the control panel.
WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT UPDATE
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the City had received two bids for Phase I - construction of water lines east of Highway. Selland was the lower bidder at $79,658.15 with Desmarais Service bidding at $105,957. Engineer's estimate was at $78,696. Mr. Seibel recommended the bid be awarded to Selland Construction.
Council member Skoglund moved to award the bid for Phase I of the water line improvements to Selland Construction in the amount of $79,658.15. Council member Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Seibel provided Council with a
conceptual estimate of $400,000 for water line improvements for the area north
of Clark and east of the Coulee.
Mr. Seibel commented that the lines
needed to be brought up to current standard and that the low water flow was
caused by to many people on small lines.
W.T. BENNETT WATER RIGHT APPLICATION
City Administrator Tackett reported that he had met with the Mayor and the attorney in regards to Mr. William Bennett's water right application. Department of Ecology's decision was to grant Mr. Bennett 281.2 acre feet instead of 375. The City had 30 days to file for an appeal if they desired.
Attorney Tanner commented that the appeals process was very expensive and time consuming.
Council commented that they did not wish to file for an appeal but would like to have the city wells monitored.
PAYMENT OF BILLS –
Council member Skoglund made a
motion to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $294,572.64. Council member Boyer seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
DEPARTMENT
REPORTS
Fire Department - Fire Chief Robert Koch
1)
Had on going training.
2)
The garage doors at the Fire Hall had been installed.
Public Works Department - Mayor Walton reported in
absence of Patrick Munyan.
1)
The garage doors at the City Shop had been installed.
Police
Report - City Administrator Tackett reviewed the memo that was provided to
Council From Chief of Police Rick Rochleau.
1)
Officer Chris Turner would be attending the Police Academy in August for
18 weeks.
2)
Sargent Williams would be going on a one-year leave of absence.
The agreement had been reviewed by the city attorney and the union
negotiator.
Council
expressed their desire that in the future they be informed of such a request.
3)
The entry level eligibility list was being certified.
4)
Council had a question in regards to a tow dolly that was requested for
purchase.
City Administrator's Report - City Administrator
Art Tackett
1)
Attended the grand opening of the Union Oregon Golf Course.
Would get In touch with Sam Gunderson to see about the next step for the
Connell golf course.
3)
Reviewed the Treasurer's Report provided by City Clerk Treasurer Joan
Eckman.
4)
Would be discussing the implications of Initiative 747 on the City with
Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman.
5)
Mayor
Walton would be at PUD on Wednesday in regards to energy conservation.
There
being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of
Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the regular meeting at 9:50
p.m.