MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

April 22, 2002

 

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.

 

ROLL CALL

 

PRESENT:       Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Ron Boyer, Roel Martinez and Andrew Sawyer.

 

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Monica Pruett

 

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, Public Works Director Patrick Munyan, and Deputy City Treasurer Jeri Reinauer.

 

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Kathy Bingham, Graphic;

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

The Mayor made the following appointments:

1)                  BethAn Wood - Park Board Committee

2)                  Lon Welch - Board of Adjustments

3)                  Casey Hart - Planning Commission

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1)                  Columbia Basin College - Requested a community profile.

2)                  Otis Falls - North Franklin School District - Letter of commendation for Chief of Police Rochleau.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:

Minutes of the April 8, 2002 Regular Meeting  

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT

 

The NFSD would be discussing the grant agreement and contract for the fields at their next board meeting.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:

Item No. 15 a - Interlocal Agreement between NFSD and City of Connell

Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agenda as amended.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

CAMP PROPERTY - PUBLIC HEARING

City Administrator Tackett reported that the company interested in the site would be in attendance at the May 13th meeting to discuss this topic with Council.

 

Further discussion was tabled to the May 13th meeting.

 

WASTEWATER FACILITY

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.

 

Schedule A - The pumps had been turned off the previous week to verify overload protection for Lift Station 5. Apollo was still working on the punch list.

Schedule B - The System and components of the plant would be checked out on April 29th.  Had been in contact with DOE in regards to the changeover items, these items still needed to be completed but they would not have an effect on the operation of the plant.

 

WATER RESERVOIR

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that he would have the result of the modeling on Tuesday.  The result would give them a better idea of how to align the pumps while the reservoir was down for repairs.  The best time to do the repairs would be during the fall when there was less water usage.

 

WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT UPDATE

City Administrator Tackett reviewed the list of prioritized water system projects with Council.  Total water projects would be about $4,320,500 with out railroad work, and $9,470,500 with railroad work.  The loan amount would be between $1.3 million and $1.4 million. 

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved, seconded by Councilmember Sawyer, to allow staff to proceed with the USDA grant application.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Council discussed the critical need to have the waterline replaced under the railroad crossing and Esquatzel Coulee.

 

TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE

Phase I - Bid opening Thursday, April 25 at 11:00 am.

 

CERTIFIED SITE ANALYSIS

City Administrator Tackett reported that TRIDEC had a program that listed geotechnical analysis for properties and recommended that the Camp property be approved for this analysis.

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the expenditure of $5,000 for a certified site analysis to be listed with TRIDEC.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 749 - COMMUNITY CENTER FUNDING

Mayor Walton reported that the City would barrow $150,000 from the Fire Protection Reserve for the Community Center repairs.  The fund would be paid back at the interest rate of 2% over a five year period.

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Ordinance No. 749 - authorizing and directing a loan in the amount of $150,000 from the City Fire Protection Reserve Account to the Community Center Project Account for the purpose of immediate and necessary repairs.

 

L & I PARTICIPATION

City Administrator Tackett reported that the L & I pool that the City had been a part of had been discontinued.  Attorney Tanner had been directed to look into the Building Industry Association of Washington L & I pool.  Attorney Tanner recommended approval of the contract. 

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize the City enter into the BIAW L& I Pool.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Interlocal Agreement between NFSD and City of Connell

City Administrator Tackett reported that after a number of discussions with NFSD staff in regards to the IAC grant for ball fields they submitted the Interlocal Agreement for review and approval.  Administrator Tackett informed Council that he had faxed the agreement to IAC and Attorney Tanner for their review.  IAC would submit it to National Park Service for their review and acceptance.  City Administrator Tackett recommended that Council approve the agreement with any changes necessary as determined by National Park Services.  The NFSD would be discussing the agreement at their next meeting on Tuesday. 

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Interlocal Recreation and Sports Facility Cooperative Agreement between the City of Connell and North Franklin School District with any additions that may be required by the National Park Services.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PROPERTY AT 325 N. BURKE

Mayor Walton discussed the $424.90 lien on the property for 325 N. Burke and the bid proposal.

 

Councilmember Boyer moved, seconded by Councilmember Sawyer, to pay off the lien and to accept the bid of $12,001 from Rosebel Marroquin.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Mayor Walton temporarily appointed Councilmember Martinez to the Finance Committee for approval of the bills.

           

Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $140,054.58.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

PLANNING COMMISSION - City Administrator

1.         Training session in Pasco on April 30th.

 

POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  Officer Turner had been doing well in Academy.

2.                  Had a couple of car prowls.

3.                  Had an incident of graffiti at the Jr. High. A 14 year was taken into custody.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.                  Economic Development would be on April 27th.  City Council, Chamber, and businesses were invited.

2.                  Special Council Workshop on Water Rates May 6th.

3.                  Setting up a Mayor's and Legislator's meeting in regards to sales tax equalization for small cities.

4.                  Street Committee met and went through the TIP.  Deputy Clerk Chavez attended a workshop on inputting information for submittal of the TIP.  Set a hearing date for adoption for May 13th.

5.                  Valoria Loveland was appointed to the Department of Agriculture.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1.                  Spraying for weeds.

2.                  Pool did not seem to be leaking anymore.

3.                  Someone would be down to look at repairing the tennis court.

4.                  Working on the brick wall on City Hall which had been badly deteriorated.

5.                  Attended a class on wastewater lab work along with Godfrey Valdez, Public Works Maintenance.

6.                  Would be sending out letters to property owners to clean up their properties.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

 

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:03 p.m.