MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

December 9, 2002

 

The regular semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by Mayor Walton at 7:45 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, Andy Sawyer, Roel Martinez, and Monica Pruett.

 

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Chief of Police Rick Rochleau , Public Works Director Pat Munyan , Fire Chief Robert Koch, City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman , and City Attorney Terry Tanner .

 

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

 

CORRESPONDENCE / APPOINTMENTS

 

1.                  WA State Liquor Control Board – Liquor license renewal for Hazy’s Tavern, Hart Foods ( Michael Jay’s) and Leprekon Market.  No objections were heard.

2.                  Department of Social and Health Services – Closing down several call centers in the state due to loss of funds.

3.                  B/F Board of Health – Mayor Walton was reappointed to the Board.

4.                  Verizon – Communication workshop in Everett .

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:

Minutes of the November 25, 2002 Regular Meeting.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

Councilmember Skoglund thanked Public Works Director Munyan for allowing him to job shadow Public Works Director Munyan for a class that he was taking at CBC.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

           

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Schedule A – Larry Seibel reported that the pumps were still in New Jersey and that he had not received a schedule yet for their installation. 

 

Schedule B – The punch list items had been completed by Selland.  The items would be checked prior to acceptance of the project.

 

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that they were moving ahead with the design and that they were still looking into the requirements for an easement across school property to get from the man hole on Franklin Street up to Clark Street .  Work  had begun on the design for the new sewer line in the alley of S. Fifth, between Elm Street and Fir Street .

 

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had contacted US Bank and Bank of America for interim financing but had not heard back from them yet.

 

Phase I - Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the design for Phase I should be completed before Christmas.

 

Phase II – Reviewed the layout of the meter and hydrant placement with Public Works Director Pat Munyan.  A 12” line would be placed on the eastside of Fir Street .

 

TIB – CLARK STREET

Larry Seibel reported that the design for this project was coming along well.  Construction was being planned for this summer.

 

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had met with the Railroad and Department of Transportation to discuss the crossing and would know by January if the application would be funded. 

 

ORDINANCE NO. 754 – SANITATION

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had spoken to Mr. Deitrich of BDI and had set up a meeting to make the necessary changes to the ordinance to reflect the contract in place with BDI.   The ordinance would be ready for Council review for the first meeting in January.

 

KAHLOTUS LETTER – REQUEST

Public Works Director Munyan reported that he had been contacted by the City of Kahlotus to purchase the corral fencing located at the City Farm.          

 

Council suggested that the Staff contact the people leasing the farm to see if they have a need for the fencing.

 

STAFF APPRECIATION – CHRISTMAS PARTY

            City Administrator Tackett discussed that historically Council had approved a yearly request for a Staff Appreciation Breakfast during the fall.  This year staff was requesting that the annual Christmas Party also be held during this time.

 

Council gave its consensus to have the Staff Appreciation Breakfast/ Christmas Party on December 19th at 7:00 am at the Golden Harvest.

 

DECEMBER 23, 2002 COUNCIL MEETING

            Mayor Walton discussed canceling the December 23 meeting.

 

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to postpone the December 23 meeting and approve the payment of the bills in advance subject to review during the first meeting in January.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $110,827.99.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

           

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT – City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman

1.                  Working on the Budget Document. 

 

POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  Done with training classes.

2.                  Working on getting the vacation carry over down for the officers.

3.                  Submitted two grant requests for traffic safety.

4.                  Currently working on the $10,000 grant for the computer server.

5.                  Worked out an agreement with Franklin County Emergency Management to respond to emergency situations for the next five years in exchange for equipment received from a grant.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Fire Chief Robert Koch

1.                  Had been approached by Caring Neighbors who donated money towards the purchase of the thermal imager.

2.                  The Fire Department received notice of being tentatively approved for a grant application submitted earlier during the year for a software program.

3.                  Received the final shipment for the HAZMAT gear.

4.                  Received the hydrant test kit.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Patrick Munyan

1.         The floor had been removed in the Health room of the Community Center.  Had run into some problems but affirmed that there was a noticeable difference in the building already. 

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT  - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.                  Setting up a meeting for elected officials for February in Olympia during AWC.

 

ATTORNEY'S REPORT – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1.         Need to discuss two potential litigation matters during executive session.

 

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:25 pm to go into Executive Session until 8:50 pm to discuss a contractor and the Department of Ecology.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m.