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, Andrew Sawyer, and Ron Boyer.
STAFF: City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, City Clerk Treasurer Joan Eckman, City Attorney Terry Tanner, Public Works Director Pat Munyan and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez.
VISITORS: Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Mary Hall, Pharmacist; Kathy Bingham, Graphic; and Steve Larson, Richards, Merrill and Peterson.
PRESENTATIONS/APPOINTMENTS
City Attorney Tanner administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Councilmember Andrew Sawyer, re-elected Councilmembers Skoglund and Martinez and to re-elected Mayor Walton.
Mayor Walton made the following appointments:
Finance Committee: Councilmembers Skoglund and Pruett
Street & Alley Committee: Councilmembers Martinez and Sawyer
Health Board: Mayor Walton
Franklin Co. Disability Board: Chief Rochleau
Park Board: Councilmember Skoglund
Community Center Committee: Councilmembers Boyer and Martinez
Golf Course Committee: Councilmembers Boyer and Martinez
Mayor Walton expressed that he would have a committee formed for Code Enforcement at the next council meeting.
Washington Liquor Control Board - Renewal of liquor licenses for Pizza Station, Hazy's Tavern, Leprekon Mart, Michael Jay's, and Sun Mart. There being no comments or objections, the requests were passed on to the approval of the Liquor Control Board.
Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels - Would be working with the City on grants for the Community Center for ovens and a dishwasher.
Franklin County Disability Board - Chief Rochleau would continue as a representative on the Disability Board.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:
Minutes of the December 10, 2001 Regular Meeting. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Pruett provided that at the last Chamber Board Meeting, the Board expressed their interest in helping with the golf course adding that the Board had adopted the Golf Course as their goal.
Mayor Walton introduced Mary Hall, the new pharmacist.
Mary Hall commented that the pharmacy would be closed on January 21 for the installation of a new phone system to help reduce the waiting time for prescriptions.
City Administrator Tackett reported that he had spoken to DNR who was looking at auctioning the property that the City has been working on purchasing. Their asking price for the property was $600,000 but they would not come up with a figure for each parcel. Mr. Tackett voiced a concern that they would be increasing the lease payments and did not know the effect this would have on the business owners.
Mayor Walton disclosed that he had received a letter from C.U.P., an independent fire-rating bureau requesting information, as they would like to do a check on the fire system for Connell.
Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING - MARYETTE CAMP ANNEXATION
City Administrator Tackett reported that the City was in the process of extending the option agreement with Maryette Camp for an additional year. The option agreement had been prepared and was being reviewed by her attorney.
The City had entered into an agreement with the developer and had received an initial payment. The City would then pay Ms. Camp.
Further discussion on this was tabled till the February 11th meeting.
WASTEWATER FACILITY
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry was present to update the Mayor and Council on the progress of the projects.
Schedule A – They had experienced some problems with the lift station. Two of the pumps for lift station five had been burned out and were currently being repaired. The motor control centers had some problems in them that had caused more problems. Schedule A had not been accepted by the City.
Schedule B - The contractor was finishing up some work in the treatment plant. The submersible motor for the well had been sized. Once the submittal had been received and approved, the motor would be installed. There had been no problems with keeping to the schedule. The wastewater treatment plant changeover would take place sometime during the summer.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to accept Application for Payment No. 1 from Picatti Brothers in the amount of $37,881.92. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to accept Application for Payment No. 2 from Picatti Brothers in the amount of $27,414.74. 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 - This phase had been completed including the items on the punch list. Once the final submittals for the paperwork and releases from L & I and the Department of Revenue had been received, the retainage would be released to the contractor.
Phase II - Work was still proceeding on the design. Advertising would begin in April or May for construction to begin in June or July.
TIB - CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE
Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the design for this project was over 50% completed. He had been in contact with Dennis Martin, of BNSF, concerning the signalization and the crossing. Mr. Seibel commented that he was not optimistic about having the crossing done this year.
ANDERSON PERRY - CONTRACT AMENDMENT
City Administrator Tackett reported that the City had an ongoing contract with Anderson Perry to take care of the small things that cropped up. When a major project came up the City would then amend the contract. Included for Council's review was a contract amendment for the support columns of the reservoir which were rusting and in need of repair.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the contract amendment for Anderson Perry for the rehabilitation of the reservoir. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
GOLF COURSE
City Administrator Tackett introduced the City's bond underwriter, Steve Larson from Richards, Merrill and Peterson.
Mr. Larson informed Council that the bonds for the golf course could not be underwritten with municipal bonds as proposed. However, the project could still be done with revenue bonds that would require a commitment by the City by the backing of bonds. Mr. Larson suggested contacting other small cities that had sponsored a golf course and affirmed that he would be glad to work with the City and a committee.
BN PARK FUND TRANSFER
City Clerk Treasurer Eckman reported that the City had received a request from the Franklin County Treasurers office to transfer the remaining outstanding balance of the BN Park tax levy funds of $8.45 into the Pool Bond tax levy in order to simplify the tax records.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the transfer of the BN Park tax funds of $8.45 into the Pool Bond tax levy. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
PHARMACY LEASE CONTRACT
Mary Hall expressed that she would like some changes to the contract relating to taxes and insurance.
This item was tabled to be brought back at the next meeting.
OUTLET MALL
This item was tabled to be brought back at the next meeting.
RESOLUTION NO. 2002-01 - FEASIBILITY STUDY
Mayor Walton reported that the City had passed a resolution the previous year supporting a feasibility study for rail passenger service for Eastern Washington.
Councilmember Boyer moved to adopt Resolution No. 2002-01 - supporting a feasibility study for a rail passenger service. Councilmember Sawyer seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT- PURCHASE OF NEW TRUCK
Public Works Director Munyan requested that he be authorized to proceed with the purchase of a new 3/4 ton, 4 wheel drive ford truck with an extended cab and a snow plow.
Council gave its consensus for Director Munyan to proceed with the purchase.
PROPOSALS FOR ROOF REPAIR - LIBRARY AND PHARMACY
Public Works Director Reported that he had a company provide the City with quotes for roof repair work to the library and the pharmacy. The library had had a leak and was in need of repair. Director Munyan noted that he had spoken to Clerk-Treasurer Eckman and that there were sufficient funds to cover the repair work for the library but not the pharmacy.
Council requested that nothing further be done till further financing could be discussed with Clerk-Treasurer Eckman.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Councilmember Skoglund made a motion to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $276,165.55 which included the regular bills along with the vouchers and payroll for the last part of December. Councilmember Pruett seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Community Center Committee - Meeting scheduled for Jan. 18th at 4:00 pm.
Park Board Committee - A trip to Airway Heights to look at the skateboard park had been scheduled for January 17th.
Legislative Committee - Mayor Walton, City Administrator Tackett, and Councilmembers Skoglund, Martinez, and Pruett would be attending the legislative conference in Olympia January 29-30th.
POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau
Officer Quinton was in the process of field training
Officer Boyer would be graduating from the academy February 22, 2002
Officer Turner would be attending the academy February 5, 2002
The reserves had put in a total of 1,379 hours in 2001
Crime had been fairly mild
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - Public Works Director Patrick Munyan
Had broken waterlines at 5th and Borah, Columbia, and Beech Place
Had been sweeping the streets and burning weeds
An engineering firm would be looking at the Community Center on Jan 15th.
LEGAL COUNCIL - City Attorney Terry Tanner
Would not be present at the March 11th meeting but would be present at the March 25th meeting.
Received a claim for damages from Rawline Mann in the amount of $1,200. The City's insurance had completed an investigation and determined that the City did not have negligence and liability. Attorney Tanner recommended that the City deny the claim.
Councilmember Sawyer moved to deny the payment for damages submitted by Rawline Mann. Councilmember Boyer seconded the motion. Motion did not carry, two voted for the motion and three voted against.
Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay for half of the damages. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried with three for and two against.
Attorney Tanner agreed to prepare an offer for settlement for Ms. Mann. Included would be the requirement that a backflow valve be installed before payment would be received.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett
City Administrator Tackett reported that the City had submitted an application to Economic development to bring the water line from the farm into town. The City would have a 20% match of $320,000. Administrator Tackett contacted USDA and discussed an application package for completing all the major water projects for the City for the next 20 years. The City would have to come up with a 45% match to do this. The numbers were still being worked on but were estimated at $90, 000 for the line underneath the coulee, $376,000 for reservoir replacement, $376,000 to loop the waterline south of town and the $320,000 for the water line from the farm. Once it was all put together it would be brought back to Council.
Attended an EDC meeting - Discussed having an Economic Summit the first week of March to have residents in town discuss economic development for the city. EDC commented that they would like to work strongly with the City Council.
Would be in Portland January 21st to attend a North West Food Processors meeting.
MAYOR'S REPORT - Mayor Garland Walton
Mayor Walton reported that he meet with the state legislatures. Discussed was a possible budget cut of 22% affecting the City's general fund by $170,00. Mayor Walton also learned that the district lines had been redrawn and the City was moved to the 9th district.
There being no further business to be heard before the City Council of the City of Connell, Mayor Walton adjourned the regular meeting at 9:51 p.m.