MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

July 8, 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:       PRESENT:    Mayor Gary Walton, Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Roel Martinez, Ron Boyer and Andrew Sawyer.

 

EXCUSED:      EXCUSED:     Councilmember Perry Skoglund.

 

STAFF:           STAFF:    City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau , City Attorney   Terry Tanner, and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez.

 

VISITORS:       VISITORS:    Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic; 20 residents, Soccer Players.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

  1. Office of Financial Management - The official population for the City of Connell was 3,100.

  2. Memo from City Clerk-Treasurer Eckman in regards to the 2003 Budget.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Mayor Walton made the following presentations for Yard of the Month:

Franklin PUD, Dan & Jeannie Lakey, Dan & Paula Nance, Jim & Jennifer Dolezal, Doug & Jill Poe, and Gary & Maryann Walton.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:

Minutes of the June 24, 2002 Regular Meeting with the correction to Page 1, under Approval of Agenda, as follows: change Councilmember Pruett moved …Councilmember Martinez seconded…to Councilmember Skoglund moved…Councilmember Sawyer seconded.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT / NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

Councilmember Sawyer commented that he had spoken to residents on both the east and west side of the soccer field at Clark Street Park. Neither resident wanted the soccer players to be banned from playing at the park but would like to see nets go up and the poles fixed. 

 

Councilmember Sawyer strongly urged that Council not shut down Clark Street Park but to work with the soccer players in finding a solution.

 

Approximately 20 soccer players were present at the meeting and offered some input.  One of these players noted that the ground was not very level and that there had been four players who suffered broken legs due to this.  They also noted that they had soccer players from other areas come into town to practice with them. 

 

Playing soccer at Striker Park was discussed but it was noted that during baseball season the park would be used by the baseball players.

 

The new soccer fields at the school would not be completed for another year.

 

Mayor Walton advised that he would have the Public Works Department meet with the players and see what could be done to fix the poles and nets.

 

Mayor Walton noted that he had been approached in regards to a bike course. 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

WASTEWATER FACILITY

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

 

Schedule A - PUD had installed a voltage measuring device in lift station 4 to check the voltage fluctuation.  Farmers Electric had checked the relays and once the electrical issues had been resolved they would be able to run a test on Schedule B.

           

Schedule B – Instructed Selland to complete the punch list items in preparation for the final check of the irrigation system.  The weather station had been received but still needed to be installed.  The evaporation rate had been checked and was considerably more than what had been anticipated.  The evaporation rate was 3/8 of an inch a day, equaling 280,000 gallons a day.  This would not be year round.  Mr. Seibel presented Partial Pay Estimate No. 9 for payment and reviewed the items that still needed to be completed.

 

           Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 9 to Selland Construction in the amount of $100,743.57.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that the design work had been completed on Striker.

 

City Administrator Tackett advised Council that the Professional Services Agreement would need to be approved and submitted as an addendum to the USDA application.

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Agreement once it had been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that the contractor was making good progress.  The water line on Third Street had been lowered and the storm drain had been installed.  Next the storm drain line would be installed from Fourth Street to Fifth Street.  Mr. Seibel presented Change Order No. 1 for the storm drain upgrade.    Mr. Seibel also presented Application for Payment No. 1.

 

Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Change Order No. 1 for payment to Selland Construction in the amount of $11,285.00 for Clark Street Reconstruction.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the Application for Payment No. 1 to Selland Construction in the amount of $111,446.49.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

               

MUSEUM CONTRACT

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had met with the representatives from Benton/Franklin Historical Society to discuss a contract for the museum.  Major issues discussed included security, telephone, insurance and utilities.  Staff had assumed that the grounds would be the City's responsibility as part of normal park maintenance to assure that the structure was kept in good shape. 

 

Council agreed that the Museum Contract should be discussed by the Community Center Committee.

 

PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT - GOLF COURSE

City Administrator Tackett explained that a minimum of a $10 million project was necessary to be eligible for funding.  The thought was that maybe the City could partner with Franklin County after further research it did not seem that this would happen.  Administrator Tackett advised that this item should be dropped.

 

Mayor Walton reported that he had been approached by citizens who suggested that  the money that would be used to pay for the developer instead be used to help fund volunteer labor. 

 

Also suggested was getting a driving range started.

               

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $293,891.00.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

           

POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  Met with the towing company from Othello.  Tagged cars would be towed away at $10 per car.  Discussed was the possibility of towing away private citizens cars at no charge.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.                  Special Council Meeting July 15th at 6:00 PM to discuss the budget.

2.                  Would be working on a Capital Improvements Plan.

 

MAYOR'S REPORT - Mayor Gary Walton

1.         The Public Works Department had a lot of cleaning up to do after the storm.

3.                  Will need to discuss the storage facility at Well 5 at a later Council date.  The roof was in need of repair.

 

MEETING RECESSED

 

Mayor Walton recessed the meeting at 8:45 to go into executive session relating to property and personnel issues.

 

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 9:05 p.m.