MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL, WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

June 10, 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, Perry Skoglund and Andrew Sawyer.

 

EXCUSED:    EXCUSED:  Councilmember Roel Martinez and Councilmember Ron Boyer.

 

STAFF:         STAFF:   City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau , Public Works Director, Pat Munyan, Fire Chief, Bob Koch, Attorney, Terry Tanner, and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez.

 

VISITORS:      VISITORS:  Larry Seibel and Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Robin Smith and Christine Smith; and Mr. Leonard Dietrich, Basin Disposal Inc.   

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1)                  Odoms Tavern – Liquor license renewal – no staff or council comments

2)                  Office of Financial Management – the estimated census rate will be determined with US Post Office vacancy rates. The unofficial city census is 3,100.

3)                  Yard of the Month – this month presentations include Richard Sackman, Lamb Weston, Brandon and Stephanie Brook, Dave and Robin Smith, Sandy Hulbert, and John White.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the Consent Calendar as follows:

Minutes of the May 28, 2002 Regular Meeting

Minutes of the June 3, 2002 Special Meeting  

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT / NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

Medivac Heliport – Councilmember Pruett indicated that Medivac is interested in placing a heliport base for medical emergencies here in Connell as the Tri-Cities didn’t want it because the highest rated trauma center was located in Walla Walla which  requires the transports to be flown to Walla Walla. They will be contacting Chis Eskildsen for permission to locate at the airport.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Mayor Walton indicated a need to add line item number 20 to the agenda in order to discuss to swimming pool items. Resolution No. 2002-04 and the establishment of a snack bar at the pool.

 

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

PUBLIC HEARING – CAMP PROPERTY

            The public hearing was tabled until August 12, 2002 as there was nothing changed         at this time.

 

PUBLIC HEARING - SIX-YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Mayor Walton opened the Public Hearing at 7:40 p.m.

 

City Administrator Tackett explained the difference between items 5 and 11 as listed on the six year plan and clarified by Larry Seibel as being Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the same street due to the differences in what is to be done in the scope of the project. Further discussion followed as to a time line which Mr. Tackett stated would depend upon when funding would become available.

 

The Public Hearing was closed at 7:48 p.m.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2002-03 -SIX YEAR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN

 Motion:          Councilmember Pruett made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2002-03 as       presented. Councilmember Sawyer seconded the motion. Motion carried    unanimously.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 750 – Sanitation Rate Increase

      Mayor Walton asked Mr. Dietrich about replacement of damaged cans and what the procedure was for identifying those. Mr. Dietrich indicated that if a driver   recognizes a bad can then he will call in and switch it out, but that the customer needs to contact either the city hall or BDI to let them know about it.  He also    indicated that extra garbage will be picked up if it is bundled suitably. He stated that  it is just a continuing education situation. Getting the information out is a  continuous process on what the customers’ options are. Further discussion followed  as to what is or is not accepted. It is not as simple as it use to be. There is no longer a recycle market for plastics and so they are no longer accepting the plastics in the  recycle bins.

 

Motion:           Councilmember Sawyer moved to adopt Ordinance No. 750 to increase the sanitation rate as requested and presented by BDI. Councilmember Skoglund seconded the motion. Motion carried.     

PHARMACY  - MARY HALL

            Mary Hall was unable to attend the meeting so Public Works Director Munyan presented the information about the pharmacy building. The big rain storm caused    the roof to leak pretty bad in the storage room and back end of the building. It’s       causing damage to the drop ceiling and the water was running down onto the electrical panel. Pat indicated that something definitely needs to be done. He thought the previous estimate was about $10,000, but couldn’t remember for sure.  The gutter drains were open and clean so that wasn’t the problem. The heating and cooling unit was not placed for water runoff. There were two big buckets up there to catch the water, but they were completely full. Mary also has concerns about the potential of mold growth because of the damp conditions.

 

            Pat talked to the insurance company and they stated they would not cover the cost  of the roof, but that they would cover the damage to the drop ceiling from the roof leaking. There is a $1,000 deductible. Pat will get another quote for the ceiling and for cleaning of the duct work as they have never been cleaned to his knowledge.

 

WASTEWATER FACILITY

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

                        Schedule A - Had a development with the lift station. An inspection with Larry, Pat and an Apollo superintendent showed a problem with amperage and the problem has been corrected. There has been a problem with getting a seal leak alarm which stems from a relay in the motor control center which seems to be triggered when it receives fluctuations from the power grid. That could also be the problem causing the standby generators to come on. Larry will get with Jim Crawford from PUD to get those electrical problems solved. Even though the relay problems are probably being caused by the fluctuations in the power grid, they will probably change those relays out because they don’t need to be that sensitive. Larry indicated that we are just about there for schedule A.

                        Schedule B – A test run on the irrigation system and lift station is scheduled for Wednesday, June 19th.  If everything works out they will schedule a change over and things will be ready for a dedication ceremony. The lights (high pressure sodium) are left on all the time in order to have a visual check of whether the power is still on. The telemetry system has a warning to it, but keeping the lights on all the time was planned for a visual check for power.

 

            Alan Schroeder informed council that a few things had been changed on the draft permit and was then sent in to the Department of Ecology. The permit was issued, so the facility now has a permit and is ready for switch over and start up. He also stated that the facility has some expanded capacity potential due to evaporation. The Department of Ecology is pretty conservative as to how much they will allow evaporation to be factored into the capacity, but he said that later down the road with the records that will be kept that the capacity may well be able to be increased especially for residential purposes. An evaporation pan test can be done. It takes a lot of time, but if necessary it can be done in order to have specific records for tracking the evaporation.

 

WATER RESERVOIR

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that there was nothing being done at that at this time as they are waiting for funding of the project and also because getting the water under the railroad tracks will be done first.

 

WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT UPDATE

Alan Schroeder informed council that now is when everything is starting to come together. We have the nine priorities that have been chosen and proceeded with the design work on two of them and will be finishing with the Striker project design. They have stated an environmental report to obtain funding with rural development funds. Eighteen different agencies have be contacted including federal, state and local to give them all descriptions of the project to confirm any environmental issues. The pipeline from the farm to town will not complicate it, but it will have a normal amount of issues that will need to be addressed. A county franchise agreement needs to be done and the Washington ground squirrel is a common issue to deal with. Right now there are no issues that will significantly affect the project. The environmental report will be done in about a month or month and a half. They are working with Art to put the rural development application together by September and combined with an application to the economic development administration. They are working with two primary agencies for construction funding. The water projects will most likely be broken into two phases of roughly equal cost size so of the nine improvements there will be six or seven possible in the first phase and then two or three in the second phase. The second phase would include the pipe line from the farm. Funding sources will apply grant and loan to each phase separately which is a good thing because you get to spend the grant money up front instead of having to utilize all loan money first. The match requirement looks like it is well satisfied. By the next meeting or the one after they are hopeful of having a little firmer idea of the grant and phase packages.

 

TIB- CLARK STREET - PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that the contractor had gotten started that day and had done test holes to determine the pavement quality and set up traffic control signs. There will some traffic control changes as it goes to keep the flow for emergency purposes. Fire Chief Bob Koch indicated that he was aware of the traffic limitations and just requested to be kept updated.

 

NORTH FIFTH STREET

Discussion was tabled until the next meeting in order to have all the councilmember in attendance. Public Works Director Munyan has some costs that he will share at the June 24th meeting.

UNDER GROUND UTILITY PERMITTING PROCESS –

            Mayor Walton indicated that he had given some information to Public Works     Director Munyan.  Not many cities in Eastern Washington are doing this yet. Fees   seem to be varying from $25 to $35. Pat indicated that the city needs to set a fee,    not so much for the fee itself, but to control the digging and to make sure that     everything is filled back in properly so that we don’t have problems with it later       down the road and cost the city. The contractor would also be required to have a bond. A $35 fee was suggested by Councilmember Sawyer and council concurred.       Pat said he would do some work on this and bring it back to council.

 

PROPERTY REQUEST –

            Tabled for executive session.

 

SWIMMING POOL -

            Christine Smith, Head Lifeguard was present to brief council on issues. She shared some of the scheduling changes which included The Saturday Open Swim being changed to 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. due to a conflict with swim team not being able to be out of the pool easily at 1 p.m. Council concurred that for the purposes of fees, the definition of a Family Pass was to mean immediate family including step and foster children. The names shall be listed under the family name. The July 4th celebration   will include a free open swim. Some safety concerns were presented concerning  what age is adequate to supervise young children in the pool.  Mayor Walton determined that the supervisor age will be 16 until further notice. Art and Christine will go over the rule book.

 

            Christine then discussed the memo concerning the idea of having a snack bar. She has talked to people and the lifeguards are willing. Christine trusts the staff that she has not to have problems with the inventory.  There will be a Pepsi cooler and then  a display for dry goods including chips and candy. She suggested limiting the food and drink to the grassy area. The guards will enforce the rules.

Motion:           Councilmember Skoglund moved to allow a snack bar. Councilmember                         Sawyer seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

 

FACTORY CONSULTANT –

            Mr. Tackett presented the information about the consulting services and what has been done to date and what the next step would be. Council felt it would be worth    while to look into the cost of a scope of work and final product.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $73,257.67.  Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Fire Chief Bob Koch

1)  There was some cross training done on confined space rescues with Pioneer.

2)  There will be some fire hydrant checks in the near future.

           

POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  Chief will be going to Seattle this week to see Officer Turner graduate.

2.                   Budget for Car – every year look at purchasing a car on bid from the state. The 2002 Crown Vics have been replaced already with the 2003, but through June they are still taking orders at the 2001 price. The money comes out of the improvement reserve. The car cost is estimated at $23,227.00. He will bring it back to council at the next meeting and will still have time to purchase the vehicle under the deadline if council approves the purchase.

3.                  In-car cameras – the first camera has been installed in Dale’s car. He has been playing with it and getting it figured out. The others need to be installed yet and Rick said he is still working on a policy for the use of the cameras.

4.                  Councilmember Skoglund mentioned that officers had been sitting in the parking lot at the Grain Growers near the fuel tanks watching cars come down the hill and he requested that they not park there.

5.                  Nipping Dog – 3 citizens spoke with Councilmember Skoglund about a dog that has been nipping at them when they are on walks. Rick indicated that there has been some contact with the owners already and he will follow up.

6.                  Vehicle Towing – still waiting to hear back from the guy.

 

BUSINESS OFFICE – Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez

1.         Newsletter – Maria is working on the city newsletter and it will be able to be sent          out soon.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT - Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1.                  Elm Street is completed.

2.                      

3.                      East Fir Street will start tomorrow and they will be watching the traffic flow to make sure there is a route for businesses.

4.                     

5.                  Working on cutting out the cracks at the skateboard park and will be putting asphalt back in. He thinks that is the only way that they will be able to save what is there and make it work. Cement is the best way to go eventually, but this will work for now.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The meeting was adjourned into executive session at 9:23 p.m. until 9:30 . The meeting was reconvened approximately 8 minutes late at 9:38 p.m.

 

PROPERTY REQUEST – 325 N. Burke

Motion:           Councilmember Pruett made a motion to accept the bid of $9,000 from Mr. Lloyd Morehouse for the lot located at 325 N. Burke. Councilmember Sawyer seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

           

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 9:39 p.m.