MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

April 14, 2003

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 Monica Pruett, Andy Sawyer, Roel Martinez, and Ron Boyer.

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

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

CORRESPONDENCE / PRESENTATIONS / APPOINTMENTS

1.                  WA State Liquor Control Board – Renewal for Golden Harvest Restaurant.

2.                  WA Municipal Clerks Association – Awarded Deputy Clerk Chavez a scholarship to attend the Professional Development seminar in Seattle .

3.                  AWC – 2003 Business Meeting – June 18^th  -20^th in Spokane .

4.                  Mayor Walton appointed Councilmember Martinez to the B/F Council of Government Board.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed,

1)         Minutes of the March 24, 2003 Regular Meeting

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry provided Council with copies of the Inspection Report and a letter to Apollo.  It had been determined that the problem was in the pump.  Apollo was instructed to take care of the problem.

Council suggested a time limit be placed on Apollo to get the pump fixed.

Larry Seibel presented the Application for payment No. #3, for the release of retainage to Picatti Bros.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the Application for Payment No. 3 to Picatti Bros. in the amount of $3,179. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had spoken to Richard Koch from the Department of Ecology who would be here to do a final inspection on April 21.

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the First Project was advertised April 3^rd.  The award date was planned for May 12^th.  Schedule B and North 6^th had been advertised.

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had met with the School Board in regards to the easement.  The School Board approved the request with the condition that a contract be signed stating that the City would put everything back as before.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Larry Seibel reported on the fallowing:

Phase I – The Plan and Specification documents had been submitted to Dept. of Health, USDA Rural Development, and had been reviewed by the City.  Comments had been received from USDA and Anderson Perry had responded.  Should have approval from USDA very soon.  Should be hearing from DOH soon. Had not heard from the Railroad in regards to the permit to bore under the railroad tracks. 

Phase II  - Should have the plans and specifications finished within the next couple of weeks.  Would be advertising on May 8^th.  Need to have approval from USDA.

 Phase III – The survey crews had set control points for GPS.

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had contacted Bank of America and bonding council.  City staff would have information on interim financing to Council by May 12.

TIB – CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that Clark Street project had been advertised and approval had been received from TIB.  A pre-bid conference had been schedule for 10:00 am on the 23^rd of April.  Bids would be opened on May 7^th and awarded on May 12^th.

            Larry presented Application for Payment # 6 for the release of retainage.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay Application for Payment #6 to Selland Construction in the amount of $23,891.89.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Larry Seibel presented a Consultant Agreement with TIB for the West Clark Street Reconstruction, Phase II (North 5^th to Cemetery Road ) project. 

Councilmember Pruett moved to accept the Consultant Agreement for construction of Phase II of West Clark Street with Anderson Perry, not to exceed the maximum amount of $44,500.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

WATER RATES

City Administrator Tackett requested Council authorize staff proceed with the preparation of an ordinance for an increase in water rates.  The first increase would be put into place in July.  Information would be put in the Graphic explaining that 56% of the proposed increase was due to increase of operating costs and 44% was for needed system improvements.

Council gave its consensus for staff to proceed with an ordinance for an increase in water rates.

Mayor Walton suggested the City look into a fee for new development connection.

City Administrator Tackett reported he had met with Lamb Weston and that it had been a good meeting.

LAMB WESTON WATER

City Administrator Tackett reported that Staff had found that the City had overcharged Lamb Weston on their water bill.  The error was due to a formula for calculating the overage rate.  The City would need to refund Lamb Weston $41,748.53.  Lamb Weston requested the City wait until later in the year to make this payment.

Council gave its consensus to pay a one lump sum to Lamb Weston when Lamb Weston was ready.

HOUSING AUTHORITY

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had been in contact with the owners of the Hillcrest who stated that they would be selling the apartment complex this year.  City Administrator Tackett noted that there were a couple of options 1) Not get involved or 2) Have the Housing Authority get involved and purchase the building by applying for a grant.

The Housing Authority would be meeting in May to discuss this issue.

SPRING CLEAN UP/ YARD OF THE MONTH

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had spoken to BDI and that they had agreed to provide the containers for the Spring Clean up as they had done in the past.

The Garden Club had also been contacted and they agreed to help with the Yard of the Month again this year.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize the City hold the Spring Clean-up May 3^rd through May 18^th.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

DOE WATER RIGHTS

            This item was reserved for Executive Session.

SCHOOL DISTRICT – SUPPORT REQUEST – RESOLUTION

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had received a request from the School District to have the City donate $100 in support of the School Bond.  The City could pass a resolution supporting a Bond after a Public Hearing was held.

            Consensus of the Council was to not take action on this item.         

PLACEMENT OF EAGLE

City Administrator Tackett advised that there had been discussion as to where the eagle that was donated to the City by CRCC should be placed.  Vandalism and weather were two considerations.

Council suggested it be placed inside the Community Center with plexi-glass surrounding it.

PHARMACY

City Administrator Tackett reported that when staff looked inside the panels at the pharmacy they had found short, fuzzy animals.  A quote had been received from a company to clean it up in the amount of $2,500.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize the expenditure of $2,500 to clean up the pharmacy.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $147,833.36.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.         West Adams would be closed for repair of the railroad crossing on April 21 & 22.

2.         Set a Finance Committee Meeting for Friday May 2^nd at 7:00 a.m.

FIRE CHIEF – Robert Koch

1.         The grant came through from the National Fire Reporting System.  The computer had been received.  Currently sorting out which software program to purchase.  The County would use the same computer but a different program.  Would have the figures at the next meeting.

CITY ATTORNEY – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1.         The new Public Defender had started working for the City that morning.

CHIEF OF POLICE

1.                  Had a good Spring Break

2.                  Officer Turner had to cancel his training due to a new addition to the family.

3.                  Dare Graduation on April 18.

4.                  Monthly training session would be the following week.

5.                  EVOC training would take place next month.

Councilmember Skoglund questioned car seat requirements. 

Chief of Police noted he would have to review the codes as they were very complicated.

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:45 p.m. to go into Executive Session, for approximately 15 minutes, to discuss DOE water rights.

MEETING ADJOURNED

Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 9:07 . There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting.