MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

 

April 28, 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 Andy Sawyer, Roel Martinez, and Ron Boyer.

 

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Monica Pruett.

 

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, Public Works Supervisor Larry Turner and City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman.

 

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel , Anderson Perry; Dorothy Stevens and Jean Ryckman, PUD; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE / PRESENTATIONS / APPOINTMENTS

 

1.                  Benton/Franklin Health District – New food handling regulations for food establishments.

2.                  Benton/Franklin Health District – Meeting May 6th for citizen input on health care.

3.                  Bailie Memorial Youth Ranch – Requested a proclamation for May as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.

Mayor Walton signed the proclamation proclaiming May as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.

4.                  Franklin Co. PUD – Jean Ryckman discussed the new Rural Economic Development Fund.  The REDF would provide loans to finance business ventures that created and retained stable jobs in Franklin County .

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

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

1)         Minutes of the April 14, 2003 Regular Meeting

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

             

The following was added to the agenda:

 Item No. 10 b) B/N Santa Fe License Agreement.

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

           

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry advised that Apollo had proposed they bring in a 20 gallon tanker and a transfer pump to the site to be used if necessary while the bad pump was taken out to be repaired.

 

Councilmembers concurred to accept the proposal from Apollo.

 

            Larry Seibel reported that a five year warranty on the pump had been requested.

 

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the projects had been advertised and that the bid opening would be on May 1st.   

 

 

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Larry Seibel reported on the fallowing:

Phase I – Received a response from the railroad in regards to the pipeline request.  The City would need to provide bonding to get the right-of-way certificate and to proceed to advertise.

Phase II  - Plans and specifications were ready to be submitted to USDA and DOH. Two easements still needed to be obtained from private parties.  Spoke to Dept. of Health who advised that the City could begin advertisement of the project as long as the City made the bid award contingent upon DOH approval.

Phase III – Work had begun on this project, aerial pictures had been taken and test holes had been dug.

 

Motion: City Administrator Tackett reported that the current offer from Bank of America was for a variable rate. With the variable rate the City would not have to pay a penalty if the loan amount was spent before the term of the contract was up. 

 

Councilmember Boyer moved to accept the interim financing agreement as presented with Bank of America.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

BNSF LICENSING AGREEMENT

City Administrator discussed the licensing agreement received from BNSF to install the pipelines underneath the tracks.  It would be reviewed by the City Attorney and the City’s insurance agent.

 

Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the licensing agreement with BNSF contingent upon review by the City Attorney and the City’s insurance agent.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

TIB – CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that the bid opening would be held May 7th at 10:00 am and would be awarded at the May 12th Council Meeting contingent upon TIB approval.

 

ADAMS RAILROAD CROSSING

Public Works Supervisor Turner reported that the asphalt pieces between the tracks were being replaced with cement and that the asphalt on the west side to the bridge would be replaced with concrete.

 

ORDINANCE NO 758 - WATER RATE INCREASE

City Administrator reviewed the draft ordinance for the water rate increase.  The increase would not go into effect until July. 

 

Discussed was the need to review the water expenses each year and determine if an increase would be necessary.

 

City Administrator Tackett suggested the Finance Committee look into setting up developer fees and formalize a yearly review of the water rates.

 

City Clerk Treasurer Eckman discussed the new water billing system that would be put into place prior to the rate increase.

 

Council gave its consensus to bring the ordinance back to the May 12th Council Meeting for approval.

 

CODE ENFORCEMENT

            This item was tabled until May 12th.

 

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $90,834.20.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS – Councilmember Roel Martinez

1.                  Discussed the hazardous waste that traveled through the City and state.

2.                  Discussed street projects.

 

B/F HEALTH MEETING – Mayor Garland Walton

1.                  Would provide a ballot for May 20th for funding of the Mosquito Control Board. 

2.                  State had cut down some of the funding for grants.

3.                  Kadlec Hospital had a supply of the small pox vaccine in storage.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.         Finance Committee meeting was scheduled for May 2nd at 7:00 a.m.

2.         A Connell Visioning Workshop was scheduled for April 29th at 6:30 pm .

 

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Garland Walton

1.         AWC convention in Spokane

 

FINANCE REPORT – City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman

1.                  Had updated the economic development information on the website.  Made contact with several companies regarding land that was available for development.  Some expressed interest in coming in once the first business had been established. 

2.                  Deputy Clerk Chavez had been busy working on the grants.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Supervisor Larry Turner

1.                  Cleaned up most of the alleys

2.                  Sprayed weeds.

3.                  Had been focusing on the railroad crossing.

4.                  Would be cracking sealing in a few weeks.

5.                  Flower pots may be replaced with concrete ones in the future.

6.                  Graffiti was found on the Skate Park again.

 

CHIEF OF POLICE

1.                  The new server had been installed.

2.                  Had a burglary.

3.                  Responded to several assault calls.

4.                  Dare graduation had gone well.

5.                  Had been working through vacations and training schedules.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED  

 

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:52 .