MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON
FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

December 8, 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, Ron Boyer, Roel Martinez and Andy Sawyer.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , City Clerk-Treasurer Joan Eckman and City Attorney Terry Tanner.

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Mary Hall, Connell Pharmacy; Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

APPOINTMENTS

City Attorney Terry Tanner administered the Oath of Office to Councilmembers Monica Pruett and Ron Boyer.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  WA State Liquor Control Board – Liquor license renewal for Hazy Tavern, Leprekon Mart, and Michael Jay’s.

2)                  WA Association of Building Officials – Provided a handout to inform the public and local elected officials about the important role of the building official in providing community safety.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Minutes of the November 24, 2003 Regular Meeting.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:

            Item 12 a) – Letter of support for WA Municipal Clerks Association

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS 

CONNELL PHARMACY – Mary Hall

Mary Hall, of the Connell Pharmacy, was present to request permission to paint the inside of the pharmacy.  Mary Hall also brought up the need to have the rug cleaned.

Council gave its consensus to allow the pharmacy be painted. Mayor Walton advised that the City would look into having the rug cleaned.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase I –  The new reservoir would be completed this winter except for the exterior painting and would be put into service once the electrical work, demolition of the old site and a new security fence was completed.      

Larry Seibel advised that a letter had been received from Morse Construction stating that a pricing error had been made during the preparation of pricing for the work in Schedule F. Mr. Seibel contacted USDA and Attorney Tanner who agreed that it seemed to be an honest mistake.  The difference in price would not have affected the outcome of the bid award.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to accept the proposal from Morse Construction to cover subcontractor cost but not the mark-up from Morse.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Change Order 1-B to Morse Construction in the amount of $2,118.59.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize Application for Payment No. 4 to Morse Construction in the amount of $143,205.72.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase II –  All work that could be completed would be completed by the end of the week.  Chip sealing would be done next June.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Change Order 2-E to Pegram Construction for rock excavation in the amount of $5,492.70. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize Application for Payment No. 4 to Pegram Construction in the amount of $150,707.10.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Walton asked Larry to look into the water meter lids that seemed not to be holding up very well.

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

            Larry Seibel reported that the streetlights would be in on December 9^th and that it would take about three days to install.

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Larry Seibel advised that Apollo had replaced the force main under Clark Street on November 24^th and 25^th.  The pump had been reinstalled at Lift Station 4.  Apollo was notified that they would have to asphalt in the spring.  Additional items were included in the force main repair that had not been on the contract initially.  Apollo would submit a payment request for these items.

RESOLUTION NO 2003-06 – PARK & RECREATION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

City Administrator Tackett recommended Council adopt Resolution No. 2003-06 and advised that he would take it to IAC directly.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to adopt Resolution No. 2003-06 amending the Park & Recreation Comprehensive Plan.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR WA MUNICIPAL CLERKS

Mayor Walton advised that he had received correspondence from the Red Lion Hotel requesting support on bringing the 2006 Annual WA Municipal Clerks Association Conference to the Tri-Cities. 

Council gave its consensus to authorize the Mayor sign a letter in support of brining the WMCA Conference to the Tri-Cities.

MEETING CANCELLATION

Mayor Walton noted that the second meeting in December was usually cancelled due to the holidays.    

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to authorize payment of bills and payroll for the December 22 meeting.  Councilmember Skoglund seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $384,741.28.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS – Art Tackett

1)                  Planning Commission had been working on the Comprehensive Plan which would be submitted to the state and then would come to Council for adoption.

2)                  Downtown Development Committee had meet and discussed priorities for 2004 and 2005.

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – City Attorney Terry Tanner

1)         Had two items for executive session.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  The IAC application had been submitted.

2)                  The Brownfield application had been submitted.

3)                  The Christmas party would be the 18^th at 3:30 .

4)                  Would be attending meetings in Olympia on Wednesday & Thursday.

5)                  The East Low & East High Irrigation Development League would be meeting at Michael Jays on Wednesday night.

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Garland Walton

Attended the Home Builders Association meeting, topics of discussion included legislation proposals for the high cost of insurance big businesses,       L & I increase of 10 to 20 %, and WISHA.

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:25 pm to go into Executive Session to discuss the legal issues for approximately five minutes.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:30 : pm.