MEETING OF THE CITY OF CONNELL , WASHINGTON

CONNELL, FRANKLIN COUNTY , WASHINGTON

 

February 10, 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:     Present:  Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Andy Sawyer, Roel Martinez, and Monica Pruett.

 

EXCUSED:    Excused:  Councilmember Ron Boyer

 

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

 

VISITORS:      Visitors: Boy Scout Troop 120; Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1.    Columbia Basin College – Completed the 2003 edition of Facts & Impacts.

2.    WA State Liquor Control Board – Liquor License Renewals for Mei-Ling Inn and Sun Mart.

3.    Columbia Basin GWMA – Annual meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2003

4.     Lourdes Health Network – Requested a letter in support of Lourdes Health Network’s application to convert to an independent 501 c3 organization.

Council signed a letter in support of the conversion.

5.         AWC – Emergency Management Workshop for local officials March 21st.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

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

Minutes of the January 27, 2003 Regular Meeting

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

 

Councilmember Pruett advised that she had been approached by the Heritage Society in regards to hanging pictures at the museum and handicap access.

 

It was suggested that Public Works Director Munyan, City Administrator Tackett and Mayor Walton discuss picture hanging with the Heritage Society.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

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

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

           

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the equipment was working okay.  It was determined that lowering the lead pump float in lift station 5 would compensate for the over production of lift station 4.  A complete checkout of the system would be done on February 24th.

 

MEETING RECESSED

 

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 7:52 pm to go into Executive Session until approximately 8:02 pm to discuss liquidated damages for the Wastewater Facility.

 

MEETING RECONVENED

 

Mayor Walton reconvened the regular meeting at 8:00 pm and the following business was heard before the City Council;

 

ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

  Larry Seibel provided the schedule for the sewer projects.  The projects would be advertised by the end of February. Construction would begin in May and would be completed in August.  A meeting would be held on February 13 at 6:00 pm with property owners to discuss the grinder pumps.

 

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry discussed the schedule for Phase I and Phase II. 

Phase I – Would be advertised in March, construction would begin in May and would be completed in August.  Currently in the process of obtaining a permit for the railroad crossing.

 

Phase II – Would be advertised in April, construction would begin in June and would be completed in November.  Plans and specifications were nearly completed. 

 

City Administrator Tackett reviewed Resolution No. 2003-01 which needed approval in order for the City to be reimbursed for work as it occurred since the City did not have the cash flow to fund the project out of local funds.

 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Resolution No. 2003-01 relating to reimbursement for water improvement projects.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

TIB – CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that the plans and specifications for this project were nearly completed except for the sewer line.  The plans would be finalized once they had met with the school board.  This project was scheduled for construction during the summer.

 

Clark Street Project and Elm Street Project are scheduled for bid opening and for award at the same time.

 

City Administrator Tackett advised that the City had received a $91,000 grant in conjunction with the TIB grant to do an overly on West Elm Street .  This would be done upon completion of the TIB project by the same contractor.  The grant was for a demonstration project to show how a city can have cost savings by piggy backing projects of like nature.       

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

City Administrator Tackett advised that he needed authorization from Council to sign the Power of Attorney form for USDA – Farm Service due to the two operating farms owned by the City that require signatures for various materials for Mr. Knight and Mr. Smick.

 

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize City Administrator Tackett sign as Power of Attorney for Mr. Knight and Mr. Smick for the farm leases.

 

SANITATION

City Administrator Tackett reviewed Ordinance No. 754, sanitation amendment and reported that after reviewing the City’s ordinance it was apparent that only a few minor changes were necessary.  The new ordinance would provide for the garbage cans to be moved from the City right-of-way.  Changes included the following: 1. specific reference to solid waste contractor, 2. storage container standards, 3. garbage can storage, 4. penalties for non-compliance, 5. incinerators, and the City Administrator or his designee being charged with enforcement.

 

City Administrator Tackett also discussed violations and the need for penalties.

 

Council requested fees be added to the ordinance and it be brought back to Council for approval.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

        Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the  amount of $50,635.04. Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

COMMITTEE REPORT – City Administrator Tackett

1.                  The Downtown Committee met and selected a consultant.  Benton Franklin Regional Council would run the contract.  Next meeting would be on February 26th.

2.                  Became a board member of the Rural Economic Development Fund dealing with new legislation which provided funding for counties for the revolving loan fund.

 

FIRE CHIEF – Fire Chief Robert Koch

1.                  Received the grant for fire reporting software and computers

2.                  Attended a certification class in Tacoma on the unified fire code.

 

POLICE REPORT - Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  Interviewed several individuals in regards to the busses.

2.                  Had an escapee from Camp Outlook who was apprehended and taken to jail.

3.                  Received the $10,000 grant for the computer server.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Patrick Munyan

1.                  Akins building was being remodeled.  A daycare center would be placed in one portion of the building.

2.                  The Community Center would be completed in approximately three weeks.

3.                  Believed that the odor problem experienced by the Pharmacy was coming from the neighboring building.  A letter would be sent to the neighbor.  Would be requesting permission to enter and inspect the building.  L & I had not returned any phone calls.

4.                  Had a broken water line on North Fifth.

5.                  The intrusion alarm at Well 8 was set off kids.

6.                  A manufactured home would be going into Brentwood II.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.                  Attended a TAC meeting in regards to the interchange for the north side of town.

2.                  Would be attending the AWC Legislation Conference and would be meeting with the City’s legislators and DOC.

3.                  Received information on the TIB grant project for Elm Street and applied due to time constraints.

4.                  Received information on a grant to extend North Sixth Ave. to South Seventh Ave.

 

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved, seconded by Councilmember Pruett, to authorize City staff apply for the Sixth Ave. Extension grant.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m.