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

July 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 Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Andy Sawyer, Roel Martinez, Monica Pruett, Ron Boyer and Mayor Gary Walton.

STAFF:            Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, City Attorney Terry Tanner , Public Works Director Pat Munyan and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez .

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

PRESENTATIONS

The Mayor presented the following with Yard of The Month:

Richard Sackmann, Marie Grassl, Dick & Nina Jolliff, Bob & Karen Vanderbilt, Sandy & Raymond Hulburt, and the Field of Dreams.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Bank of America – Thanked the City of Connell for choosing them for interim financing for the USDA project.

2)                  WA  State Transportation Improvement Board – Thanked the City for hosting the FY-2005 TIB Small City Program Workshop.

3)                  Office of Financial Management –Official population for Connell was 3,190.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

1)         Minutes of the June 23, 2003 Regular Meeting

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:

            Item 13 a) – Railroad Caboose

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that the pump should be repaired by the end of the week and should be back in place by the following week.  Once it had been reinstalled the remaining three pumps would be removed one by one for testing.  Mr. Schroeder also reported that a pipeline had burst due to being placed under an existing sewer line and the pressure from the two lines rubbing caused the pipeline to burst.

Anderson Perry has looked into alternatives that would reduce pressure fluctuations in the pipe and reduce the likelihood of future sewer line breaks. The valves would cost about $1,500 each.

Mayor Walton suggested that a shut off valve be placed at the bottom.

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Alan Schroeder reported that the first phase had nearly been completed; all that remained was some restoration and clean up work.  Work had begun on the two lift stations.  They were on schedule.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Application for Payment No. 1 to Paragon Construction Co. in the amount of $82,026.38.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

              Larry Seibel reported on the following:

Phase I – Still waiting for the permit from the Railroad to submit the right-of-way certificate to USDA.

            Phase II – The lowest bidder, Paragon Construction, had been disqualified.  The next lowest bidder was Pegram Construction from Othello.  References were satisfied with Pegram’s work. Larry recommended that the City award the project to Pegram contingent upon USDA approval.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to award Phase II –USDA Water Improvements to Pegram contingent upon USDA approval, Councilmember Pruett seconded.  Motion carried with four in favor and Councilmember Boyer voting against.

TIB – CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that M.L. Albright was ahead of schedule, catch basins would be done in the next few days and they would then prepare to do the sidewalk, curb and gutters.

Motion:  Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Application for Payment No. 1 – Schedule A  to M.L. Albright & Sons in the amount of $46,791.79.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

Motion:  Councilmember Martinez moved to approve Application for Payment No. 1 – Schedule B  to M.L. Albright & Sons in the amount of $56,842.50.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

WEST ELM STREET

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that funding was received for work to be done on the west end of Elm Street through TIB as Schedule D.  M.L. Albright & Sons had submitted a bid of $41,887.40.  A change order was submitted for Council’s approval.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to approve the change order for Schedule D. in the amount of $41,887.40 to M.L. Albright & Sons.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Larry Seibel advised that the engineering agreement for Clark had been approved with a conceptual estimate and that they would like to amend that agreement in the amount of $13,000 to include the TIB project.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to allow Larry Seibel proceed with an amendment to the engineers contract to be brought back to Council.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

RIGHT-OF-ENTRY

Attorney Tanner advised that staff had been approached by Verizon regarding the potential for locating a cell antenna near the new sewer plant and that he had received a lease for right-of-entry from them. The lease would enable Verizon to research the site to determine if it would be suitable for their needs.

Public Works Munyan noted that if a tower was placed on the site and if it overlapped onto Neil Smick’s portion of CRP land, the City would have to pay Mr. Smick back for that portion.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize Verizon test the site for the location of a tower.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

RAILROAD CABOOSE

Mayor Walton reported that he had been in contact with Bill Reilly from Big Bend Economic Development in regards to the purchase of a caboose.  The cost of the caboose, including delivery, would be $5,000.  The City would need to furnish railing to set it up.

Public Works Director Munyan advised that the City already had the railing needed.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the expenditure of $5,000 for a railroad caboose.  Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $347,474.02.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

ATTORNEY’S REPORT – Attorney Terry Tanner

1.         The Police Department had been busy and it was reflected in the court load.

CITY HALL DEPARTMENT – Deputy Clerk Maria Chavez

1.                  Would be gone July 21 through the 25 for training.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1.                  The crew had been spraying and mowing weeds.

2.                  The main computer at the swimming pool had gone out.  Took the computer off of the Kiddy Pool and put it in its place.  The Kiddy Pool was shut down.

3.                  Applied for a grant through Big Bend Electric.  Big Bend would provide an analysis on energy efficiency for the well pumps.  This would give the City a 15% savings in electrical costs.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  Arrested an individual from Chelan County in connection with the shooting of the Chelan County Deputy. 

2.                  Still dealing with fireworks going off.

3.                  Officer Turner would be attending training on active shooter response in Mukilteo.

4.                  Had an officer assist Franklin County Sheriffs in Basin City . 

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:42 pm .