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

July 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 Roel Martinez , Andy Sawyer, and Ron Boyer.

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Monica Pruett  

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett, Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, Public Works Supervisor Larry Turner and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez .

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

APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Walton temporarily appointed Councilmember Martinez to the Finance Committee.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

1)         Minutes of the July 14, 2003 Regular Meeting

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Walton advised that the staff would be spraying for mosquitoes on Thursday.  The next Mosquito Control Board meeting would be on July 30th at 6:00 pm .

Councilmember Skoglund suggested looking into spraying for mosquitoes by airplane.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported the following:

Schedule A – The pump at Lift Station Five was being reinstalled.  Once this had been completed the remaining pumps would be inspected, a deflector plate was being installed to help with the flow.  The voltage test run by Franklin County PUD on both lift stations had come back fine.

Schedule B – A request for release of retainage to close out Schedule B was received from Selland in the amount $109,176.60.  There were some cost to Anderson Perry and the City due to delays in the electrical work.  Selland also had delays due to Schedule A not being completed.  Selland’s cost was in excess a few thousand dollars than the City’s and Anderson Perry’s and requested a wash.

Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize Partial Pay Estimate No. 11 to release retainage in the amount of $109,176.60 to Selland Construction.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.           

Alan Schroeder advised that water volume in the lagoon was probably enough to carry through the winter but that he would contact Neil Smick about his need for water for his crop. 

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Alan Schroeder reported that Paragon was on schedule.  The pumps for the two lift stations were scheduled to arrive by the end of the week.

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

            Alan Schroeder reported on the following:

Pre Construction Conferences were scheduled for Phase I on August 7th at 10:00 am and for Phase II at 1:30 pm .

Phase I – The BNSF Crossing Permit had been received and would be forwarded to Rural Development and would have a certificate of right-of-way completed.

            Phase II – Construction should begin the middle of August.

Phase III – Working on the design.  Maintaining availability of irrigation water was an issue that would be discussed at the next meeting.

TIB – CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Alan Schroeder reported that M.L. Albright was slightly ahead of schedule.  The concrete placement for the curbs would begin on Thursday. Work had begun on West Elm Street .  There was an issue with the timing of the water line for Phase II and M.L. Albrights paving schedule.

City Administrator advised that the city crew may have to lay pipes on Elm so that the street could be completed and not have to be torn up again.

Mayor Walton advised that the City would need to look into the right-of-way for Sixth Street .

PRIMARY ELECTION BY MAIL

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had received a request from the Auditor’s Office to conduct the next election by mail.  This had been requested in the past for the 1999 election and Council had granted their concurrence at that time.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to accept the request to conduct the primary election by mail.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

BRENTWOOD OVERLAY PROJECT -

Alan Schroeder reported that a bid opening was held on July 24th.  The lowest bidder of three bidders was Transtate Paving at $60,040.00. Engineers estimate was $68,730.00.

Councilmember Sawyer moved to award the project to Transtate Paving in the amount of $60,040 and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $213,646.24.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CITY HALL DEPARTMENT – Deputy Clerk Maria Chavez

1.                  Had survived the final year of the week long professional development classes in Seattle .

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Supervisor Larry Turner

1.                  Caboose would be arriving on July 29th.

2.                  Patched holes.

3.                  Marked water line on Elm Street .

4.                  Would be spraying for mosquitoes on Thursday.

5.                  Had to dig up a line from Country Estates that had not been capped off correctly.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Chief of Police Rick Rochleau

1.                  The officers had been busy with domestic calls.

2.                  Officer Turner had attended an active shooter class.

3.                  Sergeant Williams and Officer Quinton would be attending a DARE conference in Pasco .  

Councilmember Skoglund voiced a concern with the speed of the trucks on H-395.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: City Administrator Art Tackett

1.                  Was approached by someone who wanted to remove the junk from the farm.

2.                  Martin Howser from the cable company would be present at the next Council Meeting.

3.                  There would be a special Council Meeting on August 18th at 6:00 pm to discuss the budget.

4.                  Met with the Department of Transportation to review the drawings for the overpass. The maps would be reviewed by the Planning Commission.  The frontage road would be moved for development on both sides of the road, would be obtaining the right-of-way from Bureau of Reclamation.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:31 pm .