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

 

March 24, 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, Andy Sawyer, and Ron Boyer.

 

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Roel Martinez

 

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Chief of Police Rick Rochleau, Public Works Director Pat Munyan and Deputy City Clerk Maria Chavez .

 

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel and Allan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Jean Stocking, citizen; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1.                   Franklin County Commissioners – Mosquito Control – seeking applicants to serve on the board.

Mayor Walton appointed John White to the Mosquito Control Board.

2.                  B/F Board of Health Meetings – Fourth Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm .  Cancelled for March 27th.

3.                  Canfield and Associates –  The Firearm Training Simulator would be set up for use by the Connell Police Department in June.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

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

1)         Minutes of the March 10, 2003 Regular Meeting

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

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 reported that Anderson Perry staff and City Staff had meet with Apollo in regards to liquidated damages.  Apollo was told that the City did not know where they would go from here due to the current problems with lift station 5.  Mr. Schroeder reported that Apollo had responded that they were unable to get any reaction from their subcontractors and do not know what they would do.

 

Mr. Schroeder suggested to Apollo that a third party be brought in to diagnose the problem, Apollo agreed. Apollo would be responsible for this expense.  Mr. Schroeder would get back to Apollo with the names.  The third party would hopefully be able to diagnose the problem.

 

An alarm had gone off at lift station 4, the problem seemed to be a blown fuse. There had been problems with the lift stations since they had been built.  The recourse with Apollo would be to go after their bond. The legal process for this recourse had been started.  Mr. Schroeder advised that he would make some phone calls in the morning to try and find a third party.

 

SEWER PROJECT STATUS

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the plans for the lift stations and the force main would be given to Council to review before long.  This project would be advertised for bid on April 3rd along with Clark Street .

 

City Administrator reported that there would be a meeting with the School District on March 25th in regards to easements.

 

Council discussed several streets that needed repair.

 

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Larry Seibel reported that the environmental check list had been completed and that USDA requested this be adopted by the City.

 

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved, seconded by Councilmember Sawyer, to adopt the Determination of Nonsignificance for the USDA Water Projects.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Phase I – The Plan and Specification documents had been sent to Dept. of Health for their review. Anderson Perry was still waiting to hear from the Railroad in regards to the permit.  The Corps of Engineers where contacted in regards to the Coulee, they requested the City also contact the Irrigation District.

Phase II  - The advertisement for this project would be delayed for a little bit so that projects would not overlap too much.  Construction would begin in July.

          Phase III – Had not been started.

 

City Administrator reported there would be a telephone conference with bond council, Bank of America and USDA to discuss interim financing.

 

TIB – CLARK STREET – PROJECT UPDATE

Larry Seibel reported that Clark Street plans and specifications would be completed by the end of the week and would be submitted to TIB for their approval.  They would then be advertised on April 3rd. Construction would begin on June 9th.

 

 Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize the Mayor sign the Engineer Agreement with Anderson Perry for Schedule D West Elm Street, Job No. W68-188 and the TIB Consultant Supplemental Agreement, in the amount of $50,600, for West Clark Street – West Elm Street pavement Overlay, Project Number 6-E-926 (003) 1.   Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

           

WATER RATES

Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that he was preparing some back up information for City Administrator Tackett.  About 60 % of the necessary increase in water rates were due to the inflation in power bills.

 

City Administrator Tackett noted he would meet with Lamb Weston once the numbers for the rate increase had been set.

 

SELECTION OF DEFENSE ATTORNEY

City Administrator Tackett provided Council with a draft contract agreement for the City with Ms. Cornish and explained that the City’s existing defense attorney would be going to work for the County.  Ms. Cornish had agreed to the numbers. 

 

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved, seconded by Councilmember Pruett, to accept Sylvia Cornish as the new Defense Attorney for the City of Connell .  Motion carried unanimously.

 

ADAMS STREET RAILROAD CROSSING

City Administrator Tackett reported that Public Works Director Munyan had been working with the railroad to come up with a solution for the crossing problems at Adams Street .   A deal was worked out to replace the asphalt with concrete for $6,000 the railroad would reimburse the City $2,000.

 

Council Sawyer moved to approve the expenditure of $6,000, to be taken from the Street Improvement fund, for the Adams Street railroad crossing, Boyer seconded, carried unanimously.

 

CLARK STREET RAILROAD CROSSING

Mayor Walton discussed the DOT grant the City received in the amount of $200,000 to move the arms for the railroad crossing on Clark Street .

 

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the grant agreement in the amount of $200,000 with DOT Councilmember Pruett seconded, carried unanimously.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS –

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $125,344.36.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded, motion carried unanimously.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT - City Administrator Art Tackett

1.         Downtown Committee set a meeting for April 29th.

2.         Submitted an application for funding to the County for Elm Street .

3.         Talked to County regarding funding mechanism for low and moderate income housing.  They were currently giving funds to housing authorities.  The City may need to get the housing authority going again perhaps to try and get the funding to purchase the Hillcrest Apartments.  City Administrator requested he send them a letter expressing interest in not being left out and asking for $40,000.

Council consensus approved City Administrator Tackett to proceed.

4.         Received a letter in regards to a lawsuit for the individual that got hit with the backstop at Pioneer Park .

5.         Had a meeting with Connell North Franklin Economic Development Association  who requested that City staff be authorized to look into the utility tax rates that were being affected by the spikes in the gas and electricity rates.

Council gave its consensus to have City staff  look into it.

 

CHIEF OF POLICE

1.                  Things had been fairly quiet for the Police Department.

2.                  Several officers were taking vacation time.

3.                  Reserve Officer Hadley doing well at the reserve academy.

4.                  Officers participated in defensive tactics training.

5.                  Spending a lot of time with Emergency Management.

6.                  Total cost for the new server would be $12,000; $10,000 would come from the grant.

Council consensus approved expenditure.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Garland Walton

1.                  Advised for the need to budget for computer upgrades for 2004.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

 

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.