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

February 23, 2004

The regular semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by City Administrator Art Tackett at 7:30 pm in the City Hall and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:       Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Roel Martinez and Andy Sawyer.

EXCUSED:      Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, and Councilmember Ron Boyer.

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

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

APPOINTMENTS

City Administrator Tackett advised that Council would need to temporarily appoint someone to conduct the meeting in the absence of the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to appoint Councilmember Martinez to conduct the meeting of February 23, Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

Councilmember Martinez temporarily appointed Andy Sawyer to the Finance Committee.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Minutes of the February 9, 2004 Regular Meeting.

Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Phase III -      Alan Schroeder reported that Larry Seibel was working on setting up a meeting with DOT who would not allow open cut of the highway. 

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

            Clark Street Rail Crossing: Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that they had not received a schedule from BNSF who would be doing most of the work.

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Alan Schroeder advised that it was getting close to irrigation startup and that they would have to take a look at the ponds.

CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE

City Administrator Tackett reported that the Mayor had contacted the cable service who had advised that they were working on the problem and had replaced some equipment.

COMMUNITY CENTER

            City Administrator Tackett advised that he was unable to set up a meeting for the Community Center Committee but that he had asked them for direction as to allow the Quilters free use of the Center.  The concurrence of the committee was to not allow free use of the Center by the Quilters.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to continue with the charges of the Community Center as set fourth in the Community Center Facility Use Agreement.  Councilmember Sawyer seconded, motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $147,563.25.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS – Councilmember Roel Martinez

1)                  Portfolios of the surrounding cities were made and available at the Council of Governments.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Work was being done on Lift Station 4

2)                  Had problems at the Community Center with a wedding.  Band members had wired their system into the air-conditioning unit and had found graffiti.

3)                  Looking into installing 220 at the Community Center, had been talking to L & I.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Had seven vehicle prowls and five bike thefts last week.  The officer arrested four juveniles and solved all but two of the incidences. 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Received word that the expansion of CRCC was not in the Senate or House budgets.

2)                  Would be attending a meeting in Olympia to be third party reviewers for environmental consultants for the CRCC expansion.

3)                  Would be meeting in Ritzville on Feb 24 with RC & D.

4)                  The Heritage Design was putting on a meeting for grants.  Looking at applying for a grant to get funding for the museum.

5)                  Would be attending a meeting in Moses Lake on Wednesday in regards to aquifer.

6)                  Would be attending an Emergency Management meeting in Ellensburg on Thursday.

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 7:57 pm .