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

January 12, 2004

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, Ron Boyer, Roel Martinez and Andy Sawyer.

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

VISITORS:      Alan Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Fernando Fernandez & Frank Sanchez, Custom Cruisers Car Club; Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Requesting nominations from the community for the Jefferson Award.

2)                  Spokane   - Invitation to the 2004 Regional Mayor’s Ball.

3)                  Received several letters in regards to Initiatives 747 & 695, reducing local levy taxes by 25%.

4)                  Small Cities Advisory Committee – the mayor of Wilson Creek was invited to discuss the impact of initiatives on small cities on PBS TV in Seattle . 

5)                  Board of Health – Mayor Walton would continue to represent Connell, Mesa and Kahlotus on the Benton Franklin Health District’s Board of Health.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Minutes of the December 8, 2003 Regular Meeting.

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT

Frank Sanchez and Fernando Fernandez of the Custom Cruisers Car Club were present to thank the Councilmembers and the City of Connell for their support.  They placed third in the National Low Rider Show in Las Vegas .  

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:

            Item 10 a) – Cable Television Service

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported that the overall budget was going well and that the City was getting to the point were it would be utilizing grant funds.  Alan also reported on the following:

Phase I –  Phase I was shut down for the winter.  Several items would be finished up in the spring.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Application for Payment No. 5 to Morse Construction in the amount of $62,607.29.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase II –  Change order 2-C was for the installation back flow prevention devices that included the meter and back flow device for Sand & Gravel which had been missed.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Change Order 2-C to Pegram Construction in the amount of $3,107.62. Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize Application for Payment No. 5 to Pegram Construction in the amount of $30,348.78.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Phase III -   Moving ahead with putting in a reservoir.  Rural Development has asked for an amendment to the Environmental Report for the reservoir.  Rural Development would also require that an archeological study be done. An Amendment to the Engineering Services Agreement to authorize the additional work was included for Council Approval.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Amendment No. 1 Agreement for Engineering Services with Anderson Perry for an addendum to the Environmental Report and an Archaeological Survey.  Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

            Alan Schroeder of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

            Clark Street : Was completed.  The lights were not working properly.

            West Elm: Asphalting would be completed in the spring.

            Brentwood Overly: The project was completed.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Application for Payment No. 3 – Retainage Payment to Transtate Paving in the amount of 4,355.70.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

          City Administrator Tackett reported that the request for additional funding for the rail crossing on Clark had been approved and that the project would start this year.

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

City Administrator Tackett reported that he had been informed that the City would be receiving a counter offer. 

Further discussion was tabled until the January 26th Council Meeting.

CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE

Councilmember Martinez reported that rates for cable service were going up.  There were still several channels that were out.

City Administrator Tackett suggested reviewing the Franchise Agreement and working with the City Attorney to see what could be done.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills for December 22 and January 12 in the amount of $313,582.57.  Councilmember Pruett seconded, motion carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS – Art Tackett

1)                  Planning Commission Meeting January 20th to discuss zoning.

2)                  Currently the Planning Commission had a vacancy that needed to be filled.

3)                  Downtown Development meeting January 21st at 6:30 pm

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Fire Chief Robert Koch

1)                  Had a fire at the Moon Apartments in the second story.  A ladder truck would have been useful.

2)                  Had 19 fire calls for last year.  This year they had already received 11.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE – Deputy City Clerk Maria ChavezPeña

1)                  Staff was doing year end reports.

2)                  Clerk Treasurer Eckman would have the budget document ready for the next meeting.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Had water lines freeze at the Community Center due to the heating system going out.  The lines were fixed and everything was being put back together.

2)                  Had been busy plowing the snow and keeping the streets clean.

3)                  Was advised that the person tearing down the elevator had left town.

Council gave its consensus to have a letter sent to Connell Grain Growers to have it cleaned up.

Councilmember Skoglund commended the Public Works Department on their work keeping the streets clear.

Mayor Walton advised that the sander had broken down and another had been purchased and was on the way.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Working with Fire Chief Koch on the fire.

2)                  Had a vehicle prowl

3)                  Had a domestic violence

4)                  Received a Reserve Application for Greg McCombes

Council gave its consensus to approve the reserve application for Greg McCombes.

5)                  Submitted a grant application for light bars and mats.

6)                  Approved for one surplus military rifle.

7)                  The Counter Drug program offered the Police Department an ’86 Chevy diesel pickup.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  The documents adopted by the City Council for the Interagency Committee were accepted by IAC.

2)                  Signed a contract for water meter updates with ASP.  Would bring this back to Council.

3)                  Would be attending the AWC Legislative Meeting in Olympia Jan 28 and 29.

4)                  Would be attending an IAC meeting Jan 27 in Spokane .

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:38 : pm.