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

March 8, 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:       Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers, Roel Martinez, Ron Boyer and Andy Sawyer.

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Monica Pruett.

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

VISITORS:      Larry Seibel, Anderson Perry; Jeff Phelps, candidate for State Representative; Martin Howser, Community Cable System; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.

CORRESPONDENCE

1)                  WA State Gambling Commission: Gambling License issued to Pizza Station.

2)                  Greyhound Lines, Inc.: As of April 4, 2004 Greyhound Lines would be discontinuing services to Connell due to their current financial condition.

3)                  Maria Cantwell, Senator: Added three sites on the lower Columbia River as national historic parks on the Lewis & Clark Trail.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar with the following correction:

Minutes of the February 23, 2004 Regular Meeting, Page 1, Approval of Agenda, change Councilmember Skoglund to Councilmember Sawyer.

Councilmember Martinez seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT

Jeff Phelps introduced himself and advised that he was running for Sate Representative for the 9th District.

Councilmember Boyer inquired about the procedures for keys to the Community Center for the caterers.  Keys were not given to caterers for the kitchen due to the alarm needing to be manually turned off.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mayor Walton made the following addition to the agenda:

            Item 12 a) Wellness Program

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS

USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

            Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported on the following:

Phase I – Requested a tentative schedule from Morse Construction to finish up the project.

Phase II – Received Application for Payment No 6.  This expenditure was for the meter reading system.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve Application for Payment No. 6 to Pegram Construction in the amount of $16,432.00.  Councilmember Martinez seconded motion, motion carried unanimously.

Phase III – Continuing to work on the crossing permits.  Would be setting up a meeting to discuss open cut of SR 260 and request that the connection be made in the median. Would also be meeting with Franklin County PUD.

City Administrator Tackett advised that he had set up a meeting with the conservancy board who would decide of the City would be able to transfer the water rights from Agricultural to Municipal. Once the City had received their decision bond council would be contacted to request the change.  Changing the bonds form agricultural to municipal would save the City about $30,000 a year.

STREET PROJECTS - UPDATE

            Clark Street Rail Crossing: Larry Seibel of Anderson Perry reported that the Local Agency Agreement had been completed for Washington State Department of Transportation but that the Local Agency had a different environmental procedure and that the City may be required to do a biological assessment.  Would be meeting with them to try to get a no effect determination.

WASTEWATER FACILITY  

Attorney Tanner reported that they were still trying to resolve the issue of the extra time it took to get the Wastewater Facility running.  The City had entered into negotiations to get an extended warranty on the pump.  The financial terms had been squared away as discussed in executive session.

CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE

            Martin Howser, owner of Community Cable Service, advised that they would be revising the channel lineup to improve existing service.  A survey would be sent out to customers to request input. They would be upgrading the plant this summer and once completed they would be offering hi-speed Internet, digital cable and HDTV.

SPRING CLEAN UP

            City Administrator Tackett advised that BDI had contacted the City in regards to Spring Cleanup.  They would be delivering two 30yd containers on Friday, April 30 to be returned on Friday, May 14th.  They would provide haul fees at no charge and up to $400 of dump fees.  The City would be responsible for any tires, appliances, and dump fees in excess of the $400.  City Administrator Tackett also noted that he was working on getting a chipper.

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize staff to proceed with Spring Cleanup. Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

WELLNESS PROGRAM

          Deputy City Clerk ChavezPeña advised that AWC would provide a $400 grant to the City for a Wellness Program.  The grant would only cover those employees that were AWC insured.  Since the Police Department was not AWC insured the City would have to pay for their participation in any of the AWC programs.  Deputy Clerk ChavezPeña inquired if Council also wished to participate in the Wellness Program. 

Motion: Councilmember Sawyer moved to authorize $300 for staff and Council participation in the Wellness Program.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

Mayor Walton temporarily appointed Councilmember Martinez to the Finance Committee to review vouchers and payroll.

Mayor Walton inquired about the refund to Tap Enterprises and requested that a portion be withheld to cover damages to the water meter cover and the lawn.

Mayor Walton also advised that the bill from AWC for the attendance of Councilmember Martinez not be paid since he took the place of Councilmember Skoglund whose registration had been paid but was not able to attend.

Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the payroll and bills in the amount of $178,661.13, which included the two invoices in question but with the understanding that they were to be looked into.  Councilmember Martinez seconded, motion carried unanimously.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT – Attorney Terry Tanner

1)                  Attended the appeal for water rights on February 27th, judge advised that a ruling would be made by March 5th but Attorney Tanner had not yet received a ruling and would contact the judge.

2)                  Happy to report that he and his wife had a new baby boy.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Received an alarm call from Well 8, the pump would not start on auto dialer so staff went down and started it manually and shortly thereafter the panel box arched and exploded.  No one was hurt.  The panel was 30 years old and did not have up to date safety features.  There was a possibility of the city’s insurance covering the cost for a new panel.

2)                  The Sewer Plant was up and running and had been spraying water. 

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Had several domestic violence cases.

2)                  Officers were still finishing up the cases on the vehicle prowls and bike thefts.

3)                  Attended a meeting in Walla Walla on school mapping.  The computer program would be available to law enforcement and fire departments.  It would show the location of different utilities and for responding to critical incidents at the schools.  Currently only available for high schools, eventually all schools would be mapped.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Would be attending an IAC meeting on Wednesday.

2)                  Would be attending an Emergency Management Task Force meeting on Thursday.

3)                  Would be traveling to Olympia with PW Director Munyan to meet with DOC.

4)                  Would be meeting with Eastern Washington Water Alliance in Spokane , April 13.

5)                  Met with the Columbia Basin Committee who was trying to get funding to expand the Environmental Impact Statement of Bureau of Reclamation.

6)                  Would be setting up a Street Committee meeting.

7)                  The Main Street Development Committee met and was working on an application for a historic district.  There would be information in the Graphic.

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Gay Walton

1)                  Connell was not on the map for scenic routes

2)                  Would not be in attendance at the March 22nd meeting.  Would be with the National Guard to Pensacola .

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 8:58 pm .