MEETING OF THE CITY OF
CONNELL,
The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of
the City of
PRESENT:
Mayor Gary Walton, Mayor Pro-Tem Perry Skoglund, Councilmembers Roel
STAFF:
City Administrator
VISITORS: Alan
Schroeder, Anderson Perry; Jim Riddell, Golf Course; Sandi &
Jami Lynn Rodstol; Marilynn & James Coulson, Boy Scout Troop 120; Sterling
Joyner; Kyle Knight; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic.
Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed:
a) Minutes of the February 28 Regular meeting,
Councilmember
Sawyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Martinez seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
USDA – WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Phase III Reservoir – Project was about 97% complete. Filling tank for testing and disinfection.
Alan presented
Change Order No. 2 and Partial Pay Estimate No. 5 for payment.
Motion: Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize Change Order No. 2 to Erwin Construction in the amount of $3,086.70. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion:
Councilmember Martinez moved to authorize Partial Pay Estimate No. 5 to
Erwin Construction in the amount of $61,095.72.
Councilmember Sawyer seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
Phase
III Schedules G & H – 82% complete with the project. The waterlines
were being disinfected and tested before being put to use.
Department of Transportation and
Alan presented Partial Pay Estimate No. 4.
Motion:
Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 4 to L & L
Cargile in the amount of $304,254.54. Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
ANNEXATION OF RODSTOL PROPERTY
City Administrator Tackett advised that a signed Petition for Annexation had been received from the Rodstols and that a Public Hearing date would need to be set.
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to set the Public Hearing for the Petition for
Annexation for
City Administrator Tackett clarified that the City could not change the
zoning on property as it was being annexed but that the City would follow the
normal zoning procedures and that it would be taken before the Planning
Commission.
COMMUNITY CABLE SERVICE
Attorney Tanner advised that there was no new information to convey to Council. The City could terminate the franchise for just cause but that the City would have to pay fair market value to take over the cable system or have someone else take over the system.
Attorney Tanner noted that Verizon phone company was going into certain
communities and providing cable service.
The City would need to review the cable franchise ordinance to make sure
it covered taxation of phone companies that provide cable service.
Attorney Tanner advised he would look the City’s ordinance over and make sure it was up to date.
ORDINANCE NO 779 – AMENDING WATER RATES
City Administrator Tackett advised that in order to charge for
agriculture irrigation water the City needed to add a rate for agriculture
irrigation to the City’s water ordinance.
A subcommittee met and recommended that rates for agriculture irrigation
users be negotiated as were the rates for industrial users.
It would be anticipated that the charge for agriculture irrigation rates
would be $100/ acre for a total of $51,200 per year.
Motion:
Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Ordinance No. 779 setting a water rate for
agriculture irrigation. Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
Mayor Walton read the title for Ordinance No. 799.
City Administrator reported that a subcommittee met and reviewed the proposed contract with Kyle Knight and made the following recommendations.
1. Because of the lateness of that decision and because the first lease payment was due April 1, 2005 the committee recommended that the attached contract with Mr. Knight be approved for one year. He would be allowed to subcontract. He had already done some planting.
2.
Because of change in employment by the current lessee, that bids
be accepted in June to lease farm at the end of the current season for a start
date of
3. That the City purchase the circle that was installed and paid for by Mr. Knight for $29,500 replacement cost would be about $60,000 to $80,000.
Kyle Knight suggested that once the bid was awarded in June the new lessee gain access to the property once the old crop was removed.
Kyle also suggested the water be prorated as there would be two lessees for the year.
Motion: Councilmember Skoglund moved to approve the farm lease with Kyle Night with the inclusion that the new lessee have access to the property once the crop has been removed and that water is prorated with the new lessee. ( At this point Councilmember Skoglund said ‘strike that’). Also because of change in employment by the current lessee, that bids be accepted in June to lease farm at the end of the current season for a start date of January and that the City purchase the circle installed by Mr. Knight for the amount of $29,500. Councilmember Pruett seconded motion.
Mayor Walton advised that access be granted to the new lessee not be struck.
City Administrator Tackett noted that a new lease agreement would be made with the wording adjusted.
Motion carried unanimously.
APPROVE SELLING PRICE FOR DNR PROPERTY
City Administrator Tackett advised that a subcommittee had met to review the property that was currently being leased by Mr. Desmarais and Mr. Broberg. The property would need to be officially subdivided so that the parcels could recive a title.
According to the appraisal the Desmarais parcel was $19,600 and the Broberg parcel was $32,600. The subcommittee recommended this amount plus sharing the surveying and subdivision costs. Surveying and subdivision costs would be split three ways by Desmarais, Broberg, and City. The cost as recommended by the appraiser was $.25 a square foot.
City Administrator Tackett advised that there had been a request made to pay for property on contract. The City had done this before with the airport.
City Attorney advised that to have them buy on contract would not be a problem since the City would retain ownership interest until the contract was completed.
Motion:
Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the selling price for the DNR property,
setting the price for Desmarais at $19,600 plus a share of the short plat fee
and for Brobergs at $32,600 plus a share of the short plat fee. Councilmember
Martinez seconded motion. Motion
carried unanimously.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Motion:
Councilmember Skoglund moved to pay the vouchers and payroll in the amount of
$546,293.97 Councilmember Pruett seconded. Motion
carried unanimously.
STREET COMMITTEE – Councilmember Andy Sawyer
Councilmember
Sawyer suggested that due to the problems with
Council suggested sending out mailings or placing it in the Graphic to get public input.
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
– City Attorney
1) Waiting to receive the $17,000 check and signed agreement from Apollo.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT –
Public Works Supervisor
1) The Coulee was burned.
2) Staff was busy getting parks ready and installing new park equipment.
POLICE DEPARTMENT -
Police Chief Rick Rochleau
1) Would be having a Civil Service test on March 15th.
2) Received a request from Chief Reed from Asotin to contract for police services during Asotin’s festival in April.
Council
consensus was not to contract with The City of
CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator
1) Met with Lamb Weston in regards to waste energy.
2) Would be meeting with PUD on March 15.
3) Would be presenting a development and purchase offer at the next meeting.
4)
Finance Committee meeting March 22, at
CITY HALL – Deputy City Clerk-Treasurer Maria Chavez-Pena
1)
Needed to have everyone turn in their code books for updating.
There being no further business
to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at