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

March 13, 2006

The regular semi-monthly meeting, of the City Council of the City of Connell was called to order by the Mayor 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 Ron Boyer, Councilmembers Monica Pruett, Rhonda Quinton, and Jim Klindworth.

EXCUSED:      Councilmember Kent Mosbrucker 

Motion: Councilmember Boyer moved to excuse Councilmember Mosbrucker, seconded by Councilmember Klindworth, carried unanimously.

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

VISITORS:      Heather Hinckly, Thomas Fisher, Todd Brandner, Jim Riddell, Burl Booker, Barbara Poulson, Brady Quinton, Roger Bailie, Joe Escalera; Larry Hueter, Kevin Loresch, DOC; and Kathy Bingham, Franklin County Graphic .  

CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion: Councilmember Quinton moved to approve the Consent Calendar as listed;

a)      Minutes of the February 27, 2006 Regular Council Meeting

b)      Minutes of the March 6, 2006 Special Council Meeting

c)      Warrant Register 3/01/06 for $148.32 

d)      Warrant Register 3/10/06 for $2,750.33

e)      Warrant Register 3/13/06 for $87,677.59

f)        Payroll  for 3/13/06 for $9,816.38

g)      Motion to approve Ordinance No. 799 amending Title 13, Chapter 13.20 Water and Sewage, of the Connell Municipal Code setting sewer impact charges

h)      Motion to approve Resolution No. 2006-04 adopting construction standards.

Councilmember Boyer seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

CITIZEN COMMENT/NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Walton advised that he had received a phone call in regards to getting help for local businesses with the possibility of setting up a sign on the highway to advertise their businesses, possibly on private land.  The fee for advertising on State Highway signs was approximately $1,200 a year.

Councilmember Klindworth suggested having the Chamber look into putting up signs. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion: Councilmember Klindworth moved to approve the agenda as listed. Councilmember Quinton seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

USDA – CONTROL VALVE

            Mayor Walton provided that the electronic control valve on Garfield Avenue would be operated by the telemetry system that would open the valve to let water into town when needed.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to approve Partial Pay Estimate No. 2 in the amount of $24,442.60.  Councilmember Quinton seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

SCHOOL MOU

            City Administrator Tackett advised that changes had been made to the contract and was reviewed by the school superintendent.   In regards to maintenance the City would be responsible for maintenance during the summer months and the school would be responsible during the remainder of the year.

            Councilmember Klindworth inquired as to who would be held liable in case of vandalism or some other major problem. Councilmember Klindworth also questioned who would be carrying the insurance and also suggested utilizing some sort of formula for splitting cost of expenses.

            Roger Bailie, School Board representative, suggested that one entity, such as the school, be responsible for maintenance and the City then pay for use of the facilities.

            Burl Booker noted that the Junior Livestock show had an agreement with the District to maintain that facility.

            Staff would continue to work with the School District on the Memorandum of Understanding to be brought back to Council.

REALTOR CONTRACT

City Administrator Tackett advised that he had met with Jeff Arlington and that there was a change that needed to be made to the contract on the first paragraph from “licensed real estate broker” to “licensed real estate agent”.  

            Councilmember Klindworth inquired about sales in progress and asked about what was expected of Mr. Arlington for marketing.

            A meeting with the Real Estate Committee would be set up to go over pricing with Mr. Arlington.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2006-03 WATER CONSERVATION GOALS

Public Works Director Munyan advised that the Department of Health required the City to adopt goals on water conservation and noted that commercial meters on Columbia Ave , which were not currently being read during the winter, would be replaced with new electronic meters before next winter.  The only time meters would not be read is if there was a lot of snow on the ground.

Motion: Councilmember Pruett moved to adopt Resolution No. 2006-03 setting water conservation goals. Councilmember Boyer seconded motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

JUNK / ABANDONED VEHICLES

            Public Works Director Munyan reported that he had been in contact with Oscar’s Towing from Othello.  This towing outfit would be willing to come to Connell if all the vehicles were moved to one location to be crushed.  There would be no charge to the City if the City did all the paperwork.

            Director Munyan advised that there were some vehicles that were questionable as to whether they met the criteria to be crushed.  The City did not have the proper equipment to move these vehicles without causing damage to them.  The City would need to purchase additional equipment or these vehicles would need to be towed. The additional equipment being looked at would cost approximately $5,000.

Public Works Director advised that the process would be to go door to door with a form that would give the City permission to enter the property and remove the vehicle at no expense to the owner. 

            Councilmember Boyer commended staff on the cleanup of the City. 

            Staff would proceed in gathering more information to bring back to Council.  

COMMITTEE / DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – City Administrator Art Tackett

1)                  Would be gone March 27th to attend son’s Academy graduation.  

Councilmember Klindworth voiced that he was glad that the City was moving ahead with the quiet zone designation.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT – Police Chief Rick Rochleau

1)                  Still looking into the construction of a new gun range.  The site being looked at was adjacent to City property.  Since having to close the gun range in 2003 police staff had been using Franklin County ’s gun range.  This had created training and scheduling problems.  DOC would also be using the range and would share in some of the labor and equipment cost.  Would bring this back to Council at a future date.

Councilmember Klindworth suggested looking at the property in Adams County owned by the City.

 

PUBLIC WORKS – Public Works Director Pat Munyan

1)                  Leprekon Harvest Foods was working on fixing the structural damage caused by a leak.

2)                  Condemned a trailer in the D & L Trailer Park .

3)                  Contacted new CPE owners.  Advised they had two months to correct all non complying code issues.  

 

MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Gary Walton

1)         Would be contacting someone to do a presentation on the bird flu, hopefully at the next meeting.

 

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the regular meeting at 8:35 pm to go into executive session for approximately 25 minutes to discuss personnel issues.  

MEETING ADJOURNED

There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at 9:03 pm .