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

March 6, 2006

The Workshop Meeting, of the City Council of the City of Connell , was called to order at 7:10 pm at Connell City Hall .

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:       Mayor Gary Walton , Mayor Pro Tem Ron Boyer, Councilmembers Rhonda Quinton, Kent Mosbrucker and Jim Klindworth.

STAFF:            City Administrator Art Tackett , Public Works Director Pat Munyan , and City Deputy City Clerk Treasurer Maria ChavezPeña.

GUEST:           Heather Olney, Thomas Fisher, Brady Quinton, Ron Brandner, Todd Brandner, Dan Hultgrenn, Jim Blum, Grant Riddell, Ted Curtis, Jim Riddell; Scott Frakes, DOC; Mike Kirby, NFSD; and Kathy Bingham, Graphic .

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the special meeting to go into Executive session at 7:10 pm for approximately 45 minutes to discuss the Farm Contract.

MEETING RECONVENED

Mayor Walton reconvened the special meeting at 7:53 pm and the following was heard before Council:

TULLAMOOR PRESENTATION

Jim Riddell thanked Mayor Walton for his kindness, warmth and professionalism.  Mr. Riddell also thanked City Administrator Tackett and Public Works Director Pat Munyan for working with him and stated that he found himself in an awkward position as it had become pretty obvious to him that some people in town, possibly some Councilmembers, did not like his project or him.  Mr. Riddell commented that in his business the proper way of going about doing a subdivision was to have his staff work with the City staff to create a plan, which then went before the Planning Commission where it would then be passed on to the City Council.  In his case here, it had not been able to go that way and was now in the situation, where in his opinion, staff was neutralized in relationship to working with his project. He was not trained to run around and put articles in the newspaper and run a political campaign.  In regards to the issue concerning farming the land, the profit from the farming activity would be applied to the balance owed to the City on the contract.  Mr. Riddell had received a letter that he was not to be farming the land.  Mr. Riddell replied to the letter that he did not agree and would continue to farm the land. The relationship between the city and himself had deteriorated but he would continue to move ahead.  

Mr. Riddell conveyed that if Council felt that there were grounds where they could communicate and work as a team to let him know sometime the following day.  If he did not hear from the City then he would let other people who worked for him and people who worked for the City resolve the issues from then on.  Mr. Riddell continued that Council did not have a right to know his personal financial information nor did they have a right to know his partners personal financial information. Mr. Riddell provided that there were two people who did not work for him that had a direct input on what he was doing with the project, the school superintendent and the superintendent for CRCC, who where on his advisory staff providing input on the project in regards to streets, homes, etc.

MEETING RECESSED

Mayor Walton recessed the special meeting to go into Executive session at 8:05 pm for approximately 20 minutes to discuss legal matters.

MEETING ADJOURNED

Mayor Walton reconvened the special meeting at 8:30 pm . There being no further business to be heard before the City Council, Mayor Walton adjourned the meeting at that time.