City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For April 17, 2017
I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Jaeger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present at the meeting were Jaeger, John Giudice, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, Carol Sturman, and David Tysz. Kynda Browning, Clerk/Treasurer, was also in attendance. In attendance in the audience were Keith Andersson, Donovan Chase, Duane and Debbie Groom, Diane Harp, Fran and Pete Martin, Monte and Cheryl Morgan, Theresa Raines, Wendy Sienknecht and Fred Wagner.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor John Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Matt Morkert was in attendance and led the public hearing for the Community Development Block grant and the TIB Emergency grant listed later in new business.
Diane Harp talked about the following:
~The coalition is developing their strategic plan.
~They are helping to implement a new curriculum in the Tekoa and Oakesdale Kindergartens.
~The 6th grade mentoring group is putting on a free fashion show at the theatre this Saturday.
~The Chamber had their Easter egg hunt on Saturday.
~The Palouse Scenic Byway is meeting on Monday at the Feeding Station at noon.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Donovan Chase said the fire department will be meeting with someone from the Washington Ratings Bureau to try to get the insurance rating lowered. There is equipment they need, and it will cost the city and the county each $3000. He listed the things she will be looking at for the audit. He will go to the businesses and do a fire audit this week.
Donovan Chase also talked about the farmers using the hydrants to fill their trucks using the contractor's water rate. John Giudice made a motion to allow farmers to fill their trucks that have an air gap at the contractor water rate (one cent per gallon). They will need to fill out an application and have their trucks inspected prior to filling their trucks. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Todd Gabbard talked about the grass triangle strip in front of his house. He would like to have electricity to put up a lighted flag pole. He will pay for the electricity and maintain the area. He is asking the city to put the trench across the road. He also asked to have water put across the road for a sprinkler system. There was discussion. Troy Wilson asked if the city owns the property. He was told we own the east part of it, and the railroad owns the west part of it. Dave Tysz made a motion to allow Todd Gabbard to donate the electrical service and flag pole at his expense on the triangle in front of his house, the city will pay for the trench, and he will pay for the electrical. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes, except Troy Wilson voted no.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. STREET BUDGET AND STREET LEVY: Mayor Jaeger asked the council if they would like to run the street levy again. He presented a street budget to the council for information. He said the street levy money does three things: It paves streets, it takes care of street maintenance, and it is used for matching money for street grants. John Giudice said we will need a concrete plan for what we are going to use the money for. Mayor Jaeger said he will have it for the May meeting.
B. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT: Alyssa Heagy talked about the safety report and said areas have been assigned for the neighborhood watch, but there are areas of town that still need volunteers. They have a Facebook page called Tekoa’s Neighbors on Patrol.
C. STATUS OF COHN TRUST: Mayor Jaeger said we don't have any more information. Carol Sturman said she talked to Ted Rasmussen, and he is working on it.
D. CONVERSION OF ORDINANCE BOOKS TO DIGITAL: Browning asked to do this later.
E. UNFIT BUILDING STATUS REPORT: Mayor Jaeger said a letter was sent to Keith Andersson asking him to have a fence put up, the bricks cleaned up and asked him to bring someone down to assess the safety of the southwest corner. This has not been done. After discussion, the council asked to have the city put a fence up around the building on the south end and on the west corner (the orange fence with no trespassing signs.) They would like a structural engineer to look at it.
Galler property: We received a letter from Diane Galler saying she will be obtaining bids to clean the property once the fire investigation has been resolved. The council directed the city to put a fence around her property until it is deemed safe.
Mr. Green, the owner of the bowling alley, gave the mayor permission to get someone to clean up the lot and fix both doors.
A concern was submitted to the council from the school and the next-door neighbor concerning the property at 120 N. College Street. We will contact the owner of the property requesting that he address this concern.
Dave Tysz said the Stoneham lot on Bridge Street needs to be cleaned up. Mike Bogenreif will identify the things that need to be cleaned up and a letter will be sent to Mr. Stoneham.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. PUBLIC HEARING FOR CDBG APPLICATION: Mayor Jaeger opened the public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant. Matt Morkert talked about the two programs that are available: planning-only grants and construction grants. There was discussion about a feasibility study for the sewer treatment plant. An I and I project for three areas of concern was also discussed. Matt Morkert asked if anyone has any other projects they would like to suggest or discuss for possible projects. There were none. Mayor Jaeger closed the public hearing. Matt Morkert presented handouts concerning the testing we did for the sewer I and I. He said the past projects have reduced the amount of flows at the sewer plant; however, the amounts still rise drastically in the spring. He is proposing we replace three sewer lines: at the football field, at Park and Main Street, and north Crosby Street. He will put together the application and present it for approval at the May meeting.
Matt Morkert presented an A-19 reimbursement request for the CDBG planning-only grant for the sewer I and I for Century West. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the CDBG planning-only grant invoice for $4,867.18 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
The mayor will talk to Richard Kelly about the Fuchs building.
B. LIST OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES: Mayor Jaeger read a partial list of the city properties that have been identified. Dave Tysz volunteered to help locate the other city properties that have vague descriptions.
C. USE OF AIPORT BY AG PILOTS: Roy Schulz said we normally charge ag. pilots $100 a day for using the airport to fill their planes. However, the council felt that $100 per plane, per day, is more equitable. This will be part of the fee resolution.
D. FEE RESOLUTION - RATE OF PAY FOR MOWING/DAY LABOR/EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND WATER/SEWER COST FOR BUILDINGS USING WATER 4 OR LESS TIMES PER MONTH: Dave Tysz made a motion to approve fee Resolution No. 17-2 to set a rate for businesses using water four times a month or less to pay the surcharge and get 500 gallons, and then pay $1.00 per 500 gallons for water used; charge $100 per day, per plane, for ag. planes using the airport; and set the pay scale for employees we hire for part-time help, as written. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; Dave Tysz, Carol Sturman and Roy Schulz voted yes. Troy Wilson and John Giudice voted no. Alyssa Heagy did not vote.
E. RESOLUTION MOVING MONEY FROM CE TO CEMETERY AND FIRE: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve Resolution 17-1 transferring money from the current expense fund to the fire fund, the cemetery fund and the criminal justice fund. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
F. TIB EMERGENCY REPAIR GRANT: TIB has a grant to pay for repairs for roads damaged from the winter. Madison Road to the care center was damaged, so a grant application will be presented at the May meeting.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Jaeger said the council decided to go ahead with the community center plans. He talked about the petition that was turned in from Wendy Sienknecht and reported he contacted several people who signed the petition and felt he alleviated many of their concerns with the project. He discussed the order of things to be done for the project. Mayor Jaeger asked if he has the council's support. John Giudice said he is ok with it. There was discussion, and the council would like him to go ahead with it.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: There was none.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Alyssa Heagy said there is a program through Washington State where we take pictures of our community and then someone can make commercials here. She is wondering if it is something she can look into. The council agreed it was ok.
John Giudice said he would like us to have two meetings a month.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE March 20, 2017, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the March 20, 2017, meeting minutes as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve payroll checks 12791 through 12800 and EFT payroll checks totaling $21,274.39; and check numbers 12801 through 12830 and EFT checks for $50,686.55 as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
APPROVED:
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John Jaeger – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kynda Browning – Clerk/Treasurer
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