City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For May 21, 2018
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, Roy Schulz, Wendy Sienknecht, Carol Sturman, and Dave Tysz, Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience attendees were, Keith Andersson, Don and Vicki Chatterton, Robert Drollinger, Fletcher Family, Diane and Bill Harp, Alyssa Heagy, Matt Morkert, and Threasa Raines.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. April 16, 2018, MEETING MINUTES: John Giudice made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; there was discussion about when to make changes to minutes. After discussion, all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Wendy Sienknecht asked about bids on the small works roster, and she would like us to contract with the everyone we hire from the small works roster. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve payroll check 13417 through 13428 and EFT payroll checks totaling $23,903.46 and check numbers 13429 through 13465 and EFT checks for $60,879.46 as presented. Carol Sturman seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
IV. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION:
Diane Harp talked about Healthy Tekoa Coalition.
Alyssa Heagy said they need permission to hang up Neighborhood Watch signs on the intersection near the trailer park on Washington Street near the trailhead. Dave Tysz made a motion to put the Neighborhood Watch signs on the street sign poles. Carol Sturman seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Alyssa Heagy also presented Resolution No. 18-04, Every Woman Can, to the council for approval. Carol Sturman made a motion to approve Resolution No. 18-04. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Matt Morkert said we opened bids for the CDBG Sewer I and I Project. DW Excavating and S and L Underground were the two bidders. He recommended we approve the bid with the ad alternate for $635,869.62 with DW Excavating, who has the low bid. DW Excavating has done two other jobs with Century West, and they did a good job. Roy Schulz made a motion to award the base bid and ad alternate to DW Excavating for $635,869.62. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. They are thinking of starting the 45-day project the end of July or beginning of August.
Matt Morkert said he is still trying to get an estimate from a surveyor to do the main controls in Tekoa.
V. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Don Chatterton talked about smoke detectors and classes he took to stop a wound. Threasa Raines asked about putting gravel on her road. Bill Harp said he would like Spring Street closed, because there is so much traffic. There was discussion about closing Spring Street temporarily, and the council agreed. Mayor Jaeger said the crew can close the street.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VII. OLD BUSINESS:
A. DIANE GALLER/STONEHAM PROPERTY: Mayor Jaeger said Diane Galler is talking to him about having the debris taken off her property. She is waiting to hear back from someone to find out how much it will cost to have it removed.
Mayor Jaeger said the attorney will come to view the Stoneham property to advise us on what we can do.
B. KEITH ANDERSSON BUILDING STATUS: Mayor Jaeger said the timeline has not been met. Dave Tysz said the crack on the beam is worse. Mayor Jaeger would like to contact the structural engineer to give us some suggestions on how we can take the top floor down. Then we would get bids for the demolition. Keith Andersson was in attendance and said he has been in the hospital. There was discussion. Dave Tysz said we should still get the engineer. Carol Sturman asked how long it has been since the roof fell in, and she believed Mr. Andersson has had a long time to take care of this. Mayor Jaeger asked Mr. Andersson to give us a plan to address the upper floor of his building. He will give the council an updated plan of action by the June 18 council meeting. Mayor Jaeger will still hire the structural engineer to look at the building for the city.
C. ROBERT DROLLINGER PROPERTY: Robert Drollinger gave the council a plan to have a portion of his alley vacated. Dave Tysz said that we need to check with Avista and Frontier about whether they need to keep their easement in the alley. Mayor Jaeger said we should have the tree removed from the alley. The city will confer with our attorney concerning vacating the alley in question.
Mayor Jaeger said the community center is almost painted. It will be used for Slippery Gulch.
Wendy Sienknecht questioned how we selected certain contractors for the community center. It was explained the city did get bids prior to her becoming a council member.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ADD .09 GRANT: Ordinance No. 844 was presented to add the .09 grant to the budget. John Giudice made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 844 as presented. Wendy Sienknecht seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. JOHN WAYNE TRAIL: Mayor Jaeger said he met with the John Wayne Trail Park Ranger and Area Manager, and they said there is not supposed to be motorized vehicles on the trail except people farming adjacent to the trail.
C. FAILURE TO PAY LATE FEES/OVERAGES: Mayor Jaeger asked the council for clarification. If someone doesn't feel an overage is valid, and they pay their entire bill except the overage and refuse to pay, or if they have a late fee, and refuse to pay, should we shut off their water. There was discussion.
D. ANNUAL REPORT APPROVAL: Browning emailed all the council members a copy of the annual report to view. After she went over the annual report with the council, John Giudice made a motion to approve the annual report as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
E. APPROVE 2018 WHITMAN COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE: Browning presented the Whitman County Hazard Mitigation plan to the council for them to decide if they wanted to be a part of the update. After discussion, Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the plan as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Wendy and Doug Sienknecht and Dave Tysz will be on the committee.
F. UPDATE FEE RESOLUTION FOR WAGE RATES: Browning presented the updated fee resolution No. 99-18.2, changing the wage rate for mowing and summer maintenance to the state minimum wage rate. John Giudice made a motion to approve Resolution No. 99-18.2 as presented. Wendy Sienknecht seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
IX. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Jaeger did not have a report.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: Browning did not have a report.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: There were none.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Threasa Raines said the bank by her house looked great after they weed wacked it.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:55p.m. Carol Sturman 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