City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For November 16, 2015
The council met at 6 p.m. to hold a budget workshop, to go over the proposed 2016 budget.
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, Ted Blaszak, Debbie Groom, John Giudice, Roy Schulz, Dave Tysz, and Troy Wilson. Also present was Clerk/Treasurer, Kynda Browning. In attendance in the audience was Matt Morkert from Century West Engineering.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor John Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Matt Morkert reminded the council that there is a USDA Community Facilities Grant/Loan that we can apply for to do work on the theatre and community center and use the .09 grant as a match.
He talked to the council about different utility tax rates for sewer, between collection and treatment. Browning will get more information.
The TIB Park Street project can’t be finalized until one of the sub-contractors completes their paperwork.
He said that HD Fowler was the only responsive bidder on the water meters, program and meter reader for the USDA grant. He said he sent them the letter to provide the equipment.
Matt Morkert asked the council to approve Century West’s bill for the USDA water meter portion for the information they put together for us, totaling $1,300.00. John Giudice made a motion to approve the contract with Century West for a $620 increase for the water meter plans and procurement. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Matt Morkert reported the city applied to Safe Routes to School for a sidewalk along Highway 27. We learned it wasn’t funded because there was no sidewalk across the bridge. He will talk to Ken Olson at WASHDOT to see why we couldn't put sidewalk across the bridge.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: We received a letter from the City Attorney, Stephen Bishop concerning the Goldenrod Cemetery endowment. After discussion, Ted Blaszak made a motion to establish a new Goldenrod Cemetery Endowment Fund as a 501 (c) (3) and enter into a TEDRA agreement. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. CHIP SEAL PROJECT: Troy Wilson and Duane Groom made a list of the streets to be chip sealed.
B. GOLDRENROD CEMETERY: Debbie Groom reported that Teresa Hoke-House resigned as the cemetery maintenance person, so we will be looking for a new employee. She reported the cemetery committee met, and wants to do the following when we get the Cohn memorial interest: a memorial for the Cohns, a pressure pump and a new water line to the cemetery, new sprinkler heads and eventually a new sprinkler system. She talked about the using the Tree City USA to do an inventory of the trees at the cemetery.
Debbie Groom also stated that she believes the City of Tekoa is responsible for operation and maintenance of the cemetery until the Elenor Cohn endowment funds are received. She does not believe the endowment fund should pay for past operation costs, as it is the city's obligation at this time to maintain the cemetery. Once the endowment fund 501 (c) (3) is established, then, as stated in the endowment, the endowment funds should pay for operating expenses going forward, not for expenses incurred in past years.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. BUDGET AMENDMENT AND TRANSFER FUNDS: Ordinance No. 824, amending the 2015 budget was presented to the council. Debbie Groom made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 824 as presented. Ted Blaszak seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2016 TAX LEVY RATE: Mayor Jaeger opened the public hearing for the 2016 tax levy rate. Dave Tysz made a motion not to raise the tax levy rate and approve Resolution No. 15-05 as presented. Ted Blaszak seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
C. STREET LEVY: Mayor Jaeger said they don’t have the final count for the street levy yet.
D. DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH MEETING DATES: It was decided to hold the meeting for December on the 7th, January on the 4th, February on the 1st, and the March meeting on the 21st.
E. COMMUNITY CENTER STATUS: Mayor Jaeger, Debbie Groom and Diane Harp met to look at the Community Center to determine needs for the future and for applying for the .09 grant in 2016. They discussed putting a handicapped accessible bathroom in the community center, and putting a doorway between the theatre and community center, so they could use the bathroom when they have performances. Debbie Groom does not agree with putting a hole in the Tekoa Theatre Historic Building wall for a doorway between the theatre and the community center building. The mayor stated he would bring in theatre board members to the next council meeting. Three other council members -- Troy Wilson, David Tysz, and John Giudice -- stated they would not approve cutting a hole in the historic building wall. They also discussed moving the library to the community center building or using the grant to purchase football field lights. Debbie Groom said she hasn't met with the theatre board yet, and would need the theatre board's input before any decisions are made.
F. SURPLUS ITEMS: John Giudice made a motion to declare the following items surplus to put out to bid: Nokia 6085 – ATT Flip Phone,(3) Norstar Office Phone, Acer Veriton Computer Tower, (4) Acer Keyboards, Brother Intellifax, HP Mouse, HP Officejet Pro 8500 Printer, Dot Matrix Printer, Business Card Holder, CD’s and Cassettes. He also approved disposing of an HP Computer Tower that no longer works and a Sharp Calculator that no longer works. The council will accept sealed bids until Friday, December 4, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. and they will be opened at the December 7, 2015 council meeting. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
G. LIASION FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT: Ted Blaszak volunteered to be the liaison for the fire department.
H. ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL ISSUES: This item was done at the end of the meeting before it was adjourned. Debbie Groom was in attendance to discuss personnel policies and then left the meeting before the executive session started, and was not in attendance to discuss the performance of the employee. The council adjourned into executive session to review the performance of an employee (RCW 42.30.110 (1)g) at 9:05 p.m.. They could remain in executive session for up to one hour. At 9:50, the council adjourned out of executive session.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: (Mayor Jaeger) Mayor Jaeger did not have a report.
B. COUNCIL REPORTS: Ted Blaszak reported that several communities plan to do resolutions for the John Wayne Trail and their meetings have been going well. John Giudice said that people are speeding on Park Road and we might need a bigger 25 mph speed limit sign.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE October 19, 2015, MEETING MINUTES: Debbie Groom made a motion to approve the October 19, 2015, meeting minutes as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Debbie Groom made a motion to approve payroll checks 11981 through 11988 and EFT payroll checks totaling $21,180.90; and check numbers 11989 through 12028 and EFT claim checks for $197,982.31 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 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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