City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For November 6, 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, Ted Blaszak, John Giudice, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, and Carol Sturman. Kynda Browning, Clerk/Treasurer, was also in attendance. In attendance in the audience were Keith Andersson, Donovan Chase, Matt Corn, Debbie Groom, Richard and Lisa Kelly, Threasa Raines, Wendy Sienknecht, Josh Sperber, Meg Sutton, and Fred and Della Wagner.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: There was none.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Meg Sutton was in attendance and asked the council if they understood Chronic Nuisance Ordinance No. 838 when they passed it. There was discussion and Meg Sutton recommended the council table it so they can go over the entire ordinance and get public comment.
Ted Blaszak said we need to fix it and talked about why he wants it in place, but said he did not want to trample on anyone's civil rights. Ted Blaszak made a motion to repeal Ordinance No. 838. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Mayor Jaeger said when we have an updated ordinance; we will share it with people before it is passed again.
Donovan Chase, Fire Chief, told the council the biggest reoccurring cost is the fire sirens. He talked about changing the sirens so they use Wi-Fi, instead of phone lines. There was discussion and he said he will get additional information for the council. He also said the firemen’s dinner and auction will be held at the Event Center on November 18. They will use the money to rebuild the agricultural barn at the school.
Josh Sperber was in attendance and said he runs a small business. He inquired about renting the old city shop building and asked if it will be available. There was discussion and Mayor Jaeger will check into the status of the old city shop building.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. CHRONIC NUISANCE PROPERTIES ORDINANCE: This was done earlier.
B. BUDGET WORKSHOP TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 20, 2017 AT 6:00 P.M. AND FINAL BUDGET HEARING DECEMBER 4, 2017 AT 7:00 P.M.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. WATER LINE ON CROSBY STREET: Mayor Jaeger said we need to replace water lines on Crosby Street from Main to Huffman before we pave Crosby Street, if we get the TIB grant. He said we might be able to get money from USDA (loan and grant) to replace the water lines.
B. VACATE STREETS AND ALLEYS AT FOOTBALL FIELD: Browning will advertise in the Whitman County Gazette to vacate the portions of the streets that are part of the football field.
C. SQUATTER'S RIGHTS: (John Giudice) John Giudice said he did not know what information the Mayor wanted concerning squatter’s rights. The Mayor explained he needs the law pertaining to squatter’s rights, but the house we were talking about is now vacant.
D. SELECT ENGINEER: The City received five statements of qualifications from Century West, JUB, Keltic Engineering, TD & H Engineering and MD & A. Six people read over the statements and scored them. Century West received the highest score, and JUB received the second highest score. Roy Schulz made a motion to hire Century West as the engineer for the next five years for all projects, except the airport will be engineered by JUB. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
E. TAX LEVY PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Jaeger opened the public hearing. Browning explained the city has not asked for an increase for the last two years. There was a question about banked money, so we will table this until the next meeting.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: The brick is falling off the back wall of the library/museum and he is suggesting the council look at it. We had a structural engineer come and look at it. Dave Tysz suggested we get ahold of Zach Lanham to get a price.
We installed a camera at the rest stop and kids went in there and cause damage. He asked John Giudice what is happening with the information. John Giudice said the kids admitted to doing the damage and it is being processed.
Mayor Jaeger said a letter is being sent to Mr. Andersson with options and a timeline from the recommendations made by the unfit dwelling committee.
Kynda Browning and he attended the IACC meeting to meet with funders about the sewer plant and the upgrades that will need to be done to it in the future. The funders said they will put together a package showing the amount of money they have available for a grant/loan combination and what we will need to be charging for rates in order to get the best deal.
Mayor Jaeger said we should have a discussion at the budget workshop concerning water and sewer rates. He is suggesting we raise water by $1.00 to help pay for the water line replacement on Crosby Street and raise the sewer by $2.00 to get more money into savings for the sewer plant upgrade. Dave Tysz suggested we look into raising our overage rate so people using the most water will pay, instead of putting the increase on the base rate.
Mayor Jaeger passed out a budget on the community center .09 grant. It shows we will pay around $35,900 on the $34,000 grant and he is projecting we will need an additional $4,020.00 for the project. Ted Blaszak asked if a citizen group could do fundraising.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: Browning didn't have a report.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Alyssa Heagy showed the council Neighbor’s Watch signs they had made and said they will be putting them up around town.
Carol Sturman said they will be signing paperwork on the Cohn Trust in November.
John Giudice said he would like to look at city leases at the next meeting.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Matt Corn said if we raise the water overage rate, you might have people not watering their lawns.
Wendy Sienknecht said we need advertise the Old City Shop before we lease it. She wondered about lagoons for the proposed sewer project upgrade. Mayor Jaeger explained the TIB grants to her. She asked about the CDBG grant for the sewer lines. Mayor Jaeger said the city is responsible for $40,000 on the CDBG sewer line project. She asked about the matching money for the TIB grants. Mayor Jaeger said we don't have to accept the grants if we don't have the matching money.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE OCTOBER 16, 2017, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the October 16, 2017, 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 13108 through 13115 and EFT payroll checks totaling $17,504.81; and check numbers 13116 through 13140 and EFT checks for $14,315.21 as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 p.m. Dave Tysz 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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