City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For September 19, 2016
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, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, Carol Sturman, David Tysz and Clerk/Treasurer, Kynda Browning. Audience attendees were Keith Andersson, Todd Gabbard, Duane Groom, Bill and Diane Harp, Matt Morkert, John Zichko, and other audience members who did not sign in.
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 presented Task Order 1, a wastewater treatment plant analysis, with Century West for $750.00. Roy Schulz made a motion to pay Task Order 1 for $750.00, as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Morkert also presented a general services agreement for on-call consulting services with Century West. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the general services agreement with Century West. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Mayor Jaeger asked for a report on what they found when they did the wastewater treatment plant analysis.
Matt Morkert talked about the Recreational Trails Program. He gave the copy to Ted Blaszak with the information.
The Palouse Regional Transportation Planning Organization gets funds from WASDOT for roads. Matt Morkert suggested that someone attend the meetings. Dave Tysz volunteered to go to the meetings.
Diane Harp reported the coalition is in full swing. The carnival will be held on October 28 this year. This is national suicide prevention month and there will be a speaker for this. She also reported they are holding parenting classes both in Tekoa and Rosalia.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: John Zichco was in attendance and asked about the fire on Sunday morning, if they can dump yard waste and said there is a Star of David on the door of one of the houses in town.
Todd Gabbard was in attendance and asked the council about the triangle of land in front of his house. He is still interested in purchasing it if the council decides to sell it. He said if we can put the landscaping in, he will pay for the electricity for a light. He said people park there and asked if the council can at least put up no parking signs and mow it. He would like to see something done with it. The city will research if and find out if we own it. There was discussion.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. SALARY NEGOTIATIONS DUANE GROOM: Carol Sturman read a letter concerning Duane Groom's salary starting September 1 and felt it should be retroactive to January 1, 2016. Roy Schulz said there was discussion when they met and they decided it would become effective the first paycheck in September. There was discussion about whether it is retroactive back to the beginning of the year or to start in September. Duane Groom said they discussed the effective date and they talked about making it retroactive when he met with the negotiations group in July. Nothing was said that he would lose January through the end of August. He thought the entire amount would be paid the first check in September. Ted Blaszak said he would like the personnel committee to meet with Duane Groom again and have Browning take notes. The committee will also meet with Keven Turnbough, since he has been here for a year.
B. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT/ACTION: There was discussion, and it was decided to look into a Safe Street program. Alyssa Heagy made a motion to implement a code enforcement board, with five, non-paid, volunteer citizen members. Carol Sturman seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Ted Blaszak voted to have Alyssa Heagy hold a meeting to form a neighborhood watch program. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
C. ANIMAL ORDINANCE: Mayor Jaeger is still working on this.
D. TANNER LOTS FOR SALE: We are still working on this.
E. SPEED SIGN BY RUHL PARK: It was decided we would like to put both a “20 m.p.h.” and “Slow Children at Play” sign at the park. Stephen Bishop will let us know what we can do.
F. BIDS FOR .09 GRANT: Mayor Jaeger said we will change the call for bids and only include the bathroom and the ramp to the theatre. The heating, lighting, north wall and electrical updates will be ad-alternate items. We will open the bids at the October meeting.
G. STREET LEVY: Mayor Jaeger would like to remind people to vote.
H. COHN TRUST: It was reported that the trustees chosen to make decisions for the Cohn Trust are Carol Sturman, Joyce Hanson, and Virginia Heaton.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. HAY LEASE: Roy Schulz reviewed the lease and suggested we keep the lease the same. Roy Schulz made a motion to accept the lease as written and have it be ongoing unless the leasee or leaser wants to change it. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. SOLAR ENERGY PRESENTATION: Joseph Hojnacki was in attendance to talk to the council about solar energy and the firm doing an audit to find out about energy savings. Dave Tysz made a motion to contact the Department of Enterprise Services to make an interagency agreement. Ted Blaszak asked if we are committed to have an agreement with them after they do the original inventory. Mr. Hojnacki explained that we can decide after they do the preliminary analysis. During the preliminary analysis there is no cost to the city. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
C. REVIEW 2016 BUDGET: Browning went over the 2016 budget with the council.
D. APPROVE WAGES FOR DIANE HARP (clean library), GARRETT PRINCE (maintenance at sewer plant), DEAN BROWNING (weed control at cemetery): Alyssa Heagy made a motion to pay Diane Harp $12.50 an hour, Garrett Prince $15.00 an hour and Dean Browning $30.00 an hour. Ted Blazsak seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: (Mayor Jaeger) Mayor Jaeger reported we will have the next meeting on October 17, 2016 (preliminary budget hearing), November 21, 2016, at 6 p.m. (budget workshop) and December 19, 2016 (final budget hearing).
Mayor Jaeger handed out a debt report showing the council what the city owes in loans until 2053.
Mayor Jaeger said we have lots in town we have been maintaining, and the people don’t pay the bill. There was discussion concerning a solution to this issue. Stephen Bishop will research it and look at the nuscience ordinance to find a remedy.
Mayor Jaeger told the council we will put a proposed sewer rate raise on the October agenda.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: There was none.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: There were none.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. APPROVE August 15, 2016, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the August 15, 2016, meeting minutes as presented. Ted Blaszak seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve payroll checks 12481 through 12491 and EFT payroll checks totaling $23,126.35; and check numbers 12492 through 12514 and 12517 through 12525 and EFT checks for $41,392.04 as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:58 p.m. Alyssa Heagy 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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