City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For February 19, 2019
I. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Troy Wilson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members present at the meeting were Wilson, Bethany Fletcher, John Giudice, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, Wendy Sienknecht, and Carol Sturman. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience attendees were Eric and Wendy Bretz, the Fletcher Family, Steve Haxton and Heidi and Kevin Turnbough.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Wilson asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION:
Dennis Fuller was in attendance from Century West Engineering to give a presentation on upcoming requirements for the sewer plant.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Mr. Fletcher wanted to thank Duane Groom and Kevin Turnbough for the great job they have done plowing the snow. He asked the council to consider plowing to the golf course road since the county doesn't do it.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. SEWER/WATER LINE ON CROSBY – RCAC LOAN FOR 10 YEARS – 5% INTEREST – 1% LOAN FEE: Browning presented a spreadsheet showing the amount of money we currently have in the water and sewer reserves that would be used to fund replacing the water and sewer line between Main and Park before we did the paving with the TIB project. There was discussion about the possibility of getting a RCAC Loan to pay for these line replacements. John Giudice would like to table this until the next meeting.
B. BRETZ BUILDING: Steve Haxton was in attendance and told the council there has been no progress that he can see on the Bretz Building. Mayor Wilson said they’ve talked about this for two years and they need to move forward. Mr. Bretz had until this month to remove the top floor off the building. Kevin Turnbough talked to a company and found out you have to have an asbestos evaluation. The minimum price is $80,000 but since it has asbestos, it would be around $200,000. Mayor Wilson asked Kevin Turnbough to set up the asbestos evaluation. Kevin Turnbough said whoever has it taken down is liable for the waste. Mayor Wilson told Mr. Bretz he hopes he is able to do something with the building.
C. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL: The committee has not met yet. They are talking about meeting on March 5. Monte Morgan asked Mayor Wilson about a door in the kitchen. The council needs to decide if they want to make a second doorway in the kitchen for the theatre. John Giudice made a motion not to put another door in the kitchen. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
D. AIRPORT FUEL STATION: Roy Schulz talked to the council about a new card reader at the airport that costs $17,814.96. Mayor Wilson talked about how long it would take us to recover this expense. We are at the end of our legal obligation from the WSDOT Aviation grant to provide fuel. Roy Schulz said we make $1.00 a gallon from the fuel. He thinks we should apply for the .09 grant for the card reader. Roy Schulz will get more information about the .09 grant and let us know at the next meeting.
E. COUNCIL CHAMBERS FLOORING: Mayor Wilson said we received two bids for flooring for the council chambers. After discussion, it was decided to get more information.
Roy Schulz and Carol Sturman left at this time.
F. GOVPAYNET INFORMATION – PAY UTILITY BILLS WITH VISA: It was explained that GovPayNet is a company that allows utility customers to pay their bill with a credit or debit card. There is no charge to the merchant, but the customer would pay a 2.65% fee for the service. John Giudice made a motion to approve the merchant agreement as presented. Wendy Sienknecht seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
G. UTILITY HARDSHIP ORDINANCE No. 849: Utility Hardship Ordinance No. 849 was presented to the council. Alyssa Heagy made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 849 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. KEVIN TURNBOUGH – SETBACK VARIANCE ON LINDSEY STREET: Kevin Turnbough was in attendance to ask the council for a setback variance on Lindsey Street for a garage. He would like to have a one-foot variance on the east side on Lindsey and five feet on the north side. Alyssa Heady made a motion to grant a one-foot setback from the east side and a five-foot variance on the north side of Kevin Turnbough’s property. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. There was discussion about a survey.
B. 2019 .09 GRANT APPLICATION: This was discussed earlier.
C. ORDINANCE No. 848 TRANSFERRING 2018 UTILITY TAX TO GENERAL FUND: Ordinance No. 848 was presented to the council to transfer the remainder of the 2018 utility tax money to the general fund. John Giudice made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 848 as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
D. INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT – RESOLUTION No. 19-02 WHITMAN COUNTY SOLID WASTE: Resolution No. 19-02 and the Interlocal Agreement with Whitman County Solid Waste was presented to the council. Wendy Sienknecht made a motion to approve Resolution No. 19-02 and interlocal agreement with Whitman County Solid Waste as presented. Bethany Fletcher seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
E. AWC LOSS CONTROL GRANT – SIDEWALK BY AVISTA: Browning told the council we can apply for an AWC Loss Control Grant for 2019. It was suggested we use the money to replace the sidewalk by Avista on Main Street. Wendy Sienknecht made a motion to apply for the loss control grant for $5000 for the sidewalk by Avista. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
F. SNOW REMOVAL: Mayor Wilson asked the council to approve hiring George Dean to plow the sidewalks to both of the schools. Alyssa Heagy made a motion to hire George Dean and pay him $20.00 an hour. Wendy Sienknecht seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Mayor Wilson read a letter of resignation from Carol Sturman. John Giudice made a motion to accept Carol Sturman’s resignation. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion with regret; all council members voted yes.
Mayor Wilson said he will be gone the second meeting in March. Dave Tysz will run the meeting as the Mayor Pro-tempore.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Wilson said we have plans to chip seal this summer. Kevin Turnbough found some equipment for about $20,000 we can purchase and do it ourselves. We will still have the county chip seal for us this summer.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: Browning did not have a report.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Bethany Fletcher talked about the stop sign that was removed and now it is not safe. It was requested we put a yield sign on north Crosby on opposite corners.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. JANUARY 22, 2019, MEETING MINUTES: John Giudice made a motion to approve the January 22, 2019, minutes as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: John Giudice made a motion to pay payroll warrants 13889 to 13899 and EFT payroll warrants in the amount of $24,773.87; warrant number 13900 through 13937 and EFT warrants in the amount of $62,982.89 as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: John Giudice made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 p.m. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
APPROVED:
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Troy Wilson – Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kynda Browning – Clerk/Treasurer
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