City of Tekoa COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES For July 15, 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, Lee Burchfiel, Bethany Fletcher, John Giudice, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, Wendy Sienknecht and Dave Tysz. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience attendees were the Keith Andersson, Shelly Ausmus, the Fletcher Family, Tim McClurg, and Carol Sturman.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Wilson asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Shelly Ausmus was in attendance and talked about the library.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Tim McClurg was in attendance and talked about the burn ordinance and is concerned about people burning next door to someone with health issues. There was discussion. The council will review the fire pit ordinance and discuss it at the August meeting.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL RATES: Wendy Sienknecht presented the Tekoa Community Center information and a packet with rental rates, a rental form and other information. The Mayor thanked the members of the committee for all their work and said it will be reviewed next month.
There was discussion about the chip sealing Whitman County is doing for the city.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. PUBLIC FORUM FOR WATER USE EFFICIENCY CUSTOMER GOAL: Mayor Wilson asked the council to consider a goal to help conserve water. After discussion, Dave Tysz made a motion to ask customers to cut back 4 to 5% on their monthly usage. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. CDBG SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Wilson opened the public hearing. Dave Tysz commented on making sure the extra money we are charging for the sewer goes into reserves. Browning explained that it will go into reserves. There were no other comments. Mayor Wilson closed the public hearing.
C. STREET LEVY PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Wilson opened the public hearing. He asked the council if they would like to put a street levy on the ballot in November. There was discussion about the streets that are too steep and weren’t done with this year’s project. After discussion, John Giudice made a motion to approve Resolution No. 19-05 asking for a street levy $50,000 on the November ballot. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
D. SELECT MAYOR PRO-TEMPORE: Alyssa Heagy nominated Roy Schulz to be the Mayor Pro-tempore, and Dave Tysz nominated Bethany Fletcher. Four council members voted for Roy Schulz, so he is the Mayor Pro-tempore.
E. TINY HOUSE ORDINANCE: Browning presented information about tiny houses. The council will review it and we will talk about it next month.
F. APPROVE AVISTA AGREEMENT FOR CEMETERY: John Giudice made a motion to sign the agreement with Avista for up to $40,000 to put underground electricity into the cemetery. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
G. PORTION OF TOWN TO SURVEY: The council needs to make a decision where they want the survey. John Giudice talked to the surveyor and he suggested we find existing points and put markers in where the points are. The surveyor will create a base map in CAD and keep expanding on that. Roy Schulz made a motion to pay up to $6000 for the survey with Bethin and Associates. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
H. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH WHITMAN COUNTY -AGREEMENT AND RESOLUTION: The Interlocal agreement between Tekoa and Whitman County Solid Waste Management plan 2019 to 2024 was presented. Roy Schulz made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 19-04 and the interlocal agreement as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
I. JOHN GIUDICE SETBACK ON ALLEY: John Giudice is asking about getting a variance for the building he is building on the alley behind Desire, between Desire and Line Street. There was discussion. Alyssa Heagy made a motion to allow John Giudice the variance of a 5-foot set-back to the grade of the alleyway. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
J. BURN PILE CONFLICT WITH RAILROAD: Roy Schulz talked about putting the burn site at the Cecil Park property, but there is currently not a road to the property. There was discussion about continuing to burn at the site. We will talk about this if it becomes an issue.
K. SURVEY REQUIRED TO BUILD: Wendy Sienknecht asked that we talk about requiring a survey. There was discussion. Bethany Fletcher will contact Eric Hanson, the city attorney, for information concerning this.
Duane Groom turned in some citizen complaints. The Mayor will get them to Mike Bogenreif. John Giudice asked about not requiring a citizen complaint form to have a complaint. There was discussion.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Wilson said that the letter is ready to go out for the Bretz building when we find someone to serve it. There was discussion about purchasing chairs for the council chambers.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: She did not have a report.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Roy Schulz talked about the agreement that was completed with the Port of Whitman for the replacement of the card reader at the airport. After discussion, John Giudice made a motion to approve the bid from Coeur d’Alene Service Station Equipment for $17,814.96 as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Shelly Ausmus asked about replacing the chairs at the library if we get new ones for the council chambers.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. June 17, 2019, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to the June 17, 2019, minutes as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to pay EFT payroll warrants14158 to 14170 in the amount of $29,031.85 and warrant number 14171 through 14213 and EFT warrants in the amount of $79,911.93 as presented. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 p.m. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
APPROVED: _______________________________ Troy Wilson – Mayor
ATTEST: _______________________________ Kynda Browning – Clerk/Treasurer
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