City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For June 17, 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, and Dave Tysz. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience attendees were Keith Andersson, the Fletcher Family, Kristi Kirkpatrick and Shelly Ausmus from the Whitman County Library, Fran and Pete Martin, and Cheryl and Monte Morgan.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Wilson asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Matt Morkert reported: DW Excavation finished the project on Main Street and the retainage from CDBG is $23,417.39. Alyssa Heagy made a motion to get the final pay estimate from CDBG for $23,417.39. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. We will have a public hearing at the next council meeting to close out the project.
Matt Morkert reported that after all the bids were opened for the TIB Park and Crosby Street reconstruction project, they were all over the bid estimate. He is recommending the council reject all the bids and rebid it in November or December. John Giudice made a motion to reject the bids for the TIB Park and Crosby reconstruction project. Bethany Fletcher seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Matt Morkert also recommended we don’t apply for a TIB project for next year, unless we apply to reconstruct Main Street.
Kristi Kirkpatrick and Shelly Ausmus were in attendance to update what is happening at the library. Kristi Kirkpatrick talked about the summer reading program and thanked the City for supporting the library. She also talked about a possible grant that is available to refurbish our library or possibly build a new one.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Monte Morgan was in attendance and talked to the council about the theatre and the community center. He said when you go into business with someone, all the people should have a say concerning what happens. The theatre would like a door through to the community center in the kitchen. The mayor asked what the difference between the two floors are. Monte Morgan said it would take about 4 feet. He is asking for a ramp to be built into the gallery room from the community center. Mayor Wilson said he was told the theatre group said they don’t want the ramp into the gallery. Monte Morgan said that is not true.
Pete Martin was in attendance to talk about the Friends of the Tekoa Trestle and said they will receive 1.14 million in 2020. They are still short $700,000.00 to complete it, but the parks are working on trying to get more funding.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL RATES /SURVEY: Alyssa Heagy gave the council the information from the community center survey.
B. AIRPORT FUEL STATION – AGREEMENT WITH PORT OF WHITMAN: Roy Schulz reported we received a proposed agreement with the Port of Whitman to replace the fuel pump and computer system at the airport. They are proposing to grant the city $9,000 and give us a loan of $9,000 to be paid back $.75 per gallon of fuel sold beginning October 1, 2020, and pay yearly on October 1st until the loan is repaid. John Giudice made a motion to accept the agreement with the Port of Whitman for the $9,000 grant and $9,000 loan as presented. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
C. FENCE FOR RAILROAD: Troy Wilson said Eric Hanson, our attorney, was contacted about the railroad putting a fence on the property they own, and he said we have to allow them to put the fence on their property.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. CEMETERY PROJECT: Roy Schulz said the cemetery committee met on Saturday, and they still don’t know how much money they have to spend. The first priority is to get power to the cemetery. The second priority is to get rid of moles. They will keep Cody Chittenden going at the cemetery this summer to get more projects done.
B. JOEL KIMBALL PROPERTY RESTORATION FROM SEWER PROJECT: Joel Kimball reported the hydroseeding “did not take” from the sewer line replacement project on his property. He reseeded a portion of the property himself. He is concerned it will die without irrigation. He doesn’t want to pay the extra overage for water. Matt Morkert said the contractor will come back and hydroseed it this fall if it doesn’t grow. There was discussion. Dave Tysz made a motion to reimburse Joel Kimball $197.50 for the seed and put a meter to the property to have the city pay for that portion of the water. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
C. REQUEST BY MR. FLOCK TO PUT MAG CHLORIDE BACK ON THE COUNTY ROAD: Mayor Wilson asked why we would replace this on a county road. There was discussion. The council said it is not our road, and we will not replace it.
D. RECREATIONAL FIRE PIT ENCROACHING ON NEIGHBORS: The city received a complaint about the smoke from a neighbor’s recreational burn. The council said to reference code 3.92.010 through 3.92.060 that gives information about recreational burns.
E. AVISTA – SAVINGS ON WOODEN POLES: Avista informed the city we will have our Avista rate reduced by at least $800.00 for the wooden poles.
F. EMPIRE DISPOSAL CHARGE FOR RECYCLING BEGINNING JULY 1, 2019: We received a letter from Empire Disposal telling the city we will be charged $300 every time they dump our recycling bin. Because of the need for it, Roy Schulz made a motion to raise the garbage administrative fee $1.00 per month to pay for the recycling beginning July 1, 2019. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
G. PORTION OF TOWN TO SURVEY: Browning reported she talked to Walt Dale from Benthin and Associates about the cost and timeline for him to survey more of Tekoa. The council asked her to get suggestions from him where to survey and ask him what the cost would be.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Troy Wilson talked to the council about raising the mayor and council wages because of the time they spend. There was discussion. He will bring information to the July meeting.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: She did not have a report.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Bethany Fletcher asked about changing the code to make people have surveys before property changes hands. We will hold off on this until we get more information from the surveyor.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There was none.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. May 20, 2019, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to the May 20, 2019, minutes as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to pay payroll warrants 14101 through 14114 and EFT payroll warrants in the amount of $25,137.29 and warrant number 14115 through 14157, EFT warrants in the amount of $73,816.34 and voided warrant 14078 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. John Giudice 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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