City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For October 22, 2018
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, John Giudice, Roy Schulz, Wendy Sienknecht, Carol Sturman, Dave Tysz, and Troy Wilson. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance. Audience attendees were Keith Andersson, Fletcher Family, Debbie Groom, Jon Hall, Bill and Diane Harp, Nick Lawson, Fran and Pete Martin and Doug Sienknecht.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Jaeger asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION:
Diane Harp talked about the Healthy Tekoa Coalition. She also talked about pit bulls near her house and Frank Keller burning trash.
Dave Tysz asked if we can get someone to fix the back of the library where it is leaking.
Matt Morkert from Century West Engineering was in attendance. He explained the change orders to the council for the CDBG sewer project. He presented Change Order No. 1, and Troy Wilson made a motion to approve Change Order No. 1 as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Change Order No. 2 was explained, saying the insurance company will pay for the removal of the contamination. Troy Wilson made a motion to approve Change Order No. 2 as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes. Matt Morkert presented Pay Estimate No. 2 for DW Excavating for $247,003.87. Troy Wilson made a motion to approve Pay Estimate No. 2 for DW Excavating for $247,003.87 as presented. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Matt Morkert said we awarded the sewer project to go all the way to the end of Main Street. They can put a manhole in where the sewer line crosses the road and end the sewer there. The total out-of-pocket for the city would be about $21,000.00 from the money approved from the sewer reserves. The council agreed this would be the best plan. He will do a change order for the next meeting.
Walter Dale was in attendance from Benthin & Associates, to discuss the survey they did for the City of Tekoa.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. DIANE GALLER PROPERTY: Mayor Jaeger said we decided last meeting we would start on that property with the money we allocated with property improvements. He has someone to knock it down and haul the metal away. She will pay $50.00 a month to reimburse the city. He said we will put an agreement together with her before the work is done.
B. OAKLAND BUILDING: Eric and Wendy Bretz were sent a letter saying they have 90 days to make progress on the building.
C. FRAN MARTIN – PARK AND REC: Fran Martin reported the park board approved the quit claim deed and resolution, giving back the property that city hall is sitting on. She said they will give it to the city when we get the quit claim deed and resolution for the swimming pool done for them.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD LEASE AGREEMENT TERMINATION: We received a lease agreement termination from Union Pacific Railroad for the ground where the arena is. The arena owners will have Union Pacific move the arena to an area they chose. Nick Lawson said the four families that own it will decide what to do with it. Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the Quit Claim Bill of Sale as presented from the Union Pacific Railroad. Troy Wilson seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. RUHL PARK: Eric Hanson, city attorney was in attendance. He said the deed and resolution are prepared to give the pool and parking lot back to the Park and Rec. District. When he looked at the deed for Ruhl Park, it was deeded to the city in 1979. It was a conditional conveyance, so long as the property is used by the City of Tekoa as a municipal park. If we convey it, the property could convert back to the Ruhls’. There was discussion about doing an interlocal agreement with the park district to take care of it. After discussion, it was decided Eric Hanson will do more research and see what we can do.
C. GYMKANNA GROUNDS: The gymkanna grounds are owned by DOT and the City of Tekoa. DOT said the park district can continue to do what they are doing. Troy Wilson made a motion to deed the portion the city owns of the gymkanna grounds to the park district. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
D. RESOLUTION AND DEED FOR PARK DISTRICT FOR SWIMMING POOL AND PARKING LOT: We will do this next meeting after the gymkanna grounds are added to the deed.
E. SURVEY – JOHN GIUDICE: This was done earlier.
F. COST OF LIVING RAISE: John Giudice will look for the amount for Eastern Washington, and we will discuss it at the November meeting.
G. PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2019 PRELIMINARY BUDGET: Mayor Jaeger opened the public hearing. Browning presented the 2019 preliminary budget. We will have a budget workshop on November 19, 2018, at 6 p.m. Mayor Jaeger closed the public hearing.
H. FIBER OPTICS – TROY WILSON: Troy Wilson said he met with the Port of Whitman, and they got a grant to put fiber in Tekoa. The Port will contact the providers. They need us to find a 10 x 12-foot space to put their equipment that can be locked, and set up a planning meeting with the citizens. There was also discussion about needing some of the poles to be replaced before the project.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Jaeger reported that the sheriff's department would like to take over the old mayor’s office off the council room to use for an office. The council said they could use it.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: Browning reported the Cemetery Endowment Committee is getting prices for electricity to the cemetery.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: Dave Tysz reported the employees were supposed to report on tasks and put their schedule on a calendar. Mayor Jaeger said he would like the guys to put their summer projects and vacation on the calendar. He said it would be nice to know what the schedule is and have them report it back to the city council. Dave Tysz also asked about the old Pearson building and the problem with pigeons. There was discussion.
Wendy Sienknecht thanked Mayor Jaeger for having Alder Street repaved.
Debbie Groom suggested we change the commodities to the community center. There was discussion.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. MEETING MINUTES: There was discussion about a change in the minutes. The minutes were changed to read, “Carol Sturman made a motion to pay liability insurance on all properties owned by the city, including the theatre.” (Taking out all). Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the September 17, 2018, minutes as corrected. Dave Tysz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to pay payroll warrants 13671 through 13683, and EFT payroll warrants in the amount of $26,107.30; warrant number 13684 through 13719, and EFT warrants in the amount of $204,602.61 as presented. Troy Wilson seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 p.m. Troy Wilson 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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