City of Tekoa
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
For October 7, 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, John Giudice, Bethany Fletcher, Alyssa Heagy, Roy Schulz, and Wendy Sienknecht. Clerk/Treasurer Kynda Browning was also in attendance.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Wilson asked those present to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION: Matt Morkert was in attendance from Century West Engineering. He said the TIB Park Road project will go out to bid again next month.
Matt Morkert also talked about lining the sewer line that goes under the creek to the sewer plant. He called four companies that line pipes and only received one bid for $47,000.00. He explained when we do the sewer plant upgrades, this line will be abandoned, and we will use the other line that crosses the creek that was put in when we did a sewer line replacement. He talked to the maintenance crew about investing in a new lift station, which we will have to do when we replace the sewer plant, and they agreed it was a good idea. DOE has their funding program open now. It is up to a 50/50 grant and loan. We can replace the pump, and DOE would give us a grant for that. He gave us a preliminary cost estimate of $500,000.00. If we apply for this, we would put flow monitors into the line to see if this is what has the inflow. Mayor Wilson asked how many bids were received. Matt Morkert told him he called four companies and only received a bid from one company. The application is due on October 15, 2019, and if we don’t want to accept the grant, we can turn it away. Roy Schulz made a motion to apply for the grant/loan from DOE for up to $500,000. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
V. CORRESPONDENCE: There was none.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. SUPER USER WATER/SEWER RATES RESOLUTION: Browning explained the fee resolution changing the water and sewer rates, and Wendy Sienknecht asked why we would charge entities more money for larger meters. There was discussion. She also asked about the school and the other large users for water. Browning presented Fee Resolution No. 99-19.1 adding the different size water meter rates, the per bed sewer rate for the nursing home, and the updated community center fees. Alyssa Heagy made a motion to approve it as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. CITY OWNED BUILDINGS: Joni Hay is still working on getting the comps for the city owned buildings.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. 2020 TAX LEVY PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Wilson opened the public hearing. Browning explained that the city can raise the tax levy 1% without this action going to a vote. There was discussion. Roy Schulz made a motion to keep the tax levy the same rate. Alyssa Heagy seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. DON HAY PURCHASE EASEMENT FOR ELECTRIC LINE TO CEMETERY: Don Hay is asking for $5000 for the easement across his field to put electricity to the cemetery. The cemetery endowment committee said they will pay the fee. John Giudice made a motion to accept the easement as presented. Roy Schulz seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
C. EVERY WOMAN CAN PROLAMATION: Alyssa Heagy read “Every Woman Can Proclamation,” asking residents to wear pink and to decorate their businesses pink in support of breast cancer awareness month. Roy Schulz made a motion to accept the proclamation. John Giudice seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
Browning reported on the status of putting a sewer line across or under the trail. She is waiting to hear more from the surveyor.
D. INVEST CITY MONEY AT TVI FROM STATE INVESTMENT POOL: Browning got information from TVI about putting money into a CD. After discussion, the council asked that she get additional information from other companies, and they will talk about it at the October 21, 2019, meeting.
E. TWO MEETINGS PER MONTH (Mayor Wilson): After discussion it was decided to keep having two meetings per month for now.
VIII. REPORTS:
A. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Wilson got a letter from the Washington State Trails and said they will be starting the project in January 2020, and they are anticipating it will be completed in June 2021.
B. CLERK/TREASURER REPORT: She did not have a report.
C. COUNCIL REPORTS: John Giudice reported he worked with the Assessor’s office to get property descriptions for the property owned by the City of Tekoa.
Wendy Sienknecht said the Rural Development Initiative had their final meeting for their leadership class. She also said the committee bought Palouse Pride Flags for the participating communities.
D. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: There were none.
IX. CONSENT AGENDA:
A. September 16, 2019, MEETING MINUTES: Roy Schulz made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Wendy Sienknecht seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
B. APPROVE BILLS FOR PAYMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to pay payroll check numbers 14325 through 14336 and EFT checks in the amount of $22,140.99 and check numbers 14337 through 14355 and EFT checks in the amount of $72,336.01 as presented. Wendy Sienknecht seconded the motion; all council members voted yes.
X. ADJOURNMENT: Roy Schulz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Wendy Sienknecht 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