December 15, 2003 Regular Meeting

The City Council met in regular session on December 15, 2003 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Mayor Vanderwall presided.

Councilmembers present:
Bruce Walker
Jane Kissinger
Mike McDonald
Jeffrey Kutner
Wes Lester
Georgia DeHaas

City employees present were Public Works Director Gortsema, Chief Sedam, Attorney Albers and Clerk Kennedy.

The meeting was called to order and the minutes of the December 1st regular meeting were approved as presented by Councilwoman Kissinger second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

VISITOR/WATER BOND FINANCING: Jack McLaughlin, D.A. Davidson & Co. explained to the Council that the bond rates were great for the City. The ads were posted in the various papers and $125,000 - $155,000.00 in bonds were purchased locally. There are approximately 800 bonds still available in the 20 year and out range. The funds will be transferred to the City of Grangeville on December 30, 2003. Mr. McLaughlin stated once again that 4.87% TIC is a phenomenal rate for a small City on non rated bonds.

ORDINANCE NO. 765

(Ordinance No. 765 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)

An Ordinance of the City of Grangeville, Idaho, authorizing and providing for the issuance of water revenue bonds, series 2003, in the principal amount of $3,900,000, for the purpose of financing the acquisition of improvements to the domestic water system of the City; describing the bonds; specifying the date, form, maturities, registration, and authentication of the bonds; fixing the rates of interest on the bonds; providing for the application of bond proceeds; establishing funds and accounts; providing for the collection and disposition of revenues; providing covenants relating to the bonds and to the tax-exempt status of the interest on the bonds; providing for the sale and delivery of the bonds; providing for related matters; and providing an effective date.

Councilman Walker made a motion, second by Councilwoman Kissinger that the first reading be approved by title only, that the rules be suspended, the second and third reading be waived and the ordinance be approved and adopted. A roll call vote was duly taken with the following results:

Councilwoman DeHaas - Yes
Councilwoman Kissinger - Yes
Councilman Walker - Yes
Councilman McDonald - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Kutner - Yes

The motion passed. Mayor Vanderwall then declared Ordinance No. 765 duly approved and adopted.

On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilwoman Kissinger to adopt the Summary of Ordinance No. 765 as prepared by Attorney Moore. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Planning and Zoning Minutes of December 9, 2003 were accepted on motion by Councilwoman Kissinger, second by Councilman Walker. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

The Variance Application submitted by James and Dawn Haug to build a 1248 square feet shop building for RV storage, which is larger than the allowed 750 square feet was reviewed by the Council. Mr. Haug stated that he didn’t have any neighbors object to him about the proposed building. Councilman Lester made a motion to approve the variance application submitted by James and Dawn Haug. Councilwoman Kissinger made a motion to amend the motion to include the stipulations as listed in the Planning and Zoning minutes. The motion would read to approve the variance application submitted by James and Dawn Haug with the stipulation that the
maximum eave height is 15 feet and the pitch of the roof must match the house. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Attorney Albers will review the code sections 10-3-3, 10-4A-3 and 10-4A-4-D1b for conflicts.

The Snowhaven Minutes of December 3, 2003 were accepted on motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Chief Sedam updated the Council on his search for a replacement police officer. Chief Sedam had 20 applicants, 14 applicants tested and 4 applicants interviewed. The position was offered to Brian Hewson, pending a background check. He will start training in January before attending POST in April.

CONSENT AGENDA: Councilwoman Kissinger moved, second by Councilwoman DeHaas to accept the following items as part of the consent agenda.

A. Approve the applications submitted by the following businesses for pawn, secondhand & junk store licenses.

Ralph Martin d/b/a Martin’s Antiques
Milton Perry d/b/a B & B Bargain Store
Evelynn M. Ruttman d/b/a Country Collectibles & Antiques

B. Approve the Annual Street Finance report and authorize publication (Copy attached and incorporated herein.)

Roll call vote on the motion.

Councilman Kutner - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman McDonald - Yes
Councilman Walker - Yes
Councilman Kissinger - Yes
Councilman DeHaas - Yes

The motion passed.

ORTHOPHOTOS AVISTA: Public Works Director Gortsema explained the he had looked at the map and the City would need 16 of the 22 tiles available. Gortsema recommends buying the tiles individually rather than participating in the partnership agreement. The cost per tile is $150.00 (total $2,400.00) plus $65.00 for the elevation model. The County can print 3’ x 4’ sheets for $10.00. James Zehner checked with Idaho Transportation Department and due to the forest fires the satellite pictures stopped at Riggins. A motion was made by Councilman Kutner, second by Councilman Lester to authorize Public Works Director Gortsema to purchase the 16 panels with the elevation model for a one time charge. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

CLARIFYING WATER RATES: Ordinance No. 766 was read by Attorney Albers, but to save in publication costs, it was recommended that the ordinance would be changed to include the new water rate increase for the bond and adopted at a later meeting.

FUEL BID: Councilman Lester abstained from voting, due to a conflict of interest. Fuel bids were received from Primeland and Jacobs Oil as follows:

Jacobs Oil Unleaded Gasoline 12,000 gallons @ 1.3354/gal. = $16,024.80
Diesel 6,000 gallons @ 1.088/gal. = $6,528.00
Total Bid = $22,552.80

Primeland Unleaded Gasoline 12,000 gallons @ 1.254/gal. = $15,048.00
Diesel 6,000 gallons @ 1.042/gal. = $6,252.00
Total Bid = $21,300.00

On motion by Councilman Kutner, second by Councilman McDonald to award the fuel bid to Primeland pending review of the bids by Public Works Director Gortsema. Motion carried. Councilman Lester abstained.

TRUCK BID: On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester to accept the truck bid submitted by Gortsema Motors in the amount of $26,338.43 for a cab chassis, 1 ton, 4 wheel drive, automatic transmission vehicle. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present. Only one bid was received by the City.

WATER PROJECT REVISED SCOPE: Public Works Director Gortsema, Water Superintendent Curtiss and Bob & Gil Walker met to discuss the water project and incorporate the City’s desires into the project. The project will be divided into two projects, 1. the project funded by the bond, consisting of distribution lines and 2. the project funded by the block grant, which is for source work, emergency power and a new transmission line. By having two projects that are bid separately, Davis Bacon wages will only need to be paid on the block grant monies.

Tom Moore, DEQ, had reviewed Entranco’s analysis and questioned the addition of a new storage tank. His calculation based on State requirements shows it’s not necessary to have a storage tank if you have emergency generators at the wells. Myrtle Well and Park Well would be equipped with emergency power and share a generator, Hall St. Booster would have emergency power and a generator and Spencer Well would have emergency power. Additional work would be done on Spencer Well to determine why the pump cannot be lowered deeper into the well. A transmission line would be added from Spencer Well into the system and two smaller lines would be abandoned. The scope as summarized above is being completed by Entranco for approval of changes at the January meeting.

Councilman Kutner feels the City should look at contracting for a generator if possible, rather than buying generators that might not be needed. Public Works Director Gortsema explained that the State of Idaho now requires any new well to have emergency stand by generation on site. He isn’t sure that would apply to renovations on existing wells. The Council would like Gortsema to visit with DEQ to determine if DEQ would be agreeable to fewer generators on site or to see if the City could contract with an agency for a generator.

BILLS: The bills were approved and ordered paid out of their respective funds on motion by Councilman Kutner, second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Payroll Fund $42,742.12
General Fund $51,923.08
Street Fund $17,603.72
Library Fund $ 3,786.53
Recreation Fund $ 3,296.13
Snowhaven Fund $ 2,385.87
Medical Insurance Fund $12,859.82
Water Fund $19,863.33
Sewer Fund $12,556.23
Sanitation Fund $32,401.82

SIDEWALKS: Councilman Lester had been reviewing the sidewalks waiver list of approved, conditional and denied waivers. There are currently sidewalks not constructed that should be and Councilman Lester would like to know if the Council would like to write those affected a letter and then have City Hall develop a flagging system for sidewalks. Councilman Kutner made a motion, second by Councilman McDonald to send those affected a letter and give them until August 30, 2004 to put in a sidewalk. If a sidewalk is not constructed, then the City will construct the sidewalk and attach a lien to the property for any unpaid bills. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present. Clerk Kennedy will modify a letter from Public Works Director Gortsema.

HOLIDAY CLOSURES: On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Walker to close the City at 1:00 p.m. December 24th, and all day on December 26th and January 2nd. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

RC&D COUNCIL: Councilman Kutner felt membership is valuable in RC&D. If the City needed help, RC&D can provide it. On motion by Councilman Kutner, second by Councilwoman Kissinger to approve the $155.00 contribution to RC&D. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

GRANGEVILLE BYPASS: Councilman Kutner reported that Shaun Maxey was at a meeting and talked to a guy who talked to an engineer who mentioned he might be working on a Grangeville Bypass. Councilman Kutner made a motion, second by Councilwoman Kissinger to send a letter to the Department of Commerce and copy in the legislators and Carpenter asking for information on bypassing Grangeville. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTION: It was asked to have sidewalk obstruction on the agenda in January.

ITEMS TO NOTE: The Council received copies of the North Central Jurisdictional Alliance Minutes of November 20, 2003 and copies of the RC&D Minutes of November 20, 2003.

Councilwoman DeHaas thanked Councilwoman Kissinger for all the cookies she has made for the City.

The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M.
_____________________
Terry Vanderwall - Mayor
ATTEST:



_________________________
Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk