--- date: "2007-02-14" title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2007-02-14" source: "2007-02-14-minutes-council-monthly.pdf" --- CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 14, 2007 Attended: Stan Horrell, Mayor Frank Primozic, Councilor Don Strong, Councilor Bill Harrington, Councilor Mark Webb, County Judge Mike Springer, Water Committee Darren King Everett King Mona Lindsey Mayor Horrell called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Roll call was called, Tom McAuslan, Roger McKinley and Pam Woodworth being absent. The pledge of allegiance was recited. The minutes of the January 24, 2007 were considered. MSP: To approve the minutes as written, Bill Harrington/Frank Primozic. The Council recognized Darren King who addressed them regarding his proposal to construct a tourism sign board to be placed in the City Park. He explained that it is a community service project required in order for him to achieve Eagle Scout status. There was discussion of the design, what information it would contain, where the sign would be most effective and whether or not he would be interested in putting one at Depot Park as well. King said he had talked with the community association and that they would be responsible for the information that would be posted on the board. He was agreeable to constructing an additional sign board for Depot Park. It was agreed that maintenance would be minimal and that Public Works would actually install them. MSP: To allow Darren King to build two signs for the City Park and Depot Park, Bill Harrington/Frank Primozic. The Council recognized County Judge Mark Webb. Webb stated that the Prairie City school had approached County Court about vacating 13th Street to facilitate construction of the sports complex and that they were beginning the process of vacation. He asked the Council to consider writing a letter of support in vacating the street and referred to a drawing of the proposed complex. He explained that upon vacation of the eighty foot street, forty feet would go to the school and forty feet would go to the landowner to the south, Bard Wishard. He said that Wishard has a Measure 37 claim with the County, but is not using 13th Street as access to the property. It was determined that there are various other ways for him to access the property. The street is not currently paved for its entire length between Hall Street and Strawberry Road, however, it was noted that the street would be vacated for the full length. It was agreed that the City should approach the other landowners affected by the vacation and seek to have them deed their forty foot sections to the City in order to maintain access off Strawberry Road to McHaley. It was noted that prior Councils had indicated support of vacating the street in order for the complex to be built, but that there had been confusion on the City’s and County’s parts on who Minutes February 14, 2007 actually owned it. Webb confirmed that the County has the authority to vacate it. MSP: To write a letter of support in vacating 13th Street, Frank Primozic/Bill Harrington. The vote was taken by roll, all members present voting yes. The City Recorder asked the Council if they would like her to write the letter and they said yes. The Recorder also said she would contact the County Assessor regarding the city limit boundary adjustment, if any. Planning: The Council was asked to consider recommendations from the Planning Commission for appointments to their board. The candidates were Mona Lindsey, Judy Bracken and Jim Hamsher. Bill Harrington questioned how the advertisement for the open positions was posted, i.e., if it had been in the newspaper. No one from Planning was present to answer the question. Mona Lindsey was the only candidate present and was asked to speak. She addressed the Council and said she wants what is best for the City. MSP: To appoint Mona Lindsey to fill the 2 year term, Bill Harrington/Frank Primozic. MSP: To appoint Judy Bracken to fill the 3 year term, Bill Harrington/Frank Primozic. The Council did not vote on the remaining position and opted to make sure the advertisement is run in the newspaper to see if other volunteers are interested. It was also agreed that the Council should begin working with the Planning Commission to give them direction and guidance. Public Safety: no report Public Works: Bob Titus was not present at the meeting but a written report was received by the Council. Well Drilling: Mike Springer addressed the Council and said that John Coombs had decided to come up with his own agreement. He apparently had a problem with the language in the original agreement, specifically the term “Profit a Prendre”. Springer explained that it is a legal term granting certain rights on property, in this case specifically concerning water. John read it to mean a blanket right and is also concerned over the potential effect on other water sources depending on the volume of water the City pumps from the sites. He plans to present a simplified version of the original agreement. It was agreed that the City may consider the agreement but must still protect itself. Springer also said he had talked with Fred Winegar about access through his property and that Fred had listed a number of things he would like in exchange for an easement or to be compensated for $10,000. Springer said he would obtain a copy of the list for the Council. He also said there may also be another option on the Ricco property further up the draw. Ricco said he may be interested in providing access if the City would extinguish the easement that runs across the top of the hill from the highway. Regarding the pipeline, Springer said there is an existing pipeline easement in place. It is not known exactly where it comes into town and since it was from long ago, there is the possibility buildings may be on it in places even though no one should have built on an easement. It was agreed that in order to fully understand the proposed access requirements, the Council should go on a field trip to see where the areas discussed are and how it all comes together. Mike said he has some tax and topographic maps that would be of help. Minutes February 14, 2007 Springer said he would need to back out of participation on the project by March 1 due to other demands on his time. The Council hoped to talk with Fred Winegar before then and agreed to hold a workshop on Tuesday the 20th at 6:00 pm. Accounts Payable: It was noted that the Council had been given two lists of payables, one that had already been paid and the current ones. Mayor Horrell stated that he had approved paying the first list since there had been three weeks between meetings. There was discussion of paying the bills on a weekly basis if it would be more convenient and avoid late payments and penalties. The Recorder said she would like to give the schedule a try. MSP: To authorize the Mayor to review and approve regular bills, including the credit card bill, for payment on a weekly basis, Bill Harrington/Frank Primozic. The current bills were considered for payment. MSP: To pay the bills Bill Harrington/Frank Primozic. The Recorder said she had not yet advertised for budget committee members but already had two volunteers; Mike Springer and Anna Bass. The Council was pleased with the candidates, but it was agreed that the positions should advertised in the newspaper along with the planning positions to make sure all who are interested have a chance to apply. Ordinances: none Committee Reports/Job Descriptions: The City Recorder said she had talked with Mike Springer and Larry Walters about resuming the development of job descriptions and that a meeting was forthcoming. She said Springer wanted the job tracking study to be resumed, but since a couple of employees were unable to grasp to concept, he hoped to have Walters meet with them. He felt that Walters could possibly communicate to the employees the importance of the tool and how it would be used. Committee Reports/Sewer Ordinance: Frank Primozic said he had not yet met with Pam Woodworth. Committee Reports/Police Services: Bill Harrington reported that there has been a very good response to the citizen survey. He said the City Recorder had begun to put the information into a usable form that should be available soon. He also said he and the Mayor had met with Officer Wood and had an interesting discussion about what he is doing compared to what his job description outlines. He noted that Officer Wood has a big job, much of it administrative which limits the amount of time he can patrol. There is concern over his accumulated overtime and comp hours that consistently exceed the limits stated in the Personnel Policy. Harrington proposed the officer be supervised by the Mayor to prioritize his time and keep his hours down as all employees should comply with the rules without exception. Harrington also noted that some “self-dispatching” is occurring in that Officer Wood encourages people to call him at home (instead of calling dispatch) which is not an appropriate practice. Options to be considered with regard to providing police services are to hire another officer, eliminate the department altogether and depend on the County and State, or to contract with the County for police services. Eliminating the department and expecting the County to take on the additional area is not a politically good option, however, in talking with the County Treasurer, Minutes February 14, 2007 Harrington said the salary and benefits for a County officer are very comparable to the City’s budget for one. He said the Recorder had provided him with a number of agreements from other cites and that he would review them and report his findings. The City Recorder offered that she would be willing to lend what administrative assistance she could to Officer Wood if it would help. 8:05 p.m. It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Respectfully submitted: ___________________________ Diane Clingman, City Recorder Approved this Date: ________________ _________________________________ Stan Horrell, Mayor Minutes February 14, 2007