--- date: "2012-06-13" title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2012-06-13" source: "2012-06-13-minutes-council-monthly.pdf" --- City of Prairie City CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 13, 2012 Attended: Alvan Cooley, Mayor Carole Garrison, Councilor Roger McKinley, Councilor Les Church, Councilor Tim Coe, Councilor Gary Waterhouse, Councilor Dennis Lynch, Councilor Georgia Patterson, Public Works Danetta Lewis RJ Bryant Iva Gill Mayor Cooley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll call taken, all members being present. The minutes of the May 9, 2012 meeting were considered. MSP: To approve the minutes as written, Tim Coe/Carole Garrison. All members voted in favor. Dennis Lynch was sworn in as an appointed Council member. The Mayor recognized Danetta Lewis who addressed them regarding a request to allow the Prairie City Science Club students to place a horse trailer in the City’s parking lot to collect returnable beverage containers. She explained the class is raising money for a trip to Florida in June 2013. The request was to locate the trailer next to the recycling bins. Georgia Patterson suggested it be located on the other side of the building because public works piles snow near the recycle bins in the winter. Carole Garrison asked if they had considered locating it elsewhere such as at the school. There was general discussion of other entities wanting to locate the same type of thing on City property and how it would be kept clean. Lewis said she would see to it that the area around the trailer would be kept clean. MSP: To approve locating a horse trailer on the City parking lot west of the building, Roger McKinley/Gary Waterhouse. Waterhouse, McKinley, Coe and Church voted in favor, Garrison and Lynch voted against, Mayor Cooley abstained. Public Safety: The Council considered the renewal of the contract with the County for Law Enforcement Services July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014. MSP: To approve the July 2012 through June 2014 contract for Law Enforcement Services, Carole Garrison/Roger McKinley. Church, Waterhouse, Garrison, Coe, McKinley and Cooley voted in favor, Lynch voted against. Museum: Carole Garrison reported that the Museum Committee had received a preliminary report from the collections assessor which included an extensive list of recommended improvements. A final report will be available soon. Garrison said they had applied for a grant from the Transient June 13, 2012 Room Tax Committee for funds to be used to increase attendance. Garrison also reported that five job applications had been received for the Museum Operations Superior position and asked the Mayor to consider appointing himself, Lyn McDonald and a member of the Museum Committee to a hiring committee to do interviews and make a recommendation to the Council. The Mayor agreed and made the appointments. Garrison said interviews would be held the following week. Abatement: Tim Coe reported that he had investigated two more written complaints about properties in the past month. He said that Jim Hamsher agreed to work on cleaning up his property and had begun to make some progress. Shane Pickle has done some work on his but is working out of town. His landlord is also pressuring him to clean up the yard as well. Coe addressed the Council regarding the Gill property with the burned out house and reminded them it has been almost a year since they agreed to make the repairs although not much has been done to the structure. He sited that the Council first gave them six months and then another 30 days, but now all they get is a note every month saying they are working on it. Gill interrupted and asked Coe why he was “making it so personal?” Coe replied that he is just doing what the Mayor had appointed him to do by investigating and reporting to the Council when written complaints are received. Gill went on to threaten that they had contacted an attorney and that the City can’t be selective with the (abatement) process; that they are being singled out. She said she wants every property in violation served. She was reminded that the City only addresses properties when they receive a written complaint. Coe brought back the point that the Gill’s had agreed to fix up the house and have had enough time. They were asked to provide a monthly report detailing their progress they but only say they’re working on it. He asked the Council why have the ordinance if the City isn’t going to enforce it? It was noted that some progress has been made. Coe said he doesn’t have a good answer when people ask him what is going on. The Mayor said he felt that the Gill’s have made some accomplishments and that the City needs to keep working with them. Unless another written complaint is received he felt what is being done is good enough. There was more discussion about the required monthly report and it was agreed that it should have more detail and reflect what they are actually doing. Gill then reported that the inside is being stripped out and that 2 stringers need to be replaced. She was instructed to provide more details in future written reports. Landfill: Receipt of a Landfill Report was noted. Georgia Patterson reminded the Council that they need to begin thinking about whether to continue operating the landfill or not as it only has about 3 years left. In order to continue operating the City will need to purchase the property from the BLM, have an Environmental Site Assessment completed and have new trenches engineered and excavated. It was agreed that the Council would address the issue. Well Drilling: Georgia Patterson reported that the well is now online and that they are putting up the fence. Fans, a heater and insulation will be installed in the panel. The pump is configured manually so it will run during the day when needed. Public Works: Patterson reported that the construction portion of the covered picnic shelter in the City Park has been completed and presented three quotes for the wiring. It was noted that there were differences in the quote specs provided by each electrician. There was discussion of the differences in the lights and wattages. Patterson said she would be meeting with Boyd Britton about fabricating some garbage can holders and that they would be landscaping around the shelter June 13, 2012 with rocks to prevent vehicles from driving into it. The discussion went back to light fixtures and it was questioned why a drawing wasn’t provided showing where fixtures and outlets will be. Patterson said the City would do the trenching for the conduit. The bids were considered again. MSP: To accept Wolf Electric’s proposal to install the lights and electrical fixtures in the shelter at the City Park, Carole Garrison/Roger McKinley. All members voted in favor. Accounts Payable: MSP: To pay the bills, Tim Coe/Carole Garrison, all members voted in favor. Resolutions: Three resolutions were presented for approval. MSP: To adopt Resolution 2012- 07, 2012-08 and 2012-09 authorizing year end budget transfers, Carole Garrison/Roger McKinley. All members voted in favor. Other Business: The City Recorder said Les Zaitz had inquired as to why the City had not put up the “Welcome to Grant County Banners.” The Council was asked to decide what to do with them. It was agreed that the banners should be given to the community association and perhaps they could put one at the wagon. MSP: To give the Grant County banners to GPCCA, Gary Waterhouse/Les Church. All members voted in favor. Mayor Cooley referred to a letter received from employees Ray Wenger and Chris Camarena regarding an incident with a Council member that occurred in public. He reminded the Council that they are all Council members 24/7 and should represent the Council in a positive manner. While they are entitled to their opinions, inappropriate behavior in expressing them is not acceptable, whether it be in addressing an employee, a citizen or another Council member. He said apologies were being made. It was agreed that a meeting would be held on June 27 to consider hiring a museum employee and to consider a resolution for the electronic reader board. Dennis Lynch asked about the procedure for bringing up questions and was told to go ahead. Regarding the Law Enforcement Contract, he asked about the deputy’s duties and whether or not he could also do other things such as read meters. It was explained that he is not an employee of the City, but a County employee and belongs to a union that likely does not allow him to do other things. 7:10 pm: It was moved and seconded to adjourn, all members voted in favor. Submitted by: ___________________________________ Diane Clingman, City Recorder Approved by the City Council this ____ day of ___________________, 2012 and signed by the Mayor. _______________________________ Alvan F. Cooley, Mayor June 13, 2012