---
date: "2012-07-11"
title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2012-07-11"
source: "2012-07-11-minutes-council-monthly.pdf"
---

City of Prairie City

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

July 11, 2012

Attended:

Dennis Lynch, Councilor
Les Church, Councilor
Carole Garrison, Councilor
Roger McKinley, Councilor
Gary Waterhouse, Councilor
Georgia Patterson
Andrea Ennis
Glenn Ennis
Kim Jacobs
Iva Gill

Gary Waterhouse called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited
and roll call taken, Mayor Cooley being absent.

The minutes of the June 27, 2012 meeting were considered.    MSP:  To approve the minutes as
written, Carole Garrison/Les Church.  All members voted in favor.

It was noted that Tony Johns was not present because he had been called to a fire.  MSP:  To allow
the Grant County Krusers Car Club the use of the City Park for the annual car show and to
close Bridge Street during the show, Carole Garrison/Dennis Lynch.  All members voted in
favor.

Kim Jacobs was recognized and addressed the Council regarding her request for the Blue Mountain
Hospital to host a day camp for children in the City Park on September 13.  She said they are
expecting 175 children and that the camp is to promote healthy lifestyles.  She asked that the streets
around the park be closed for the event from 9am to 2pm.  Georgia Patterson suggested they use
Depot Park, but it was determined that it would not provide enough room.  Jacobs said they are also
using the Community Center which is across the street from the City Park and that they plan to
utilize the playground during down time.  She explained that they would be putting up a number of
canopy tents, some in the park and some on Bridge Street for the various stations.  She was
instructed to not tie anything to the trees.  There was discussion of the closure of the streets
surrounding the park and concern over closing McHaley because it would limit access to the
residences on the street.  She explained that it would be to accommodate a fun run at the end of the
event and offered to speak with the residents to get their permission.  The Council was generally in
favor of allowing the event and closing the streets if Jacobs could convince the residents.  She was
instructed to attend the August 8 meeting with more information.

Museum:  Carole Garrison said the Operations Supervisor position had been accepted by Joy
Waterhouse and that she had begun work on July 1.  There was discussion of moving the museum
sign at the entrance of the park up higher because it is blocked by bushes.

July 11, 2012

Abatement:  Andrea and Glenn Ennis were recognized regarding their complaint about the
property next to their residence occupied by Shane Pickle and family.  It was noted that this was the
second complaint received on the property.  The Ennis’s provided pictures and explained that
Pickle is raising bunnies next to the fence they built and that the soaker hose is damaging it.  They
also noted the accumulation of tires, freezers and a car that does not run.  There was concern that he
is raising the rabbits as a commercial operation in a residential zone and that the accumulation of
droppings could begin to smell as it gets hotter.  There was general discussion of what the status of
the first complaint was and it was noted that the Council no longer has an investigator.  There was a
question of why the City has a nuisance ordinance if it’s not going to be enforced.   It was explained
that the process is that when a written complaint is received the Council has someone visit the
property to determine if there is indeed a violation of the Nuisance Ordinance.  If so, a courtesy
letter is sent first asking the occupant/owner to please take care of the problem.  If further
inspection shows they have not, a certified letter is sent giving them 10 days to correct the violation
or address the Council in writing as to why not.  Beyond that, the process usually gets dropped.
There was discussion about who would go inspect the site but no one was willing to do it.  It was
agreed that the Mayor should appoint someone to do the inspections when a complaint is received.
The Ennis’s said the inspector is welcome to look over the fence on their property in order to see
what they are talking about because most of it is not visible from the street.  There was more
discussion of the condition of the property.  It was agreed that the tires are probably a violation, that
the bunnies may become a problem and that the soaker hose may affect the fence.  MSP:  To have
the Mayor appoint someone to inspect the property, Dennis Lynch/Les Church.  Lynch,
Church, Garrison and Waterhouse voted in favor, McKinley voted no.  The discussion went
back to the property again and it was noted that there is an old car there that most likely doesn’t run.
Mr. Ennis said he has no problem with 4-H animals, but is concerned that Pickle is planning to raise
rabbits for commercial purposes; basically operating a farm on a residential lot.  Les Church said he
would talk with Pickle when he sees him and let him know he needs to understand how serious the
situation may become and to work on it.

The third complaint on the Gill property was addressed and it was noted that it was from the same
person who had registered a complaint a year ago.  The complaint stated that very little progress has
been made in a year and that there is concern about how the burned out house affects the value of
surrounding property and the ability to sell.  Iva Gill spoke up and disagreed that the house is
burned out; only that a small portion of the roof is burned.  She said both trucks run although at
least one is not licensed.  There was no mention of the tall grass and junk next to the house.  Gary
Waterhouse noted that the first complaint was in fact received a year ago and that there is concern
that progress is so slow.  Gill began to argue, however Waterhouse said she was allowed to holler at
Councilman Coe at the last meeting and is beginning to holler again and he was not going to allow
it.  Gill said Coe was making it personal and Waterhouse explained that he was only doing what the
Council had assigned him to do by making the inspections and reporting back.  Gill was asked what
progress had been made (no written report was provided.)  She said she had finished some
landscaping in the yard.  It was noted that there are a number of houses for sale and that having
such neighboring properties does affect how people choose to buy or not.  Gill wanted to know who
complained and why the City has an ordinance that allows people to turn other people in.  She was
told the complaint came from Donita Adams and it was suggested she talk with her.  The comment
was made that the Council should be seeing significant progress but is not.  The question was asked
as to what the City’s obligation is in addressing complaints.  It was stated that the City should
follow through on them and that the Gill’s had been given a significant amount of time to abate the

July 11, 2012

property violations.  Gill then said her husband is physically unable to do the work and sited a
portion of the ordinance that addresses the inability to comply.  She asked the Council to have
mercy on them and keep giving them more time.  There was discussion of how to help out and
whether or not volunteers could be found to help.  It was stated that dates for complying have come
and gone, questioned if they would ever complete the renovations, and that a firm date should be
set.  The comment was made that there is no use fining them if they say they have no money.  Gill
again said she doesn’t agree with the ordinance prohibiting nuisances and the process.  She was told
that concerned citizens approached the Council some time ago and asked that something be done
about all the junk and properties in town and that a public meeting had been held wherein citizens
were able to make comment.  She said she didn’t know anything about it and that she doesn’t
always read her mail.  She was assured that long time residents had approached the Council with
much concern and that the meeting had been noticed.  She was asked to consider the position the
City is in when citizens ask to have the ordinance enforced.  Discussion went back to finding
volunteers to help and the Recorder said the City has a couple of names of people willing to haul
junk.  Les Church offered to find volunteers if the Gill’s would agree to let them help.  There was
discussion of the repairs needed on the house and Gill said the same thing as at the last meeting
about needing to replace stringers in the floor.  It was noted that at some point they would need a
building permit and that she could get the application from Lyn in the office.

Landfill:  A written report was received.  Georgia Patterson again reminded the Council that they
need to address whether or not to continue operating the landfill or consider closure.  There was
discussion of what information the Council will need to make the decision and when to have a
workshop.  It was agreed that Diane and Georgia would get the information needed in order to
make the decision.

Public Works:  Georgia Patterson asked the Council to consider letting her husband use City
equipment to mow the grass at the County Fairgrounds for the Demolition Derby to reduce the
chance of fire from the event.  She said the Fairgrounds handyman is on vacation and that the
County will not mow it.  There was concern of what would happen if the equipment is damaged and
she assured the Council that it would be repaired if anything happened.  There was also concern
about the use of City owned equipment by a private party, however since it was being used on
County property for a public event it was agreed that it is probably alright.  MSP: To allow the use
of City equipment to mow the grass at the Fairgrounds, Dennis Lynch/Les Church.  Lynch,
Church, and McKinley voted in favor, Garrison voted no, Waterhouse abstained.

The Council was asked to consider allowing the Mayor and Public Works Director to approve the
bid packets for the painting of the reservoir when they are ready.  Carole Garrison made a motion to
allow it but after discussion there was no second.  Les Church said he is in total disagreement with
the engineer’s recommendation to require the bidder’s to have the experience related technical
specifications.  He said that as long as proper specifications and procedures are followed it
shouldn’t matter and that the recommendation by the engineer prohibits local contractors from
bidding.  Carole Garrison said she felt the controls are there to protect the City but Church
disagreed.  Discussion then went to whether or not there will be a site inspector and how often.
There was other discussion of sandblasting and other preparation procedures.  Discussion went
back to the technical specifications and Church said he felt they are discriminatory, Garrison
disagreed.  Les Church made a motion to remove the experience related requirements from the bid
packet and Roger McKinley seconded.  There was more discussion and Georgia Patterson

July 11, 2012

interjected that she just wants to make sure the City gets the best possible job done and not have to
redo it again in five years.  She noted that it should have been done last year and can not be put off.
Church, who wants to bid on the project was cautioned that he could have a conflict of interest in
the matter resulting in an ethics violation.  He explained that he would feel the same way and make
the same recommendation even if he wasn’t going to bid on the project.  Garrison noted that the
engineers are just looking out for the City with the recommendation to require an experienced
contractor, but Church and McKinley disagreed noting the engineers are only looking out for
themselves.  Church sited his experience at painting a tank at the airport.  There was discussion of
how the project would be advertised and it was noted that the engineers will mail the bid packets to
five contractors with the required experience.  Dennis Lynch said he wasn’t in favor of a bid packet
that doesn’t require any qualifications and Georgia Patterson said she wants the job to be done
correctly and professionally.  The motion was considered.  Lynch, Garrison and McKinley voted
no, Church voted yes.  The motion did not pass.  There was more discussion of removing the
experience related language from the bid packet and of being able to advertise the project locally.
There was concern of how much longer advertising would take; i.e., the minimum requirements for
the length of time the ad must run.  Patterson stressed that the project needs to be completed before
October.  It was noted that if no decision could be made the project would not get done at all.
There was again more discussion of what to do, concern from both sides of not wanting experience
qualifications and from wanting them in order to get a good job done.  It was finally agreed to leave
in the requirements but to also advertise locally.  MSP:  To allow the Mayor and Public Works
Director to approve the bid packets as is with the provision that the project be advertised
locally, Dennis Lynch/Roger McKinley.  All members voted in favor.

Accounts Payable:  MSP:  To pay the bills, Carole Garrison/Dennis Lynch, all members voted
in favor.

Other Business:  Roger McKinley commented that the road being built on the side of the hill
should have gone before the Planning Commission (City Council since there is no Planning
Commission.)  He said he is concerned about water runoff.  Les Church assured him that
precautions have been taken to prevent it.  Georgia Patterson commented that she had warned the
contractors to not load and unload the equipment on the hot pavement or it would get torn up.
Church said they had done the loading and unloading on the property.

 7:35 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

July 11, 2012