---
date: "2015-04-08"
title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2015-04-08"
source: "2015-04-08-minutes-council-monthly.pdf"
---

City of Prairie City

        Richard Gray, JD Police Chief

                  Carole Garrison, Councilor

        Dottie Miller, Councilor
        Les Church, Councilor
        Henry Goslin, Councilor

1.                   CITY COUNCIL MEETING
2.                                         April 8th, 2015
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6. Attended:  Jim Hamsher, Mayor
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11.                  Georgia Patterson, Councilor
12.                  Taci Philbrook, City Recorder
13.                  Kathy Smith, Museum Director
14.                  Chris Camarena, PWD Director
15.
16.                  Lance Barker, Grant County Kruzers
17.                  Anna Bass, Oster Professional Group
18.                  Mitch Saul, Oster Professional Group
19.                  Carlos Bortell, Citizen
20.                  Marvin Rynearson, PC Fire Chief
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22.The Mayor opened the regular meeting at 6:00pm. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll
23. taken. All present except Viola Rose who was an unexcused absence.
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25.The minutes of March 11, 2015 regular council meeting were considered for
26. approval. MSP: To approve the minutes with corrections. Councilor
27. Patterson / Councilor Garrison. All in favor.  The minutes of the March 25,
28. 2015 workshop were considered for approval. MSP: To approve the minutes as
29. is. Councilor Garrison / Councilor Miller. All in favor.
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31.The Mayor recognized Lance Barker who came to represent Grant County
32. Kruzers instead of Tony Johns. Lance passed out this years flyer for the 20th
33. Annual Show & Shine to be held August 1st at the City Park. They have come to
34. ask to use the City Park, the P.A. System, the Texaco Parking Lot for a Swap
35. Meet and asked to close S. 6th St., S. McHaley and S. Bridge St for the event. The
36. City Recorder asked Mr. Barker to come in by the 15th of April to sign an
37. agreement. Chris Camarena asked Mr. Barker to get together with the Fire Dept.
38. for street closures.  MSP: To approve the use of the City Park, the Swap Meet
39. and closing the streets. Councilor Church / Councilor Goslin. All in favor.
40.

41.The Mayor introduced Mitch Saul and Anna Bass who on behalf of Oster
42. Professional Group, CPA's. After admitting to receiving the RFP they came to
43. answer any questions the Council may have for them regarding the failed Peer
44. Review. Mitch first gave a little history of the Firm and the qualifications of some
45. of the key accountants, and reviewed their history with the City of Prairie City.
46. He stated they valued the City as a Client. He also stated there have been some
47. changes so that they may better service their clients. Councilor Garrison
48. explained to Mitch the failed Peer Review of their Firm was not the only issue,
49. but that in 2013 the Council/ Budget Committee had decided it was best to shop
50. around. Some members of the Council spoke in praise of Oster's past services.
51. Mitch stated the City will be receiving Oster's Proposal. Mitch also stated the
52. Financial Assurance will be done in a week or two and he will get it to us as soon
53. as it is done.
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55. The Mayor recognized Marvin Rynearson as the new Chief of the P.C. Volunteer
56. Fire Department. Chief Rynearson told the Council of his joining the Fire Dept.
57. at 15 years old making it 45 years now he has volunteered as a fire fighter. He is
58. quite familiar with the working end of the Dept. but is now learning the business
59. end of the department. He requested that the Fire Dept. Budget stay as it was
60. adopted last year. Chief Rynearson explained he does work days but will be
61. available part time. Marvin gave an update of the Roster stating he had 15-17
62. active Fire fighters, including 4 new ones. He has 3 new Volunteers joining soon.
63. Chief Rynearson spoke of the City's Public Works Director rejoining the Fire
64. Department and keeping Ray on the Roster so there is coverage during the
65. weekdays.
66.
67.The Mayor asked for Reports:
68.
69. Museum: (see Attached) Kathy also spoke of the dimensions of the ADA Ramp.
70. Councilor Church suggested running the ramp perpendicular to the landing at the
71. Cattle Car. While speaking about going to the County and reviewing the
72. intergovernmental agreement for the Museum it was suggested by Councilor
73. Patterson to involve the PWD Director Chris Camarena as he handles Depot RV
74. Park. While discussing the Ramp Councilor Patterson stated she thought the
75. Electrical ran in front of the Cattle Car. Taci was asked to supply a copy of the
76. Intergovernmental Agreement with the County to each Councilor.
77. Kathy then asked for a decision on the applications for Museum Operations
78. Supervisor. The Mayor asked Councilor Miller to excuse herself from the room
79. as she is one of the applicants. (see attached for the committees
80. recommendations) Kathy then asked for the Council to approve David Ranseen
81. for the position as Museum Operations Supervisor. The Council proceeded to
82. discuss his qualifications and pay. Based on his qualifications Councilor Church

83. recommended $10.00 an hour, all Councilors concurred. MSP: To award the
84. position of Museum Operations Supervisor to David Ranseen. Councilor

Garrison / Councilor Church. All in Favor.

85.
86.The Mayor asked for the Public Safety Report from Chief Gray.
87.The Chief reported Officer Durr has returned. The Radar trailer is “out” and he
88. will be moving it to the US federal Bldg or the VFW Hall. The Mayor reported
89. he has received complaints about traffic coming off of Summit Prairie Rd. and
90. down Main St. They discussed putting it at the South end of Depot Park.
91.
92.The Mayor asked for the Landfill Report from the Public Works Director.
93.Chris reported we have taken the last load up at the Landfill. It is now closed. Joe
94. Hitz (Sisul Engineering) has finished the Worst Case Closure Plan required by
95. DEQ. He stated we have already started the Closure process. Tom has been on
96. the “Cat” and doing some great work up there, it should save money by having
97. our own guys do a lot of the work. Chris commended both his workers for the
98. work being done at Depot Park and the hazardous tree removal. He reported a
99. broken Fire hydrant and that will be repaired ASAP. Chris asked permission to
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donate the old mower to the Cemetery. He also asked for the Councils
approval in raising the amount the City charges to dig a grave and fill it
from $40.00 to $100.00. Councilor Garrison verified the new rate would
start with the new Fiscal year in July. The Mayor asked for a motion.
MSP: To make a motion that we put the Cemetery on notice that we
are increasing the help from the City from $40.00 to $100.00 and that
we also donate the lawn mower to them free of charge. Councilor
Patterson/ Councilor Goslin. All in Favor.
Councilor Garrison asked Chris when they start reading meters and he
explained the 24th or 25th of April. Chris went on to praise the Park Host the
City hired. He stated they have been helpful in getting the park ready to
open. He also commended Tom and Ray for their work on Depot Park
saying it looks nice there. He also stated they will be planting some hearty,
colorful tree to replace the Cotton Woods and hazardous trees they are
removing. Councilor Patterson reminded Chris free trees were obtained
from the Forest Department. Chris stated he is looking into getting some
nice evergreens from USFD.

The Mayor asked for a motion to Ratify payment of the bills.
MSP: To Ratify payment of the bills. Councilor Patterson / Councilor
Miller. All in Favor.

Mayor Hamsher introduced the Budget Committee applications. Taci
explained there are three applications and Dawn Gray has agreed to fulfill

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her three year commitment. Taci also explained she has not heard back
from Mike Springer. MSP: To approve the applications of Anna
Gillihan, Johni McHatton, Sally Bartlett, and Dawn Gray and to also
include tentatively Mike Springer should he reply. Councilor
Garrison / Councilor Patterson. All in favor.

The Mayor introduced the Western Display Fireworks contract for approval.
Taci let the council know she has sent the letter to Mike Riggs asking
permission to use his property for the display again, but still had not
 received a response from him. MSP: To approve the Western Display
 Fireworks contract. Councilor Patterson / Councilor Miller. All in
 Favor.

Chris told the Council he just got back the final approval for water rights
for Dixie Creek that was sent in the year 2000. The state is just now
approving it. Its from down Pat Voigt then down the 59 road and down to
the infiltration gallery. It allows 1 meter foot per second. We have been
using it for years and we just got the legal rights.

The Mayor recognized Taci. She showed the watches and certificates to be
awarded to the retiring firemen. The Mayor asked the City to also give them
a $50.00 Gift Certificate to one of the restaurants in Prairie City. The
Council concurred.

Councilor Garrison noted John Day, and Mt. Vernon are establishing
regulation concerning Medical Marijuana Dispensary's. She reminded the
Council we don't even have Business Licenses here in Prairie City. She
asked the Council how are we going to regulate it if a dispensary comes to
town. The Mayor reminded the Council the City did not take advantage of
the one year moratorium, nor did the City implement a sales tax. Councilor
Garrison encouraged the Council to regulate placement. Councilor Church
reminded the Council due to the review of the state regulations stating there
will be no local taxation and that the state will be collecting the taxes and it
would trickle down to us on a local level. He also reminded the Council
they did not want to spend the money on regulations when the state was just
going to come in and trump it anyways. The Council members then
began a discussion about the Commercial zoning and rules for businesses.
Councilor Church suggested a workshop on the 22nd of April. All Council
members concurred one was necessary. Chief Gray offered a website to
check the OLCC program (www.oregon.gov/olcc) to the Council members
for their research for the workshop. Taci stated she will print and supply
docs to the Council members for the workshop.

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Taci asked/reminded for a presence of the Council members at the Meet and
Greet for the Council members and Mayors being hosted by G.R.E.A.T.,
Corp.

Submitted by:

 ___________________________
Taci Philbrook, City Recorder

                                               Approved by the City Council this_____
                                               day of ______________, 2015 and
                                               signed by the Mayor:

                                                _____________________________________
                                                Jim Hamsher, Mayor