---
date: "2016-10-12"
title: "Council Meeting Minutes 2016-10-12"
source: "2016-10-12-minutes-council-monthly.pdf"
---

City of Prairie City

1.                   CITY COUNCIL MEETING
2.                               October 12th 2016, 6:00pm
3.
4.
5. Attended:   Jim Hamsher, Mayor
                   Viola Rose, Councilor
6.
                   Carole Garrison, Councilor
7.
8.
         Les Church, Councilor
                   Butch Goslin, Councilor
9.
10.                   Taci Philbrook, City Recorder
11.                   Bob Shive, Museum Director
12.                   Chris Camarena, PWD Director
13.
         Carlos Bortell, resident
14.                   Luann Bortell, resident
15.                   Joe Phippens, resident
16.                   Frank Primozik, resident
17.                   Jeff Moore, ODOT
18.                   Shane Giffin, ODOT
19.
20. The Mayor opened the regular meeting at 6:00pm. Roll Call was taken. All
21. councilors were present, except Councilors Miller and Patterson. Both councilors
22. were excused.
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24.  The mayor recognized Jeff Moore from the ODOT Maintenance and Operation
25.  Branch in Salem, and Shane Giffin, the Transportation Maintenance Manager
26. from Canyon City. Both gentlemen are present to propose a partnership with
27. Prairie City for animal carcass composting. They submitted to the council two
28. documents for review, an article about carcass composting, and the one page
29. proposal (see attached).  Jeff explained the need for the service, stating the
30. Mortality Compost Facility would be receiving 250 to 400, 120 lb. deer a year.
31.  Jeff also explained they were using the quarry, but scavengers, and dogs, created
32. a problem. ODOT is working with local government agencies such as ODF, to
33. eliminate the problem by putting up fencing, but it's going to take some time.
34. Those same local agencies would also use the decomposing site. The proposed
35.  site would be located near our sewer lagoons. The service would be offered to our
36. immediate local area along Hwy. 26. They referenced a facility in Heppner that
37.  has been operating for six years. ODOT would create, and dump carcasses at the
38.  facility.  We would supply the gray water. Our public works employees would
39.  monitor and manage the Mortality Compost Facility during their daily checks on
40.  the sewer lagoons. Monitoring would consist of using a probe to check the heat

41. and moisture. Managing would include turning the compost on a schedule.
42. The councilors began a discussion about any permits that may be required. Public
43. Works Director, Chris Camarena, has spoken to DEQ. He says, DEQ would not
44.  require a permit for a facility under 20,000 cu. feet.  Chris would like to see the
45.  city take over the facility, and run it ourselves, thus profiting more from the
46.  venture. He sees this as a potential part-time position for someone one day. Chris
47. also sees us opening this up to private individuals, such as Ricco's, who often
48. have cow renderings to dispose of.
49. Taci was asked to schedule a Workshop on the matter to further the discussion.
50. Shane offered a CD of the Heppner facility for reference. Shane reported he
51.  would go back to his office, and work out the details. He will get the information
52.  to Taci in time for the councilors to be able to use it for the workshop. MSP: To
53. further pursue ODOT's proposition. Councilor Garrison / Councilor Rose.
54.  All in favor.
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56.  Reports:
57.  Museum: The mayor recognized DeWitt Museum Director, Bob Shive. Bob
58.  submitted his written report to Taci (see attached). He also reported Royce
59.  Dotson had donated a full scale photo of Bates to the museum. They will use it as
60. a featured item in the Bates room they are creating. The Bates room is one more
61. idea to draw more visitors. Bob will be seeking Grant funds through Restore
62. Oregon to create a business plan tied in with a preservation plan.
63.
64.  Fire Dept.: Chief Rynearson, who is once again the acting fire chief, reported to
65.  the council he has kicked off a recruitment campaign for volunteer fire fighters. A
66.  recruitment banner is now hanging in front of the Texaco Bldg. Taci had the Blue
67. Mountain Eagle do up a little article about the recruitment in last weeks edition.
68. He also reported the department is doing maintenance on the brush vehicles.
69.
70. Public Works: Public Works Director, Chris Camarena, reported the water
71.  restrictions have been lifted as the reservoir is now at 29 feet. The issue was due
72. to a sensor that has been replaced. His department has cleaned the filters. He will
73. next send in a sample, then we will go back to the filters.
74.  Chris reported he is starting a beautification project at the little park next
75. to city hall. The project would include replacing trees with more colorful ones
76.  such as Red Maple, and planting more trees to create a more inviting
77.  environment. He would like to get together with the Garden Club, Carole and
78. Frank Primozik to create a beautification plan. Taci suggested a luncheon
79. honoring the gardeners. We can then glean and discuss ideas with them.
80. He next reported on The City Park and it's fencing project. He has plans to fix
81. sinking spots in the rubber mat, and taking care of spots of plastic that are
82. exposed. When erecting the fence he would like to make it handicap accessible,

willing to pick it up at her shop. Taci was asked to organize a work day
once the weather cleared up next week. All the gentlemen are available
during the week, as well as on the weekends.

83. especially with wheel chairs in mind. Curbing will be replaced and gates properly
84. positioned to allow wheel chair traffic.
85.  Chris then reported the air relief in Well#3 has been fixed. He reported this past
86. summer the water level dropped to 70 gpm. It is supposed to be pumping out 150
87.  gpm. Chris is getting quotes to drop the pump down to 600 feet. There will be
88.  two quotes coming in. He is also working on getting the DEQ required Master
89. Water Plan done. He reminded the council it would cost $40,000 and we had to
90. have it done within the next three years.
91. Lastly, Chris reported to the council he will be meeting with OTEC and Industrial
92. Energy Solutions to evaluate all city assets throughout the city. They will come
93. up with a plan to replace lighting with more cost efficient solutions such as
94. LED's.
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96.Mayor Hamsher asked the councilors, and audience, for volunteers to help on the
97. Interpretive Kiosk. He needs willing, and able hands, to assist in completing the
98. front and get started on the top facade. Joe Phippen, Carlos Bortell and Frank
99. Primozik volunteered. Councilor Rose offered the use of her table saw, if they are
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City Recorder update: Taci reported she received a phone call from
ODOT regarding the letter cc'd to them, from the same citizen that sent us
the letter, requesting us to address wheel chair accessibility issues
throughout our city. Taci was happy to report to ODOT the city had taken a
proactive approach to the letter. She reported; as well as the park becoming
more handicap accessible, a sidewalk issue in front of the community center
is now being repaired, and brought up to ADA standards due to combined
efforts with the community association; the door handles at city hall, and at
the public restrooms in the city park, have been changed out to levers
instead of knobs; and there are plans to pour cold patch around a fire
hydrant along a difficult path wheel chairs take, making it easier to get
around the hydrant. Taci reported the handle replacement cost $644.95, and
that it will cost a little extra as she had the locksmith change the locks out
to plugs, as they locked with a thumb, resulting in locking people out of
both facilities. Chris Camarena reported his department had the crosswalk
changed in front of city hall to meet the approaches for wheel chairs. He
will be blacking out another crosswalk, and removing the caution crossing
sign, as it does not have good approaches. Chris had ODOT come to

Accounts Payable: MSP: To ratify payment of the bills.
Councilor Rose / Councilor Goslin. All in favor.

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 Prairie City, and do a yellow stripe on the curb near the electronic sign on
 Front St., as people parking next to the curb block the vision of those
 crossing in that cross walk.

A workshop to discuss the ODOT Mortality Compost Facility proposal was
scheduled for the 26th of October at 6:00pm., in the council chambers here
at city hall.

Upon arriving at the council meeting each councilor received their copy of
Iron Triangle's rejection of counter offer. They have withdrawn their offer
for “the industrial property”. They cite their reasons in the email
(see attached). After individually reviewing the email all the councilors
agreed there was not a need to discuss it any further.

 Taci also reported the city had just issued it's 19th business license to Prairie
 Sun Bakery, a home bakery. That brings the business license profits to
 $475.00.

 The Mayor adjourned at 6:50 pm.

  Submitted by:

  ________________________________
  Taci Philbrook, City Recorder
                                                         Approved by the City Council this_____
                                                         day of ______________, 2016 and
                                                         signed by the Mayor:

                                                        _________________________________
                                                        Jim Hamsher, Mayor