March 5, 2013 – Council Minutes
March 5, 2013
Those Present: Matt Argyle, Ada DeClark, Joe DeClark, Clerk Lynette Smith, Doug Thompson, Mayor Bob Van Cleave, Cynthia Reno
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Councilmember Ada DeClark
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Matt Argyle that the council accepts the published agenda. Councilmember Joe DeClark seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Minutes from the February 5, 2013, regular council meeting were read. The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Joe DeClark the council approve the minutes as read. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Mayor Van Cleave gave an update on the nuisance located at 364 Main St. He spoke with City Attorney, Adam McKenzie, about getting a search warrant from a judge to search the premises. Adam didn’t feel like this was the best approach because if the judge said no to the warrant, then we couldn’t pursue the issue any further. Adam has sent a letter to the homeowner, James King, in North Carolina asking for permission for us to search the premises and once we hear back from him, we will go from there. Cynthia Reno, the next door neighbor to the nuisance came to the meeting to hear how she should handle things also. She had complaints about the roof of the building and being afraid that with too much snow on it, that it could collapse and ricochet into her home. She sent a letter and pictures of the roof and the cement piles that were left there from removing a wall, to James King and to T.J. Johnson and has never heard back from either one of them.
Rocky Mountain Power has sent a contract to be signed along with two easements that need to be notarized and recorded with the county for the wastewater project. After speaking with Keller Associates the full $11,101.00 can be paid for out of the loan also. Councilmember Ada DeClark made the motion to have the Mayor sign the contract and the easements and send $11,101.00 to Rocky Mountain Power. Councilmember Joe DeClark seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.
Councilmember Joe DeClark spoke about the farmland that the City just purchased for the wastewater project from Sheldon Clark. He said that for the spring of 2013 that there should be no planting of crops because there will be lots of construction and piling of top soil, etc. that it would be a waste to plant it this spring. He said that he thought if there is any pasture this fall that the City should let Sheldon use it at no cost and that he should be able to use those 7 water shares that he sold to the City with his land. For 2014, Sheldon and/or Drue and Cole Smith, that leases the rest of Sheldon’s ground, should be able to plant alfalfa and take all the crops at no cost to them or the City. Then in 2015, we may need to make a new agreement. With this plan, the City nor Keller’s will need to find someone to farm it and it won’t cost any party anything. Councilmember Matt Argyle made the motion to follow Joe’s plan that he just outlined above for the City’s farmland. Councilmember Ada DeClark seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried. Also, Joe asked both Kelly Bartschi and Sheldon Clark how they would feel about applying the sludge to their land that the City purchased and both said it would be ok. The only stipulation is that in 2014, the alfalfa cannot be used for consumption by dairy cows; only to beef cows.
Stan Prescott owns some cemetery plots and wants to give 2 of his spaces buylevitra.net located in Block 5 Plot 4 Spaces e and f to Julie Ann Guffey and Richard Guffey. The council had no objections.
Councilmember Matt Argyle spoke about a web-based satellite program for cities and counties used for addressing and indexing, called Pictometry. Right now, the county is doing an enhanced 911 service with Verizon in order to more easily locate everyone. He has spoken with other cities and they have said that now is the time to redo the addresses in the City in conjunction with the 911 service. He has briefly spoken with the County about the City being able to piggyback with the County and use this program for a minimal cost to help us with our addressing and it would be useful for planning and zoning and preparing for future growth. He also said that when replacing our street signs that we will need to comply with the enhanced 911 service.
Matt also would like for the City to look into purchasing a sander/spreader that would slide right into the back of the service truck and then Doug can sand the streets through the City when they get really slick. He and Doug wondered if we could use the money that has been saved up for a generator towards the sander instead. The County has agreed to give any cinders that Doug would need to replace in the sander for free. Councilmember Ada DeClark made a motion to allow Doug to purchase a sander machine for $5,000.00. Councilmember Joe DeClark seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.
Matt also asked the council to consider getting a bigger shed for the backhoe that would be more enclosed to park the backhoe and another piece of machinery, such as the dump truck, underneath if needed. The sun is rotting the inside of the backhoe and it would be nice to park most all the machinery under some cover. Last year, the council had agreed to let the Georgetown Irrigation Company purchase a shed to park the backhoe under and would let them use the City’s land to place the shed on. The council would like to readdress the issue and ask the Irrigation Company if they would agree to pay half of a bigger shed and then go from there.
Police Report: Officer Skinner hasn’t returned to work quite yet but says he is feeling better and is hoping to be back in the next week or two.
Maintenance report: Doug Thompson gave his report for the month of February stating that he dug two graves in the cemetery, worked on the snow plow and the snow blower. He was able to get some parts for the snow blower and fixed that. He plowed the streets, got the fire hydrant fixed, he turned the water on and off for a couple of repairs, tested his samples, which were good. He had a telephone conference with Keller’s and helped them out and he plowed more snow.
Office Report: Clerk Smith reported that there are 11 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of February.
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Ada DeClark the council approve checks and vouchers for the month of February 2013 in the amount of $14,495.39 in the general fund, $6,169.81 in the water fund, $60,777.86 in the sewer fund with all funds totaling $81,443.06. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Ada DeClark that the council adjourn from the March 2013 council meeting at 8:20 pm. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith, City Clerk