April 2, 2013 – Council Minutes
April 2, 2013
Those Present: Matt Argyle, Ada DeClark, Joe DeClark, Clerk Lynette Smith, Doug Thompson, Mayor Bob Van Cleave, Cynthia Reno, Mable Whitmore
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Council President Joe DeClark
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Matt Argyle that the council accepts the published agenda. Councilmember Ada DeClark seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Minutes from the March 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.
Clerk Smith called City Attorney, Adam McKenzie, on the phone for a teleconference for counsel on the agenda items. The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Joe DeClark that the council leave the regular meeting and move into executive session as per Idaho Code Section 67-2345(West)(f), for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel for the public agency to discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated. The mere presence of legal counsel at an executive session does not satisfy this requirement. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: Ada – yes, Joe – yes, Matt – yes.
Councilmember Ada DeClark made the motion that the council move out of executive session and back into the regular meeting, at 7:25 pm. Councilmember Joe DeClark seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and is as follows: Ada – yes, Joe – yes, Matt – yes.
Adam will put together a citation in the form of a letter for Officer Skinner to issue to T.J. Johnson by tomorrow and will give him 24 hours to take care of the nuisance at 364 Main St. If it is not taken care of within that time frame then Officer Skinner will serve him with a citation of criminal charges of a public nuisance.
Mayor Bob asked Adam McKenzie about the possibility of installing a radar camera along Stringtown Lane. We get numerous complaints about speeding along Stringtown and when Officer Skinner patrols he rarely sees many vehicles and then is missing lots of vehicles along the highway and can’t be in two places at once. Adam said that there is nothing in Idaho Statutes that prohibits the use of a radar camera but says that it is usually difficult to identify the driver of the car which would then prohibit Officer Skinner from issuing a citation without knowledge of whom the driver is. We would need to find a camera that would take pictures of the driver and the license plates and then Officer Skinner would review the camera and issue a citation from there.
The Budget Hearing dates were set for the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year. Councilmember Joe DeClark made the motion to hold the Budget Hearing on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. The budget workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 with City Auditor, Gary Teuscher.
The water tanks were reappraised for the year and we received a letter from ICRMP asking if we would like to make any changes to our appraisals or our insured amounts. The tanks appraised at $96,688 and are currently insured for $200,000. Councilmember Matt Argyle made the motion to leave the rates where they are and continue to insure for higher than the appraised value. Councilmember Joe DeClark seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
CenturyLink sent a permit to install a buried fiber optic cable along Main Street. Councilmember Joe DeClark would like for a representative to come to our council meeting and discuss with us their plans and how it will be of benefit to our community. Clerk Smith will compose a letter for the Mayor to sign asking for representation at our next council meeting.
Keller Associates sent a letter updating the council on the progress that has been made within the last month of the wastewater project.
Councilmember Joe DeClark mentioned that we all need to be more aware of the building that is going on within the community and need to make the community more aware of a need to purchase permits whenever they are building. Anything that is movable and less than 200 sqft does not require a building permit; everything else does.
Councilmember Ada DeClark reported that we are quickly approaching our May 1st deadline from the grant that we received to purchase playground mulch for it to be installed by that date. Doug will let Ada and Marty know when the ground is ready to install the mulch. She also said that she wants to put in individual playground pieces instead of a large set hoping that the city or the committee would be able to fund one new piece a year. She also would like to have the kids at Georgetown Elementary be able to vote on which pieces that they would like to have in the playground. Mayor Bob suggested showing the kids videos from the companies to help them in making their decisions on the equipment. She also said that she would like to see an Easter Egg Hunt happen next year in the City.
Police Report: Officer Skinner has returned to work and has made 44 contacts for the month of March.
Maintenance report: Doug Thompson gave his report for the month of March stating that he repaired the snow blower, plowed some snow, marked some areas for DigLine and replaced some stop signs. He went to IPACO in Logan and found a salter/sander for $4,350.00; the bottom of it would eventually rot out from the salt sitting in it, he thinks that we could use just sand and it would help it to last longer. Warren Sorenson’s sewer backed up into their home; Doug went and researched at the Lift Station but found it not to be the problem, there is a broken line about 25 feet from the house. He has spoken with the delinquents for the month and has gotten commitments from them to catch up their accounts. His water sample testing has been good. He shut off water at 2 locations, dug one grave and took 3 days of vacation time. Sam Holder wants to remove the old trailer on his property and put in a new one that is updated and will help the property look better. Before the trailer is moved back onto the property he will need to get a building permit.
Office Report: Clerk Smith reported that there are 19 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of March.
The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Ada DeClark the council approve checks and vouchers for the month of March 2013 in the amount of $9,950.04 in the general fund, $6,204.24 in the water fund, $16,339.29 in the sewer fund with all funds totaling $32,493.57. Councilmember Joe DeClark 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 April 2013 council meeting at 8:15 pm. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith, City Clerk