August Council Minutes
August 7, 2018
Those Present: Councilmembers Matt Argyle, DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Marty Nate, Matt Raczak, Clerk Lynette Smith, Maintenance Supervisor Doug Thompson, Mayor Stephan Waechtler, Gary Teuscher CPA, City Attorney Adam McKenzie, Kevin Martin and Jason Linford of Sunrise Engineering, Joe DeClark, Sherilyn Christensen, Vicki Price
Meeting called to order: 7:05 pm Invocation: Maintenance Supervisor Doug Thompson
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Matt Argyle the council accepts the published agenda. Councilmember Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Minutes from July 19, 2018 regular council meeting were read aloud by Clerk Smith. The chair entertained a motion from councilmember Marty Nate to accept the minutes as read. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried.
Mayor Steve Waechtler addressed the citizens in the room which were looking for an update on the water system and boil order. DEQ won’t let us remove the boil order until multiple samples are all returned absent of total coliform and E. coli. The Mayor explained that he and Doug have been in touch with multiple agencies such as the forest service and the sheep owners to discuss our options. DEQ suggested that the high water flow is causing some of the issue and we continue to test weekly and the chlorinator building is working and chlorinating all the water. We do not want to chlorinate full time if we don’t have to. Water is still safe to use just needs to be boiled before drinking. Notices were all hand delivered as soon as we received word from DEQ to put the boil order in place and an announcement has been on the radio. Notices are also posted at the post office and at the City Hall. When we can remove the order we will take down the notices and put up new ones informing every one of the change and have it announced on the radio as well. The Mayor asked for everyone to please be patient while we get the issue resolved.
City Attorney, Adam Mckenzie was present to discuss our ordinances. He suggested for the planning and zoning ordinance #27 to have a committee of two people to go through and update and make necessary changes and then we will need to hold a public hearing to make the changes. As for the digging ordinance he would like to have more time to decide what our best option will be, to either impose a fee which will need a public hearing or to place a bond or guarantee as a lien on the property when applying for a permit. Councilmembers Marty and Matt will review the ordinance and then we can update and they will include increased lot sizes also.
The Ordinance #93, Amending Ordinance #50 for parking zones had its first reading by Adam and suggested dispensing the 3 reading rule at the next meeting. The words that have been stricken through are removed and the additions are underlined. There were a couple of revisions the council would like to make as in adding that no objects should be in the right of way year round or obstructions that create a hazard. Adam will include the revisions and send back before the next council meeting in September.
Clerk Smith brought up a couple of utility hook up situations in town and asked Adam how the City can enforce the installation of separate hookups on properties such as if they sell or split their properties. Adam will look into our utility hook up ordinances and see what revisions need to be made and will compile a letter for the new apartment installed which should have two separate fees.
Jason Linford and Kevin Martin of Sunrise Engineering came to the council to present their findings of replacing the water lines on Main Street. The total cost at this time is proposed at $410,000. The council was hoping to get Main Street updated before the highway project is finished next year. Sunrise offered to look into other funding options with USDA and since we were awarded a loan with DEQ they will inquire about reducing our awarded loan amount also. We do still need to get the water tanks cleaned, the PRV’s updated and possibly updating the chlorinator building. The council agreed to try and pay as we go for as much as we can verses getting a loan if at all possible. Sunrise will report back at the next meeting.
The council engaged in a workshop to set the budget for the coming fiscal year of 2018-2019 with City Auditor and CPA, Gary H. Teuscher. It was noted that the $4,300 earned from the hay lease on the sewer land app site should be transferred from the General account to the Sewer account. The council reviewed a bid from Eric DeClark to reside the City Hall and were given three different siding options. Councilmember Marty Nate made the motion to select the steel siding at $11,700 and councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried. The budget hearing for the new fiscal year will be held at the next council meeting in September to approve these numbers from the workshop.
Councilmember Marty Nate reported that she and Greg visited with the Dilworth’s and they will begin paying for two separate water and sewer bills starting in August and that they will need to be assigned a new house number. It was decided that Jeremy Mayer would remain at 616 Stringtown and the Dilworth’s will be at 618.
Police Report: There was no report for the month of July but he will be back to work in August.
Maintenance Report: Doug gave his report for the month of July stating that he has been very busy with the water system and also received a quote from a company that pressure reducing valves would be about $4,800.
Office Business: There were 25 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of July. The council would like to enforce the shut offs this month and get all delinquents caught up immediately.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Marty Nate for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of July 2018 in the amount of $15,246.31 in the general fund, $44,124.02 in the water fund, and $123,617.76 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $182,988.09. Councilmember Matt Argyle seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilmember Marty Nate that council adjourns from the August 2018 council meeting at 11:00 pm. Councilmember DeLoy Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith, City Clerk-Treasurer