December 6, 2004 Regular Meeting

The City Council met in regular session on December 6, 2004 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Mayor Vanderwall presided:

Councilmembers present:

Wes Lester
Bruce Walker
Georgia DeHaas
James Zehner
Jane Kissinger
Brian Lorentz

City employees present were Public Works Director Gortsema, Chief Sedam, City Attorney Albers and Clerk Kennedy.

The meeting was called to order and the minutes of the November 15th regular meeting were approved as presented by Councilwoman Kissinger second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

COUNCIL APPOINTMENT: Mayor Vanderwall asked the Council to approve his appointment of Brian Lorentz as a replacement for Mike McDonald until the next City Election in 2005. On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester to accept the appointment of Brian Lorentz to serve until January 1, 2006 when his term will expire. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

OATH OF OFFICE: At this time Brian Lorentz was sworn into office by Clerk Kennedy and the official oath was duly executed and filed. Councilman Lorentz was then presented with a Certificate of Appointment.

PUBLIC HEARING ON SNOWHAVEN TUBING HILL: At this time a public hearing was held for consideration of the proposed Snowhaven Tubing Hill Fees. The resolution listing the fee amounts was read by Clerk Kennedy. A citizen asked Board President, Jim Kingma how the hill will keep track of when someone’s hours expires. Jim explained that everyone will have a ticket with the time on it and the ticket will be checked before the person gets on the tubing lift. Jim also explained that the hill will have some rules that will need to be fine tuned before opening. Hearing no other comments, the hearing was closed.

RESOLUTION NO. 184

(Resolution No. 184 printed in its entirety on Page 232 in the Resolution Book)

The following resolution was introduced by Councilwoman Kissinger who moved for its adoption. Second by Councilman Lester.

A resolution of the City of Grangeville establishing certain Snowhaven Tubing Hill Fees. That the City Council of the City of Grangeville hereby resolves.

A roll call vote was duly taken with the following results:

Councilwoman DeHaas - Yes
Councilwoman Kissinger - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Lorentz - Yes
Councilman Lester - Yes
Councilman Zehner - Yes

The motion passed. Mayor Vanderwall then declared Resolution No. 184 duly approved and adopted.

VISITORS: Bob Blewett was present to talk about the proposed subdivision on South Idaho. He submitted a sketch instead of a preliminary plat in hopes of receiving input from the Council on what they would like to see. He is planning approximately twenty lots with houses in the $150,000.00 range and would like to get input and concerns from area citizens. Bob asked the Council to schedule a meeting or two for public comment before he actually decides what he would like his preliminary plat to include. Some area citizens were present to voice concerns such as the impact on Idaho Avenue and drainage of the area. Attorney Albers explained it would be at the discretion of the Council to deviate from the normal procedure in City Code by hosting some public forums as requested by Bob. Councilwoman DeHaas felt that Bob should host his own meetings for public comment, and then return to the Council after he has the information he needs. Councilwoman Kissinger told Bob that his approach was different from any the Council has had. The developer usually does research to determine what type of subdivision they want to do and then set it out in a development. It is the developer’s job to create a preliminary plat and then make changes as necessary. Mayor Vanderwall felt that Bob should talk to Public Works Director Gortsema (appointed administrator for the project) and a lot of the questions would probably be answered.

Bob Blewett also talked about the proposed buy in fees and he would like the City to think about the bigger scope for the City and economy as a whole.

Mark Green was present to request water, sewer and garbage for Shamrock Development (north of the airport). In Phase I, he plans to have thirty-two 2.5 acre lots. Councilman Walker asked if he wanted to be guaranteed 32 lots and if he would have one hookup fee with all the lines in the development belonging to the development? Mark agreed that would be the request. If possible, he would also like to see the property annexed if it becomes contiguous. Mark restated that he’d like permission to hook up to the water and sewer and would like to see the fee structure when it is available. Mayor Vanderwall stated that Mark Green would be invited back to a future meeting, probably in January.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: On motion by Councilman Zehner, second by Councilwoman Kissinger that the Snowhaven Minutes of November 18, 2004 and December 1, 2004 be approved. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Chief of Police Sedam summarized the monthly report, reporting that the department responded to 196 calls for service. There were 122 cases written, 45 arrests, 57 citations and 2 written warnings issued. The Police and Animal Control Report for November 2004 was accepted on motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Zehner. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Councilwoman Kissinger made a motion, second by Councilwoman DeHaas to accept the appointment of David Rauzi as a library trustee for five years and that the Library Minutes of November 18, 2004 be approved. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Public Works Director Gortsema presented the Water Leak report for November 2004 and reported that the department repaired 15 leaks (173 year to date) and installed no new services.

The transmission main is almost complete for the Water Grant Project. The lines have been tested and flushed. At Spencer well, all three legs were grounded, so the pump will be pulled by Uhlenkott next week. The wire will need to be repaired before the pump can be lowered. One more switch needs to be installed at Myrtle Well and the pumps will need to be installed at Hall Street Pump Station. Public Works Director Gortsema explained that the City still hopes to bid the Water Bond Project in January but will not open them until February.

HANDBOOK CHANGES: Councilwoman DeHaas read the handbook change requests to the Council as listed below:
1. The PW Department requests returning to the former policy of paying 1.5 times the hourly rate for hours worked on a holiday.
2. The PW Department requests the addition of receiving 30 days vacation after 30 years of service.
3. The PW Department is opposed to using Veterans Day as the holiday for the Friday after Thanksgiving.
4. The PW Department recommends changing the words “sick leave” in the current sick leave section to the words ”personal day”. All other wording in the section would remain the same including the wellness program. This would allow someone who has limited or no vacation to use a personal day for whatever they choose without calling in sick when they really are not. Most organizations use the “personal day” system rather than the more restrictive “sick day” system.
5. The Fire Department via the PW Department recommends that for simplification the meal allowance be set at $30.00/day rather than the per meal dollar amounts as described in the current handbook.
6. City Hall would like to request that Columbus Day be established as a holiday. If this is not possible, then switch Columbus Day for Veterans Day.

Councilwoman DeHaas explained that the personnel committee met and made the recommendation that holiday pay be paid at 1 ½ times the hourly rate but to leave all other requests as they currently read in the handbook.

On motion by Councilwoman DeHaas, second by Councilwoman Kissinger to accept the recommendation of the personnel committee to have holiday overtime paid at 1 ½ times the regular rate for all hours worked on a holiday. Motion carried by a unanimous vote the Council present. No other changes were made.

Councilwoman Kissinger stated that it is the department heads responsibility to request handbook changes from their department staff. That request should occur in June so it can be included in the budget as necessary.

WALCO CONTRACT: On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Zehner to approve the Walco contract for refuse removal from October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2007. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

RYAN UHLENKOTT HOUSE AT 722 CUNNINGHAM: Attorney Albers advised the Council that there was an initial error in the letter sent out in June to Ryan, in that it didn’t include a copy of the dangerous building section of City Code. The Building Inspector and City Clerk provided a letter to the Council and City Attorney that is more specific. On motion by Councilwoman Kissinger, second by Councilman Lester to authorize Attorney Albers to write a letter to Ryan Uhlenkott and show there is just cause for the request submitted by the building inspector. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE: The State adopted the 2004 International Building, Fuel and Mechanical Codes in March. The City Code already reads that successive versions of the codes would be effective on any date as made by the Idaho building code board. The City Clerk is waiting for a letter from Jack Rayne in case it has additional information on the Mechanical and Fuel Codes.

WATER PROJECT PAYMENT AND REQUEST FOR FUNDS: A motion was made by Councilwoman Kissinger, second by Councilwoman DeHaas to approve request #6 for CDBG funds in the amount of $185,911.68. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilwoman DeHaas to approve Debco pay request #4 in the amount of $151,291.68. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

ENTRANCO FUND REQUEST: On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Zehner to pay Entranco $15,492.13 from the grant fund and $16,444.27 from the bond fund. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

FUEL AND ROCK BIDS: On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Walker to allow Public Works to call for fuel and rock bids. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

ITEMS TO NOTE: Councilwoman DeHaas informed the Council that the ADA Committee met over lunch and some recommendations will be forthcoming at a future meeting.

Councilman Lester noted that the sidewalk on Idaho Avenue has been completed and billed to the City as requested.

The fountain has been shut off at Heritage Square until the leak has been fixed.

Copies of the RC&D Minutes of October 28, 2004 were distributed to the City Council.

The Council has a workshop scheduled for December 13, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the equity buy in study presented by J-U-B Engineering.

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M.


_________________________________
Terry Vanderwall - Mayor
ATTEST:


_________________________
Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk