July 10, 2006 Regular Meeting

The City Council met in regular session on July 10, 2006 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Mayor Vanderwall presided:

Councilmembers present:

Bruce Walker
Brian Lorentz
James Zehner
Del Houger
Wes Lester

Councilmember absent:

Georgia DeHaas

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

The meeting was called to order and the minutes of the June 19th regular meeting and June 27th special meeting were approved as presented by Councilman Zehner, second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

VISITORS: Gil Bates, the new Economic Development Specialist was present to introduce himself as the new IDA-LEW director. Jeff Kutner requested that the City contribute toward IDA-LEW in the next fiscal year in the amount of $3,000.00. IDA-LEW pays for travel and office expenses and these donations help offset costs. Greg Johnson is the new chairman and Jeff is the treasurer.

SIDEWALK WAIVER: Mike Connolley, 420 Junction Street, requested a sidewalk waiver on 4th Street. Councilman Lester stated there are no sidewalks on 4th Street on the south side, all the way to Idaho Avenue. He has a sidewalk on Junction in front of his house. On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Zehner to grant an indefinite sidewalk waiver to Mike Connolley at 420 Junction Street for 4th Street. Motion carried, Councilman Walker and Houger voting no.

Mike Key explained that he is starting to build a new house on the South side of his property at 703 North Idaho. He felt there is not room to install a sidewalk on 6th Street and he isn’t doing any work on the North side of his property so he didn’t want to put in a sidewalk on Cunningham. On Idaho Avenue he plans to install a sidewalk from 6th Street to the driveway, which is about 80 feet but would like a waiver for the driveway down to Cunningham. Cunningham Street and Idaho Avenue have a ditch, so there would be quite a bit of work needed to install sidewalks. The culvert is rusted along Idaho Avenue and he would like the City to work with him to see what needs to be done. His lot is made up of three parcels for a total size of 230’ x 180’. Councilman Houger stated that if a sidewalk was installed only in front of the house, then people could not continue north without crossing into the street to walk. Councilman Lester stated that he didn't feel sidewalks were necessary on 6th street, but most properties to the North and South on Idaho have sidewalks, and most of the people have sidewalks on the South side of Cunningham Street. Councilmen Walker and Zehner both agree that sidewalks on 6th Street are not really practical. On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Zehner to approve Mike Key’s request for no sidewalks on 6th Street. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

On motion by Councilman Lester, second by Councilman Walker that Mike Key install a sidewalk from 6th Street to the driveway on Idaho Avenue, after the City decides what to do with the culvert, within a year. Then within two years, a sidewalk needs to be installed from the driveway on Idaho Avenue to Cunningham Street and along Cunningham Street. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

Jan Robinson felt the Iron Man is a wonderful piece of art. She didn’t feel that the iron man represents any single type of individual or occupation such as logger, farmer or anything. It is currently placed on the ASCS lot and is visible from one direction only. Jan would like to see him occupy a part of the Eimers-Soltman Park by the Chamber Office. She has talked to some of the Chamber personnel and officers and some are in agreement and some are not. Councilman Lester had contacted USDA, Ken Carey. Mr. Carey explained that they would like to move it out away from the building but they weren’t sure where the State right of way is. Mr. Carey had talked to Mrs. Tacke and they feel that the iron man is more a farmer and wanted it represented as a farmer at the USDA building rather than in the park. They have been looking at the property and have found a spot on the edge of the property by the ditch. When it is moved, Avista is willing to provide illumination so it can be seen at night.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: Chief of Police Sedam summarized the monthly report, reporting that the department responded to 212 calls for service. There were 148 cases written, 39 misdemeanor arrests, 3 felony arrests, 60 citations, 21 written warnings issued, 6 dogs and 3 cats impounded. The Police and Animal Control Report for June 2006 was accepted on motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

The Water Leak report for June 2006 was presented and it was reported that the department repaired 9 leaks (48 year to date) and installed no new service.

WATER PROJECT UPDATE: Mike Sturdevant provided numbers representing the percentage of work completed as follows:

Footage of pipe = 69%
Hydrants = 82%
Customer services = 47%

ARCHERY RANGE AGREEMENT: On motion by Councilman Lorentz, second by Councilman Lester to authorize Mayor and Clerk to sign the Archery Range Agreement. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

HERITAGE SQUARE FOR BLOOD DRIVE: On motion by Councilman Zehner, second by Councilman Houger to approve the use of Heritage Square for the blood drive on September 14, 2006. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

RESTROOMS AT HERITAGE SQUARE: On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lorentz to pay for one month of restrooms at Heritage Square. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present. The Chamber and the Merchants will each pay for a month so the restrooms can be at Heritage Square for three months.

LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTMENT: On motion by Councilman Houger, second by Councilman Lester to approve Mayor’s appointment of Judy Wayenberg to the Library board for a term expiring January 1, 2011. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

WATER AND SEWER AT THE AIRPORT: Public Works Director Gortsema had visited with Jon Stroop at the County after the County put in new taxi ways. They had both felt that the County should put in water and sewer mains at the rear of where the buildings would be. Jon is now gone and Gortsema doesn’t know if anything else has occurred at the County level. Hopefully the County engineers could develop something, forward it to the City for approval and then DEQ for approval of an extension of City utilities. Gortsema doesn’t like the possibilities of all the extensions running to the different properties if mains aren’t installed. The County is basically subdividing properties but because they are doing long term leases they aren’t actually selling lots. Gil Bates informed the Council that the Airport Advisory Committee meets and they have a master plan. He will bring up the concern at the next committee meeting. After discussion, the Council felt a letter needed to be sent to the County and should also indicate the associated fees. Councilman Lester made a motion, second by Councilman Zehner to have the Public Works Director and City Attorney draft a letter to the County about the issues at the airport on water and sewer. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: The Personnel Committee met with employee representatives on handbook changes and made the following recommendations to the requests.

1. Add 30 days vacation after 30 years of employment. Recommendation: Leave as is.

2. Change to 23 days of vacation after 23 years to eliminate the 5-year gap like we did
with 18 days after 18 years. This eliminated the 5-year gap between 15 and 20 years. Recommendation: This was withdrawn by the staff.

3. Some employees would like to see the comp time bank raised to allow up to 80 hours to be saved. Reason given was to have this in reserve for emergencies where all sick leave may be exhausted. Recommendation: Leave as is.

4. Raise travel reimbursement to Idaho State Rate for training and other City business. Recommendation: That it be reviewed annually and changed to the State rate 44.5 to take effect at the beginning of the fiscal year.

5. Clarification of time off. If over a holiday period, the Mayor and Council decide to allow the employees to leave early for the holiday at hand, should the employees that may be on vacation, home sick, or unable to leave work at this time, be allowed the same amount of time off at a later date? We always appreciate the act of generosity when it is given to us, but it is unclear how to handle this to be fair to all employees. Recommendation: An employee must be at work to receive the time off. Those not at work due to vacation, sick or unable to leave will not benefit from the time off.

6. Request to add Columbus Day as a holiday. Recommendation: Leave as is.

On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lester to accept the committee recommendations on all items as shown above. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

KASCHMITTER SUBDIVISION: On motion by Councilman Walker, second by Councilman Lorentz to approve the 2006 Amended Kaschmitter Subdivision, pending the receipt of all required signatures. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.

ITEMS TO NOTE: The budget workshops will start at 6:00 p.m. on July 17th, 18th and 20th at City Hall.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M.

_________________________________
Terry Vanderwall - Mayor

ATTEST:
_________________________
Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk