CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO REGULAR MEETING February 9, 2010
CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO
REGULAR MEETING
February 9, 2010
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE NEZPERCE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEZPERCE, IDAHO, HELD ON February 9, 2010.
PLACE: City Hall, 502 5th Ave.
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY MAYOR STEVE BATEMAN AT 5:00 P.M.
Pledge of Allegiance: The pledge was lead by Mayor Bateman.
PRESENTwere Mayor Steve Bateman, Councilmen Robert Harris, William Burton, William Harris, James Zenner entered the meeting at 6:02PM, CEDA Representative Rachel Stocking, Maintenance Supervisor Craig Cardwell, and Clerk Rhonda Schmidt.
REGULAR MEETING:
MINUTES of the previous meeting minutes were approved as emailed upon a motion by Cm. W. Harris, and seconded by Cm. R. Harris, motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:
The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report date February 9, 2010 was examined and approved, showing the following:
Total Funds on Hand $295,508.22
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon a motion by Cm. R. Harris and seconded by Cm. Burton, in the total of $27,451.47 check numbers 9271 through 9322. Receipts since the last meeting were shown as $162,392.14. The checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well as the Payment Approval Report for February.
BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED
ICDBG – Oak Street Fair Housing Documentation: CEDA Grant Writer Rachel Stocking presented the council with a copy of Fair Housing documentation that will be submitted to Commerce to finalize the information needed to close out the Oak Street Block Grant. Rachel explained the documentation she compiled and the council was pleased with the information. Cm. Burton moved to accept the Fair Housing documentation as presented, motion was seconded by Cm. W. Harris, motion carried. Rachel asked the council about future projects. The council discussed the city’s needs for a new fire department, a fire truck museum of sorts to store the city’s antique REO fire truck. She was also informed that plans are underway for a band shell in the city’s Memorial Park. The city would like the grant to include bathroom facilities for the RV Park with the band shell. She also reminded the city that we need to change the city hall bathroom sink to a handicap accessible sink.
ICRMP Insurance: The council previously reviewed the property appraisal information that was received from ICRMP regarding structures valued at $200,000 provided by Valuations Northwest. The council agreed to increase the values as presented on the Medical Building and Water Storage Tank and to increase the Senior Center to $450,000. The council felt that if anything ever happened to the center it would not be built back to the same size.
Library – Grand Opening: The date of the Grand Opening is Feb. 19, 2010 from 4 to 6PM. The first hour will allow visitors to move around and take in the buildings attributes. At approximately 5PM there will be a short program in the community center. The mayor asked the council about presenting Maxine Riggers a plaque for her vision for a new library which has become a reality for the city and community. The council supported the idea and the clerk will order a plaque.
Project Updates: The rail at the Christian Church is up and Cardwell shared his ideas about mounting a sign of tractors and combines, or other agriculture related items. Cardwell showed Hank Weaver of Crea Construction, light pole bases that are crumbling and he felt that the concrete did not have enough cure time before the weather set in thus the concrete is crumbling. The bases cannot be fixed until spring and Cardwell will keep the council informed. Regarding the problems with the chlorination system and composite sampler at the lagoons a letter was written to the engineer demanding that these issues be fixed and the lagoon project finalized with everything working correctly. Because as things are now it has cost the city 39 hours of Craig’s time dealing with these issues on a new system that isn’t completed. We have been discharging since December. Engineer Amy Uptmor has spoken with the contractor about the city’s issues and a system training day is being scheduled for next Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, and TMG will be at the lagoons tomorrow to start working out the problems with the new systems. The mayor needs to set a date for a meeting with Cory Baune about 8th Avenue.
Maintenance Report: Cardwell presented the council an idea of upgrading the tablet dechlorination system to a liquid dechlorination system at a cost of approximately $12,000. A liquid system would pay for itself within 2 years. Having a liquid system that would run through the weekend would save the city money because Craig wouldn’t have to check it on a daily basis.
Cardwell listed several days that he will be gone to classes and back-up operator Bill Schmidt is checking on classes for his CEU’s.
Craig spoke with local business about purchasing benches and tables to be placed in the planter strip and on the large concrete areas along Oak Street. Several businesses are interested in the idea. Cardwell is also pricing out block planters for the planter strip areas. No decision was made at this time.
Streets: Cardwell cold patched some streets last week. Joe Forsmann with Evergreen Highway District is coordinating city and highway districts needs for chip sealing this coming summer. The city budgeted $8,661.00 for chip sealing but Forsmann would like the city to purchase a tanker instead of a ½ tanker at an approximate cost (based on last year) of $18,000. No decision was made at this time.
Medical Insurance – City Personnel Policy Update: The medical insurance policy changes were added to the city personnel policy. The mayor read the additions to the council.
Mayor & Council Salaries: The clerk is compiling a list of mayor and council salaries and will forward to the council within the month.
Delinquent Utility Accounts: The mayor and clerk have been putting pressure on 6 accounts that have horrendous balances. A letter was sent to each of them informing them that the city will be taking them to small claims. A notice was posted on each residence for passer bys to see that the utility services have been disconnected until payment is received.
Cell Tower Update: Chip DeMoto of Inland Cellular spoke with the mayor and explained that they neglected to pay Avista yet therefore Avista hasn’t started work. He explained that Avista should be receiving the money within the week and could be installing the electricity as soon as Monday morning. He asked that the mayor call him if nothing is happening by Monday, Feb. 15, 2010.
Volunteer of the Year – Review Form: Cm. Harris presented a form he designed for Volunteer of the Year. The council approved the form.
Other:
CEDA Annual Meeting: The annual meeting will be at the Red Lion in Lewiston on Thursday, Feb. 18, beginning at 4PM, RSVP by Feb. 12th. Attending will be Bill Burton, Steve Bateman, Bill Harris and Rhonda Schmidt. The clerk will call Cm. R. Harris and Cm. Zenner and ask if they would like to attend.
Prairie Day: The Prairie Day Association has begun making plans for the upcoming Prairie Day on July 10, 2010. The city has helped the association financially the last few years and will again this year. Cm. Zenner moved to assist the Prairie Day Association with costs estimated at $1,200.00 to help with the special city celebration.
Miscellaneous: The mayor asked that the minutes include recognition of 2 beautiful thank you cards and the recent receipt of the key to Boise.
NEXT MEETING:
The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7: P.M., until the next regular or special meeting, which may be called.