REGULAR MEETING
August 13, 2019
PLACE: Nezperce City Hall, 606 Maple Street.
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY MAYOR BATEMAN AT 6:30 A.M.
PRESENT were Councilmembers Steve Bateman, Mike Jensen, James Zenner, Tyler Nelson, Michelle Lyons, Maintenance Supervisor Craig Cardwell, Fire Chief Dave Kuther and Clerk-Treasurer Rhonda Schmidt.
Pledge of Allegiance: The pledge was led by Mayor Bateman.
MINUTES of the previous meetings of 7/9/19 and 7/17/19 were approved as emailed upon a motion by Cm. Jensen, motion was seconded by Cm. Zenner, motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND MONTHLY BILLS:
The Clerk’s Monthly Treasurer’s Report dated August 13, 2019 was examined and approved, showing the following:
Funds on Hand $375,973.93
All bills and payroll disbursements were examined and approved for payment upon a motion by Cm. Zenner and seconded by Cm. Jensen in the total of $87,052.03 check numbers 14661 through 14706. Receipts since the last meeting were shown as $107,224.91. Checks and stub approvals were signed appropriately by all parties as well as the Payment Approval Report for August.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public were present at the meeting.
BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED
1. NPDES Permit – City’s Petition to EPA and EPA’s response: The City’s petition was filed, and the city has received a stay letter from the EPA. Meaning that the petition is under consideration but from what we have been advised it will cost the city more money to fight for the ammonia compliance schedule. We mailed letters to 24 cities informing of our situation and 7 packages were mailed to Senators and local legislative representatives. The city has joined the AIC organization Federal Water Quality Coalition and engineer Amy Uptmor will be our representative with the mentioned organization.
2. Draft Flood Hazard Data & Levee Evaluations – Meetings this fall: Looks like there will be meetings this fall to review the information provided. Hopefully we will learn what needs to be done to shore up the levee and maybe there will be a way to have the Firm map updated.
3. Ordinance – Elected Officials Compensation Ordinance 2019-4: Mayor Bateman called for a motion to Suspend the Rules after the council reviewed Ordinance 2019-4. Cm. Nelson moved to Suspend the Rules, Cm. Lyons seconded the motion, with the following roll call vote:
Councilman Zenner Aye,
Councilman Jensen Aye,
Councilman Nelson Aye,
Councilman Lyons Aye.
Upon a motion by Cm. Nelson, seconded by Cm. Lyons to adopt Ordinance 2019-4 as presented with the following roll call vote:
Councilman Zenner Aye,
Councilman Jensen Aye,
Councilman Nelson Aye,
Councilman Lyons Aye.
4. Resolution for Property Exchange with Ken Kuther: Following review of the resolution Cm. Zenner moved to accept the resolution for property exchange with Ken Kuther, motion was seconded by Cm. Jensen, motion carried with a unanimous vote. The city will exchange 2 lots and a building in Block 12 including the east 45 feet of lot 9 in Block 11 at the airport for 6 lots numbers 7-12 in Block 19 of Ken Kuther’s.
5. Budget – Review Proposed Budget FYE 2020: The council reviewed the proposed budget and Mayor Bateman explained that recent changes were made to the sewer fund following the last email. Funds from savings were added to the sewer fund to pay for upcoming litigation with the EPA. Following discussion and review Cm. Jensen moved to accept the proposed budget, seconded by Cm. Zenner, motion carried.
6. Medical Benefits: Clerk Schmidt explained that employee Mauer is looking at the city’s medical plan instead of waving it as he is on his parents’ plan until he is 26. If he decides to move to the city’s plan, he wanted to know what it would cost to add his child. The council agreed that if he wants to move to the city plan that he would have to pay a percentage of his plan and all his dependents premium.
7. Bells Across America – DAR request for Proclamation: The council unanimously voted to sign the DAR proclamation for the week of September 17-23, 2019.
8. Ida-Lew Career Fair Sponsorship: Cm. Zenner moved to donate $50.00 to the Ida-Lew Career Fair in September, motion was seconded by Jensen, motion carried.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
1. Maintenance
Water: Maintenance Cardwell informed the council that the hand-held auto gun to read meters wouldn’t charge so we had to replace it immediately or we couldn’t read meters to get the utility bills out.
Sewer: Cardwell continues to be baffled by the bubbling in the lagoon. He has been dragging the sludge to stir things up and it is still bubbling in the same spot. He wonders if it has anything to do with the curtain used in 2009 when the lagoon work was completed. The council then discussed the need to land apply and get totally out of the creek.
Stormdrain Installation: Maintenance is preparing to install the stormdrain system at the EMS building. Cardwell will be taking the system to the Oak Street system and will have to make the slight grade work. Herco will be scheduled to asphalt once the system is installed. This project will be paid for by the last RD grant.
Streets: Cardwell reported that seal coating has been completed for the year. He added that the oil driver was the best we have ever had.
2. Clerk
Council Meeting Dates and Times: The topic was brought up and the idea of having meetings on either Thursdays or Mondays was discussed as well as moving the meetings to 5:30PM.
Internet: AirBridge has been installed at city hall and the public works office. Once the internet is installed at the lagoons, Clerk Schmidt will call CenturyLink and disconnect their internet services.
3. Fire Department
Chief Kuther informed the council that the department is lacking on volunteer bodies but ready to roll in the case of an incident as harvest is getting into full swing. Discussion of exercising hydrants followed.
PUBLIC HEARING at 8:00AM
1. Hearing to discuss fee increases
No members of the public were present for the Public Hearing.
2. Resolution R2019-3 to increase sewer and sanitation fees: Jensen moved to accept the fee resolution as presented, Cm. Nelson seconded the motion, motion carried.
COUNCIL COMMENT
ADJOURNMENT – Meeting adjourned at 8:03AM
Other/Upcoming Events:
Public Hearing: August 26 at 5:30PM for Budget and Property Exchange with Ken Kuther
Upcoming Council Meetings: September 10th at 6:30PM (was moved to AM)
Clerk’s Conference: September 17-20 in Nampa
IRWA Conference: September 24-26 in Post Falls
A Public Hearing for Budget and Property Exchange is scheduled for Monday, August 26, 2019 at 5:30PM. The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 6:30 AM at City Hall.
____________________ _________________________
Steve A. Bateman, Mayor Rhonda J. Schmidt, Clerk-Treasurer