DRAFT ONLY.  Without council review or approval.

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

May 22, 2012

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Pro-Tem Wekenman called the Council Meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

ROLL CALL:  Council members present:  Cecil Floyd; Connie Newman; Bo Ossinger; Norm Schorzman; Alison Webb.  Absent:  Councilmember Tim Jones and Mayor Echanove.  Mayor Echanove is on vacation.  Also present:  Public Works Superintendent Dwayne Griffin; Police Chief Jerry Neumann; Fire Chief Mike Bagott; Clerk-Treasurer Joyce Beeson; & Deputy Clerk Ann Thompson.  Public present: Caitlyn McGehee, Mary Estes, Doug Willcox.    

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Councilmember Ossinger MOVED to adopt the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of May 8, 2012.  Councilmember Newman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

Citizen’s proposal to have a burn day in Palouse.  Mary Estes asked council to look into a few burn days a year for non-combustible, legal yard waste.  Chief Bagott spoke with DOE in Spokane who indicated, because we’re not an urban growth county, they have actually changed their stance on hauling material to one central location and burning it as one manageable pile rather than small burns throughout the city.  Whitman County is one of two counties in the state that will allow burning if the proper procedures are followed.  The city passed its own ordinance limiting open burning to recreational fires.  This is a hot button issue with several people in town with health conditions.  That’s why the chipper program came to be but unfortunately cost too much.  Chief Bagott explained this has to be very well managed with some sort of permitting to know who was going to burn, when, what manner, how to be contacted etc.  Chief Bagott’s ultimate recommendation is if it’s something the city council wants to pursue, that the site be located outside of town, be securable, and that we collect the material on the burn day only.  If you have an open pile, then you end up with the same problems we had at the chipper pile.  Mary also suggested having a specific day to collect this waste and have fees and permits to cover hauling it to the site (vs. burning).  The other issue is the cost, having a site that is gated so as not to be available year round, etc.  This could perhaps, be an opportunity for a fundraiser for someone to provide a hauling service for those who don’t have the means.  Much discussion ensued as to pros and cons, and different scenarios.  The city is not insensitive to the problem of yard waste.  Councilmember Newman pointed out that Palouse EMS cannot transport to Moscow, Pullman, & Colfax nor administer meds so medical treatment can take time if someone has an adverse medical reaction to burning which should be taken into consideration before deciding to allow burning.  This issue was sent to the Police, Fire & Safety committee to consider options.    

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT:  Supt. Griffin submitted a written report.   

POLICE REPORT:  Animal shelter contract is in the works.  Door-to-door solicitors hit Palouse today.  Anyone going to the doors is required to apply for a permit through City Hall.  Once they submit an application, they then go through a background check, etc. before a permit will be issued. 

JFB REPORT:  On the financial end, everything is within budget.  Had 1 fire call in April, 14 YTD, which is above average.  Pumper tank is back in service; tab was $6,450.  Two EMS members have completed their EMT training.  3 EMS calls in April, 21 YTD. 

Questions arose about Palouse EMS’s permissible range of duties and various certifications.  Those questions need be addressed to EMS.   

OLD BUSINESS:

Brownfields contract for site demolition:  Bids were opened May 21, at 4 pm.  Bids were as follows: 

Larson’s Demolition $19,829.81

Talisman Construction $19,833.04

Ace Elliott Landscaping $27,288.49

Skycorp LTD $28.079.74

R Wilson Construction $30,879.31

Councilmember Newman MOVED to authorize the mayor to execute a contract with Larson’s Demolition, Inc. Palouse Producers building demolition, not to exceed $19,829.81.  Seconded by Councilmember Schorzman.  Motion carried unanimously.  Actual demolition will occur in early June. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS/REQUESTS: 

Parks, Cemetery, & Buildings-Alison Webb. Chair:  Is looking into a resolution charging RV Park credit card users a $5.00 cancellation fee to cover the city’s costs.     

Policy & Administration-Bo Ossinger, Chair:  Committee proofed the 2011 annual report.  There’s a little left to proof; needs to be done by Thursday. 

Streets & Sidewalks-Cecil Floyd, Chair:  Met with Gloria Bennet of TIB and proposed to her to have West Whitman Street reclassified as an arterial.  We offered up H Street from the school to the ball field to be reclassified as local access.  Also talked with her about the Cove Road project.  Regarding improvements to the bridge (near car wash), she said we need to talk with the WSDOT about that.

Also, he met with two households regarding clearance near and around the corner of Sumner St. and Harrison St.  Cecil used a diagram to outline the ongoing dispute.  Much discussion ensued.  Councilmember Floyd is going to take it to committee and include Chief Bagott and Chief Neumann.  One neighbor also expressed his concern about a tree on city property that he wants removed because he feels is unsafe to his house.  PW Dept. is going to contact a tree expert to see if it is a problem. 

ALLOW PAYMENT OF BILLS:  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED that the bills against the city be allowed.  Councilmember Webb seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN:  Councilmember Schorzman MOVED to adjourn.  Councilmember Newman seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.  The council meeting adjourned at 8:19 PM.

The following checks are approved for payment:

Claims Paid, May 23, 2012.            Ck. #4023-4035 & EFT            $9,566.07

APPROVED: ________________________________   ATTEST: ________________________________