Rockford Town Council
January 16, 2013
7:00 pm
Mayor Micki Harnois brought the Public Hearing to order. Council members present: Clint Stevenson, Steve Meyer, Thomas Smith
and Dave Thompson. Clerk /Treasurer
Darlene LaShaw and Public Works Operator John Goyke were also present. Micki reminded citizens of the vacant council
seat; applications are due by 4:00 pm January 31, 2013.
Public Hearing
A Public Hearing was held for the purpose of a utility
tax.
Micki Harnois briefly explained that the Town was
exploring the idea of a utility tax on the electricity bill through
Avista. Micki further explained the Town
has ever increasing expenses and a portion of the funds the Town receives from
the State has been cut.
Micki also explained some of the regulations of the
utility taxes. What they can be used for
and how much can be imposed.
Rick Hauf stated that he felt it was a safe assumption
the Council will decide to go with the utility tax. Has the Town taken the time to find out the
average cost per house hold?
Micki Harnois replied that it will cost the average house
hold approximately $6.00.
Rick Hauf inquired if the Council will post what funds
the utility tax will go to?
Micki informed Rick that the Town will have to name what
funds they will be utilized for.
Rick Hauf stated with the increase in the utility bills
he had a problem with higher electricity bills.
He explained there were many people in Town with fixed incomes. He feels a 6% increase would be too
harsh. Rick suggested a 6% increase
within four (4) years. Rick asked the
Council to give it some thought.
Pete Abbey agreed that all residents would feel the
increase of the cost but how about the businesses? The businesses are paying double already.
Phil Evans asked if the utility tax could be placed on
the February ballot along with the Sheriff’s contract. That way the citizens could decide.
Micki Harnois informed Phil it was too late to place that
on the ballot.
Craig Swanson compared Rockford to Fairfield; businesses
have gone out of business. A utility tax
would take $106.00 out of his personal income per month. He asked the Council to reconsider this idea.
Larry Van Every voiced that he wasn’t for the utility
tax. He doesn’t see any sunset with it. He asked what the 6% was worth.
Micki Harnois explained with expenses going up and the
Town doesn’t have money, the Town won’t be here anymore. Micki further explained the Town’s needs for
the lagoon improvements. She mentioned
she had just attended a meeting regarding a group who may place the Town in a
law suit regarding discharging issues.
Some of the equipment has not worked since
the time the construction was completed.
Stan Seehorn asked what the Town receives for Sales tax
and property tax. Darlene reported
approximately $66,000.00 for property tax and approximately $53,000.00 for
Sales tax.
Walt Whitman asked what the advantage is of the Town
having a utility tax. Annually he
attends a meeting regarding the 1% increase in property tax and is told the
Town does the tax “Because we always do”.
Walt feels taxes are getting out of hand.
Larry Van Every asked if anyone could tell him the
negative aspects imposing the utility taxes.
Will it drive people out?
Thomas Smith stated that the Town has expenses beyond its
income. The Town has cut back on many of
its own expenses, cleaning, rugs, employee hours and a portion of the
employee’s insurance is being paid by the employee, which that has not been in
the past. Thomas further spoke that the
Town is also a business and is trying to make business decisions. Thomas further stated it affects the entire
Town. Each member of the Council would
pay for the utility taxes also.
Chuck Collison inquired about the equipment at the sewer
lagoon never working.
Micki Harnois spoke of the two (2) meters that record
information. It will cost the Town
$12,000.00 to replace them. Currently
working on a grant, for the meters.
Tim Fricke felt if they were not installed right in the
beginning the Town shouldn’t have to pay for it.
Steve Meyer clarified that the Town had done all it could
do but the meters are too obsolete to fix.
Stan Seehorn voiced his concern that the problem is the
Town has been helped with grant funds to pay for a number of things and now the
grant money available has declined.
Micki added that many grants require a match from the
Town.
Kathy Creed spoke that in the past she had asked the
Council if it thought of cutting expenses.
She felt they needed to be given credit for what they have done so far.
Kathy Creed further voiced her opinions that if we want
to keep the Town, stay local, then we need to accept the increases.
Kathy disagrees with many of the comments given tonight
and added that the increases would hurt them greatly.
Micki Harnois added that the Town no longer has an
attorney attend a monthly meeting and the Town no longer has a Code Enforcement
person.
Clint Stevenson voiced that he thought the sewer and
water rate increases hurt more than a utility tax would.
Phil Evans asked if the Town had done any cost projection
through the years. Will the Town be out
of money in one (1) year to eighteen (18) months? Just how long will it be before the Town is
out of money?
Micki Harnois answered that the Town had not gone in depth,
on this issue.
Thomas Smith spoke that the Town could do a close look
but it doesn’t want to spend the citizen’s money to pay a person to do the
study.
Clint Stevenson named off a few projects that needed to
be completed and their approximate cost:
SW
Reservoir Roof $ 8,000.00Well 4 Pump $15,000.00 (and updating the lagoon system)
Robert Tollefson voiced that both living and working in
Town the utility tax would be very tough on them. He asked if there were any consideration to
where the money would go. He asked what
the single most important thing to do and then the second most important thing.
Sheila McCormick asked of the projects that Clint named
off, where is the other $20,000.00 going to?
Thomas Smith briefly explained the upcoming loans the
Town will have for the lagoon system improvements.
Kerry Hauf asked if the Council considered the rates on
the utility bills going up along with the utility tax. Kerry further spoke that ever since the water
reservoir had been completed they have had terrible water surges in their
house. Who will pay for the costs when
the pipes go out?
Rick Hauf does agree with Pete Abbey regarding businesses
will be hit hard with a utility tax.
Bob Cunningham has a number of rentals which some are empty. If his tenants can’t pay rent then he doesn’t get paid.
Bob Cunningham suggested John get together with him he
may have flow meters that the Town can borrow.
Bill Creed stated that if it doesn’t work the Town will
be looking into disincorporation. Bill
said that will cost the citizens.
Micki Harnois stated that the state would have a Finance
Officer come in and work and the bills would be paid.
Sheila McCormack asked the Council to look at Fairfield;
they have businesses that have closed.
Chuck Collison asked if the funds were raised does it go
to other items that are not needed.
Micki stated that the funds would be earmarked for items.
John Goyke spoke that other Towns that had imposed utility
taxes had locked their projects in with an Ordinance which caused major
problems. The project(s) should not be
placed in ordinances.
Dave the owner of Rockford Mini Mart inquired if he gets
a liquor license which would bring more taxes in, would the Council give a
break on the 6% utility tax? Individual’s
incomes do not go up 6%. He felt 6% was
a little steep.
Steve Meyer voiced his concern of what will happen when
the cost goes up. When the water was
increased a couple years ago people stopped watering and their grass turned
brown.
Micki Harnois noted that at these hearings people seem to
come up with cool remedies. It would be
good to have this information in other situations.
Pete Abbey thought more businesses in Town would increase
sales tax. What is the Council doing to
get new businesses here?
Steve Meyer said it was a good question, now turn it
around, what would he be getting if his business was in Spokane.
Clint Stevenson noted that Pete Abbey has brought a lot
to the Town with activities.
Craig Swanson asked about the option of increasing the
sales tax rate.
Robert Tollefson asked if the Town imposes the increase
will there be better representation on services?
Bob Cunningham stated that at times entities have
increased rates and found it wasn’t getting the revenues they had hoped.
Kerry Hauf asked if someone will be looking into
increasing the sales tax rate.
Walt Whitman commented on the utilities issues where he
lives:
Does not
have good water serviceThe road is not good
Has to take garbage down to the end of road
With no further public comment, the Public Hearing was closed.
Micki Harnois opened the Council meeting. The same council members attended.
Micki asked the Council for a direction regarding the
utility taxes. It was the consensus of
the Council to look further into increasing the sales tax rate before deciding.
Committee
Reports
Steve Meyer reported that Stan Seehorn had talked to him
regarding the Town having a snow plow policy.
Stan has offered to be on a committee.
Stan had provided a copy of Fairfield’s snow plow policy for the Council
to review. John spoke that he didn’t
have a problem working with others with a plan.
Micki asked John if he would chair the committee. Larry Van Every volunteered to be on the
committee as well.
Public Comment
Kathy Creed announced that Sheriff Ozzie will be at the
Grange Hall on Wednesday February 27, 2013 at 6:00 pm. Kathy encouraged all Council members to
attend.
Minutes
Thomas Smith made a motion to approve the minutes of the
January 2nd meeting. Clint
Stevenson seconded the motion, motion carried.
Old Business
Micki Harnois spoke of the meeting she had with Ozzie on
January 4, 2013. Also attending were Bill
and Kathy Creed, John Goyke, Darlene LaShaw and Brenda Gambrel.
Micki Harnois stated that Ozzie explained for 2012 the
cost was $21,174.00. Ozzie had spoke of
a 10% cap and believes he can get the Town’s 2013 cost at $25,000.00. Micki further reported that she had given
Ozzie the check (for the remainder of 2012’s contract). Micki spoke that the Town has needed them for
different issues in Town.
Steve Meyer is looking for clarification, spoke that the
Council had made a motion to send the check with a letter stating the Town did
not plan to contract with the Sheriff department for 2013. That letter needed to be sent by December 31,
2012.
Steve Meyer asked Micki Harnois why she was negotiating
with Ozzie when the Council had already made a decision. Steve felt that without a letter being sent in
on time the Town may be liable for the contract for 2013.
Micki Harnois reported she had honestly did not think of
the due date regarding the contract.
Dave Thompson noted that the Town is supposed to be able
to negotiate and know what we are to get for the services.
Kathy Creed also noted the Sheriff stated that Rockford
has been so disrespectful to the department.
Bill Creed noted that with no contract the department is
not required to come to Town unless a major incident happens.
Micki Harnois spoke of Dave Mathison of the CDA Casino
regarding getting some assistance.
Vicki Bergstrom asked about the proposition on the
ballot, if passed, will the funds be for services in 2014. She feels the Town needs to tell people.
John Goyke explained that Ozzie wants to formally
negotiate for costs and services.
Steve Meyer noted on the motion that was made in
November. The Council cannot act unless
that motion is rescinded. After much
discussion Clint Stevenson made a motion to rescind the motion made on November
20, 2012 for the reason that the letter informing the Sheriff Department the
Town would not be contracting for 2013 was not sent. Thomas Smith seconded the motion. Steve Meyer opposed. Motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to speak with Ozzie
to negotiate for the 2013 Sheriff’s contract which they all felt automatically
renewed because the letter of cancelation was not sent by December 31, 2012 as
voted by the Council in November of 2012..
New Business
Micki Harnois announced the Town Hall has wifi and now
the Freeman School will hold a board meeting here at the Town Hall April 25th.In Council packs there is a SRTC agreement that needs to be reviewed and decided on at the next meeting.
Micki Harnois reported that Stan Seehorn informed her
that the FD#11 Commissioners have chosen Gary Hill as the Assistant Fire Chief.
Clint made a motion to appoint Steve Meyer as Mayor
Pro-tem for a six (6) month period.
Thomas Smith seconded the motion, motion carried.
Clint suggested along with budgets the Council could cut
its wages to the amount prior to the increase.
Public Works
John Goyke reported that he, Micki Harnois, Layne Merritt
and Cynthia Wall of DOE met regarding the River Keepers earlier in the
day. A meeting will take place on Friday,
with the River Keepers and all attorneys associated with the lawsuit.
John also reported he had asked the DOE why the DOE
didn’t act on false reports years ago.
It has been found that many violations are not true violations, because
inaccurate information was willfully reported.
At this time there may be only three (3) violations.
Meeting adjourned.
__________________________ __________________
Darlene LaShaw Clerk/Treasurer Micki Harnois Mayor 