Rockford Town Council
April 3, 2013
7:00 PM
Mayor Micki Harnois called the
meeting to order after the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Council members
present were: Larry Van Every, Dave Thompson and Steve Meyer. Clint Stevenson
and Thomas Smith were absent but excused. Brenda Gambrel Deputy Clerk and John Goyke
Clerk/Treasurer/Public Works Operator were also present.
Layne from JUB Engineers:
Pond 1 Liner has been spark tested,
nine holes were identified and welded. Pond One Underdrain has had clean tests;
no fecal coliform has been detected.
The drain line from the Waste
Water control building has been videoed by General Industries and it appears
that the drain pipe has settled. General Industries has given a proposal to fix
the drain line at $1180.99.
Dave Thompson made a motion to
accept the gravel Change Order # 3 for the Town of Rockford, 2012 Lagoon No. 1
Rehabilitation Project, Larry Van Every seconded motion, passed voice vote.
Larry Van Every asked if the
gravel overage was valid, Steve Meyer said that the contractor did have an
overage on the gravel, but there was a built in buffer on the price of the
gravel when the contractor bid the project.
Dave Thompson made a motion to
accept the drain pipe repair Change Order # 4 for the Town of Rockford 2012
Lagoon No. 1 Rehabilitation Project; Larry Van Every seconded the motion, passed
voice vote.
SRTC pedestrian and bicycle
trails money is available, with a 13.5% match, there is a potential that the
state may pay for the match.
Steve Meyer asked what type of
project the Town of Rockford would propose to use SRTC monies.
The Mayor spoke about a
potential project that the money could be used for such as walking trails on
the dyke.
Steve Meyer asked about extending
the sidewalk along WA ST Highway 278 from the town park to the rodeo grounds.
Layne explained that project would have to be cleared by the state.
The cut off for the SRTC funding
is April 30th. Larry Van Every was concerned with the match portion;
JUB said that if the state did not cover the match the grant could be declined.
Dave Thompson said that if the
state did not pay the match on the SRTC grant that he did not want to see town money
pulled out of the budget to cover the match.
Steve Meyer said that if the
town had to get the money at 13.5%, and if the project helped the town, the
money should be got.
Layne said that the project
could roughly be 1000 feet of sidewalk; the project may be $50,000.00 to
$100,000.00 in cost.
The Mayor said the River Street
sidewalk, and Emma to Church Street sidewalk is bad.
Steve Meyer made a motion to
pursue the SRTC grant, seconded by Dave Thompson passed voice vote Larry Van
Every opposed.
Mayor comments:
Meetings are being recorded.
Agenda’s will be done the
Friday before the meetings.
The Mayor asks that if someone
speaks during the public comment section that they give their names and those names
will be put in the minutes unless a public safety issue prevents the names from
being placed in the minutes.
The Mayor asked if the meeting
minutes should be approved before being posted to the website. The council
decided by consensus that the meeting minutes will have to be approved before
being posted on the website.
The Delante property
foreclosure was discussed.
Committee Reports:
Larry Van Every is working on the
website with Deputy Clerk Brenda Gambrel, Larry Van Every would like to get
some citizen comments to post on the website, and Larry Van Every would like to
see some nice stories from the town to post on the website.
Public Comments:
Phil Evans was concerned about
the engineer costs to write the grants and what would happen if the town did
not get the grant. Steve Meyer explained, many times there is not a cost to the
town from the engineer because it is a gamble for the engineer as well to write
the grant hoping to get the funding and the project.
Bill Creed, the town needs to
get grants to put the sewage dump station back in.
Kathleen Creed, there is a PT
cruiser at the park and transactions are being performed around it, daily
transactions, the PT cruiser belongs to a person in the trailer park. Brenda Gambrel
says that she knows who the PT cruiser belongs to. Ms. Creed said that the town
needs to put a stop to it. Steve Meyer suggested calling the Sheriff and
reporting it to the drug enforcement department.
Phil Evans suggested that
SCOPE get involved. Larry Van Every said
that he had filled out his Scope application, SCOPE was then discussed.
Carrie Roecks thought
Stringham Road should get a sidewalk. She also thought the draft minutes should
be posted on the website.
Phil Evans wanted a citizen
vote on the draft minutes being posted. Larry Van Every then took a vote of the
citizens and the vote was a majority, 7 citizens voted yes to post the minutes
on the website in draft form. It was then decided that the meeting would be
posted in draft form on the website due to the public vote.
March 20 Minutes
Correction amendment 3rd
page, Public Works section, line eight, “An advertisement for a part time
Public Works Operator will go into executive session”. Was changed to “The
discussion of the Public Works Operator position will be discussed in executive
session.” Dave Thomas made a motion to approve the minutes
as amended. Larry Van Every seconded the motion, passed voice vote
Checks
Dave Thomas motioned to
approve payroll checks 11934 through 11946 for $7,742.16, claims checks 11931
through 11933 and 11947 through 11969 for $29,776.74 total check numbers 11931
to 11969 for total claims $37,518.90, motion was seconded by Larry Van Every,
passed voice vote.
Old Business
Primmer mowing contract:
AWC insurance coverage was
discussed concerning volunteers working in the park. Clerk/Treasurer John Goyke
explained that the AWC insurance would cover volunteers so long as they signed
a hold harmless agreement and an agreement that stated that if they used their
own equipment from home that the town would not be held liable for the repairs
to their equipment. Clerk/Treasurer John Goyke also explained that volunteers
can also use the town equipment but a hold harmless agreement would also have
to be signed. Clerk/Treasurer John Goyke also explained that the town has the
option to pay the L & I rate for the volunteers, if they felt that would
give the town some protection, some towns pay this rate to help protect the
town. Larry Van Every felt that the town
should try the volunteers first and if it did not work have Jerame Clark do the
mowing. Steve Meyer felt that the volunteer idea would work well. It was the
consensus of the council that Volunteers will be mowing the park and ball
fields and that Clerk/Treasurer/Public Works Operator John Goyke is in charge
of organizing the volunteers. Clerk/Treasurer John Goyke will also have the AWC
volunteer waivers forms ready for approval at the next council meeting.
Use of arena by outside
persons:
Jennifer Cecil spoke on this issue.
Spokane charges $200.00 a day another charges $175.00 a day for arena use.
Women’s club has offered to buy more panels for the arena if needed. The width of the arena is okay the length needs to be increased which will require more panels to be installed.
Access to water and lights
would be needed and donations for use of the arena could be taken and a sign
could be put up to encourage donations.
Larry Van Every had a concern
with the arena expansion and its subsequent rental, is the town in the business
to do something that a private citizen could be doing is this commercially
viable, why is the town in this business? Steve Meyer felt that this is not
really a commercial undertaking more of an idea to help the youth. The arena was
originally bought from Moran Fairgrounds and picked up by Steve Meyer. Phil Evans
wanted to know if there would be any additional costs to the maintenance
department. The Mayor felt that the there would be no additional costs to the
maintenance department.
Clint Stevenson will keep
working on the issue.
Sheriff contract is still
being reviewed.
Website:
Meeting minutes will be posted
in draft form on the website.There was a consensus of the council to give the password to Larry Van Every so he could work on the website.
Sewer ordinance:
No comment
Fricke alley vacation:
Ordinance 12-3 was never finalized,
signed or published; so it was the consensus of the council that the ordinance
was never fully adopted due to the contingency of the verbiage being changed
because of these reasons it was decided that the ordinance is not in affect and
is void.
AWC Claims:
Looked at, no discussion.
New Business:
Resolution 13-01R:Bob Cunningham the owner of the Rockford Trailer Court discussed the meter hook ups and the sewer hook ups at the trailer park. Dave Thompson discussed the fee’s that were being assessed at the trailer park.
Larry Van Every moved to
accept resolution 13-01R seconded by Steve Meyer passed voice vote, Dave
Thompson opposed.
Costco Membership:
It was discussed that the town
could join Cost Co and purchase the town checks cheaper.It was the consensus of the council to apply for membership.
Elder Roof Contract:
Dave Thompson moved to accept the
Elder Roof contract, Larry Van Every seconded motion passed voice vote.
Tree City USA Grant:
Clerk/Treasurer John Goyke
explained that the grant does not pay for the removal of the old tree’s just
the planting of new trees.
Steve Meyer made a motion to
not apply for the Tree city USA Grant; Larry Van Every seconded the motion, passed
voice vote
Steve Meyer announced that he is
resigning his council position, affective the end of this council meeting.
Steve Meyer mentioned his reasons for resigning they were the Sheriff’s
contract automatic renewal; he feels that the Mayor should have been fired. Legal
fees that were accrued without council vote, contrary to the council motion
that said no legal fees could be accrued without prior approval by the council.
He is not happy that John Goyke is the clerk, John Goyke was hired as the maintenance
man and he is making $3.00 an hour more to do the same job that Darlene La
Schaw was doing, and by paying him more
this could open the town up to a discrimination law suit. He feels that a big
debacle is coming. He is tired of being kicked around by some of the people in
this town and by some of the councilmen on the council. He does not want to be
involved in these council’s current decisions.
He said he will still work
with the town.
Carrie Roecks feels that the
town should not be shady in its decisions.
The Mayor then adjourned the meeting at 9:00 PM.
__________________________ _____________________________
John M. Goyke Micki Harnois
Clerk/Treasurer Rockford Mayor
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