Rockford Town Council
July 03, 2013
7:13 PM
July 03, 2013
7:13 PM
Mayor Micki Harnois called the Public Hearing to order after the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Council members present were: Carrie Roecks, Clint Stevenson, and Thomas Smith. Larry Van Every and Dave Thompson were absent but excused. Brenda Gambrel Deputy Clerk and John Goyke Clerk/Treasurer/Public Works Operator were also present.
The Public Hearing was called to order at 7:10 PM. The purpose of this hearing was to take public comment per RCW 35.79.020, on Ordinance 13-04 regarding the vacation of the portion of the alleyway from the east side of Shade Street to the west side of Maple Street of Blocks 42, Lots 1 through 16 of Waltman’s Addition. The Town Council had determined that, due to prior circumstances concerning the property in question, the payment of taxes on land not vacated and the possible reliance upon prior Town Council action, the provisions of Resolution 91-1R should not apply and the property owners in this circumstance should pay no dollar amount for the vacation in question other than any costs associated with the filing or recording of the same.
Mayor Harnois explained that the homeowner adjacent to the property had already built on the property in question because the Council at that time had told the owners that the property was to be vacated.
The Mayor then asked for public comment.
Joan Thompson asked about the process of vacating alleys.
Mayor Harnois explained the process.
Seeing no further comment the Mayor closed the Public Hearing at 7:13 PM
The regular Town Council meeting was then called to order at 7:13 PM, the same council and personnel were present that were present at the public hearing.
JUB Engineering
Layne Merritt from JUB said that the performance payment bond for the flow meters had been received. The project should take approximately one month to complete, on completion an update will be given.
Layne Merritt explained that the pond one under drain system has tested positive for fecal coliform, confirming contamination to the under drain system. These tests suggest that the liner has a hole in it and is allowing sewage to leak from the liner to the under drain system. General Industries will pump the pond one dry and then test the liner to determine if there is a hole.
Layne Merritt further explained that Pond Two and Three will be double lined so this type of situation does not occur again. He went on to further say that the liner in pond one is two thirds through it life span and a new liner will eventually have to be laid over the old liner to prevent leaks from the old liner.
Carrie Roecks wanted to know why Pond One was not double lined as that was a requirement from the Department of Ecology.
Layne Merritt explained that Pond One did not require a double liner because the project was coded as a repair, so that requirement did not apply.
Further discussion followed about the techniques for ballast in the ponds to keep the liner from floating.
Mayor Harnois then explained that the State Budget has been approved, so the Department of Ecology will be contacting the Town on the funding proposal for Pond Two and Three.
Layne Merritt then asked the Town to consider reimbursing JUB for some of it time per the engineering contract. JUB would like to recover one third of its costs. Layne Merritt explained that JUB has put time in on the SRTC grant, Flow Meters through Rural Development, the Spokane Rivers Keepers lawsuit, the NPDES revisions, the Six Year Street Plan, the CDBG grant for Pond One and Pond Two.
Mayor Harnois explained that JUB has had experts representing the Town at some of these meetings.
Discussion followed and it was then decided that JUB would hand out draft copies of the invoices for the Council to look at and then JUB would send formal invoices at a later date for the Council to consider.
Mayor comments:
Primmer Land Contract for use by Town for the Southwest Reservoir
Mayor Harnois handed out copies of the current Primmer contract for the Council to review; it included several maps and legal descriptions. The Mayor said that the contract will have to have a parcel added that was missed in the current draft. Mayor Harnois then read the contract for the record.
Jody Cornwall representing the Primmer family explained that some of the stipulations in the contract extend past the 40 year agreement and will actually apply to the life of the property and the future owners of the property.
Clint Stevenson said that the current ordinance restricting water/sewer improvements out of Town limits will have to be changed so work can be done at the Primmers property which is outside Town limits.
It was discussed that the Primmers would receive free water to the lots and lands described in the contract.
Mayor Harnois explained that it was now the Town’s responsibility to inform the Town Attorney to proceed with the contract.
The water system that services the Primmer area was discussed in detail.
Carrie Roecks was concerned with the language that allowed the contract to extend for the life of the property and future owners.
Jody Cornwall went on to explain that the contract would apply to all future buyers/owners and that any contract changes would have to be approved by Stan Primmer.
Steve Meyer suggested that the contract have an expiration date ending with the final date of use for the Water Reservoir.
Mayor Harnois explained that the Town is paying for the town attorney and the Primmers attorney to review this contract.
Steve Meyer said that originally there were no attorneys.
Carrie Roecks said that the Town needed an attorney to write and review the contract.
Jodi Cornwall said that the Primmer’s attorney is ready to record the contract as is has been written and reviewed.
Carrie Roecks suggested that the contract have a termination time, and not run forever.
Mayor Harnois wrote council comments and changes to the contract on her copy.
It was then the consensus of the Council to review the contract and get the comments and the changes back to the Mayor by July 12th.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Contract
Carrie Roecks made a motion to accept the Spokane County Interlocal Agreement for costs incident to Law Enforcement Services in the Town of Rockford. Dave Thompson seconded the motion and the motion carried with a voice vote.
Cougar Corridor Project
Mayor Harnois explained the Cougar Corridor project and said the sign up deadline date for the Rockford businesses was July 26th. Mayor Harnois encourage everyone to show their cougar pride on game days by displaying the WSU Cougar signs and flags.
Women’s Club
Mayor Harnois said that she was very appreciative of the job the Women’s Club did during the appreciation day that was held in the park for the local heroes and firemen.
Newsletter
Mayor Harnois explained that the newsletter was to have an announcement in it asking people if they would be able or willing to read their own water meters, however the July newsletter lacked this information due to time constraints and it was not added. Mayor Harnois said the August newsletter would have the information and would ask the public if they would be willing or able to read their own water meter.
RMSA and PACE
Mayor Harnois announced that the Town has received a $350.00 grant for attending the 2013 Annual Meeting for Loss Prevention hosted by RMSA (Risk Management Service Agency) and it can be used for anything the Town needs to reduce claims or prevent claims against the Town. Mayor Harnois further explained the Town received a $50.00 gift certificate to Best Buy when she signed the Town up to be part of PACE. Mayor Harnois would like to get some feed back from the Town Council as to how the grant and gift card should be spent.
Carrie Roecks suggested that the monies could be spent on new speakers in the park, which could be used for the movies in the park and for the fair, or any other functions where outside speakers are needed.
Tree City USA
Mayor Harnois announced that the signs the Town received when they joined Tree City USA have been put up. They have been put up at the base of the Town of Rockford signs coming into town from Spokane on Highway 278 and coming into town on Highway 278 from the casino.
Southeast Spokane County Composting Facility
Mayor Harnois announced that the signage for the new composting facility has been delivered and the large Southeast Spokane County Composting Facility title sign is on display. Mayor Harnois then asked the Town Council where they thought the large sign should be placed. Discussion followed and the Mayor asked Carrie Roecks if she would work out the details of where to put the sign and Carrie Roecks accepted.
Financial Updates
Mayor Harnois asked Carrie Roecks to explain the information that she has learned after reading the last few budgets for the Town.
Carrie Roecks said that she has reviewed the 2012 Budget and that she is willing to sit down with anyone and explain it to them. Carrie Roecks further explained that she has reviewed the January 01, 2007 through December 31, 2009 Washington States Auditor’s Office Financial Statements Audit Report for the Town of Rockford and if anyone would like to discuss it with her she would be willing to do that. Carrie Roecks said that after review she saw that no material violations were found by the auditors. Carrie Roecks also informed the council that the January 1, 2010 through December 30, 2012 audit has not been conducted yet.
Phil Evans said that when he read through the last Audit he saw that it said there were violations and that they could be found on the first page. Phil Evans asked if the Town Council had looked at the State of New York’s financial information.
Carrie Roecks said that she had not looked at it; Phil Evans said he would email it to her.
Committee Reports:
NONE
June 5th Minutes
Clint Stevenson moved to accept the June 5th Minutes. Carrie Roecks asked to amend the motion to add corrections to the minutes. The following corrections were asked for:
Line 23 change the spelling of Cathy to Kathy.
Line 95 changes the phrase “ride of way” to “right of way”.
Line 139 to 140 adds in the words “due to violations of the discharge permit”.
Dave Thompson seconded the motion to accept the minutes with the listed corrections. The motion then carried with correction with a voice vote.
June 19th Minutes
Carrie Roecks made a motion to accept the minutes with the following corrections:
Line 447 replace the word “are” to “were”.
Dave Thompson seconded the motion to accept the minutes with the listed corrections. The motion carried with a voice vote.
It was the consensus of the Council that the minutes are to be given to Carrie Roecks to be proofread before they are given to the Council for approval.
Checks
Clint Stevenson made a motion to pay check #’s 12044 – 12063 in the amount of $60,329.08.
Payroll 12044 $ 36.94 Claims 12045-12063 $60,292.14
Dave Thompson seconded the motion, motion carried with a voice vote.
Old Business
Andrew Fricke Alley Vacation
Clint Stevenson made a motion to accept Ordinance 13-04 as written. Dave Thompson seconded the motion and the motion carried with a voice vote.
Ivan Willmschen said he was very upset that this ordinance passed, he explained that he has heard that the Town was not going to vacate any more alleys or streets unless it was absolutely necessary. He went on to further explain that when he wanted a street closed he had to pay $1650.00 to get the property once the Town agreed to vacate, but Fricke’s got theirs for free.
Then there was discussion about the history of the process of this ordinance, the ordinance itself, the other resolutions and ordinances associated with this ordinance and the property taxes concerning this ordinance.
Contract for a Web Master
Larry Van Every was absent so no report was given.
New Business
Ivan Willmschen explained that at Pacific Street and Weaver Street a homeowner had a plugged sewer service line. Ivan Willmschen further explained that the mainline once plugged and caused damage to his basement.
The Public Works Operator explained that the plugged sewer service line in question was due to pipe failure on the homeowner’s side of the service. The Homeowner has replaced the broken line and the main line does appear to have a large tree tap root in it.
It was the consensus of the council to have the Public Works Operator contact Big Sky and have them jet and camera the sewer main from Church Street to Emma Street.
Public Works
No Report was given.
Public Comment
Ivan Willmschen informed the council that he had turned off the lights at the old restroom in the Park.
Alene Willmschen informed the council that the lights are on at the fairgrounds and they have been on for quite some time.
Art Grewe said that he worried about the cost of operating the compost facility; he wanted to know who is going to maintain and operate the facility.
Mayor Harnois informed Art Grewe that the Town of Rockford Public Works Operator was going to operate and maintain the compost facility. The Mayor further explained that the Town will keep a close eye on it, to make sure it does not smell and the only things that the facility will accept is clean green material.
Kathy Creed wanted the Town to place on the reader board that there will be a Candidates Forum at the Macintosh Grange on July 16th 2013. Mayor Harnois said that she would have the Public Works Operator put the notice on the reader board.
Kathy Creed asked for more volunteers to mow at the park, she thought someone would be alternating with them on the times they would be mowing.
Kathy Creed announced that there will be a Grange Camp for children ages nine to fourteen and scholarships are available. She wanted to say thank you to all of the people that helped.
Happy Daze and Sugar Blossom Glass Shop
Steve Meyer said that the roll up door is being used at the new glass shop, and that the new business owners are violating the lease. Steve Meyer further explained that the new business owners have violated the WA State Tobacco rules.
Mayor Harnois said that at the last Council meeting the new owners were informed that the use of the roll up door was a violation of the Rockford Code. The Mayor further explained that the owners were told not to infringe on the public right of way.
Mayor Harnois explained that use of the roll up door is not an explicit building code violation.
Mayor Harnois said WA State Patrolman Gene Trevino has been contacted for advice on the use of the roll up door at the new business.
Mayor Harnois said that the WA State Tobacco Enforcement personnel have told her that they cannot enforce the non use of the roll up door.
Mayor Harnois said that she will contact the Spokane Valley Fire Department to enforce the fire codes at the new business.
Ivan Willmschen asked why the Town pays for a Fire Chief if he will not enforce the fire codes and he wanted to know why the Spokane Valley Fire Department has to enforce the fire codes. Ivan Willmschen wanted to know why the Town cannot enforce the fire codes on the new business itself.
Mayor Harnois said that the Town will also have the Rockford Fire Chief enforce the fire codes at the new business.
Mayor Harnois said that the Town will contact RMSA to see if there are any rules that the Town can enforce against the new business.
Mayor Harnois asked the public to let her know if the new business was violating any rules.
Kathy Creed said that the new business should have done its homework before it came to Town.
Jodi Cornwall told the public to take pictures of any minors entering the new business and give the pictures to the Mayor to turn in for violations.
Executive Session
It was announced to the audience that Council would move to executive session and then be out of executive session in twenty minutes, the Council would then immediately close the open public meeting without any further business to discuss.
The Council then moved into executive session to discuss potential litigation.
The Council then came out of executive session and immediately closed the public meeting with no further business being discussed.
Meeting adjourned 10:55 PM
________________ _____________
John M. Goyke Micki Harnois
Clerk/Treasurer Rockford Mayor
[Editor's note: Town Council news is published when received.]
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