Rockford Town Council
June 19, 2013
7:00 PM
Mayor Micki Harnois called the meeting to order after the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Council members present were: Carrie Roecks, Larry Van Every, Clint Stevenson, Thomas Smith. Dave Thompson was absent but excused. Brenda Gambrel Deputy Clerk and John Goyke Clerk/Treasurer/Public Works Operator were also present.
JUB Engineering
Layne Merritt of JUB asked if the test results of the under drain system had been reported. The Public Works Operator told Layne Merritt that the results had not been reported at this time.
Layne Merritt of JUB asked the Town to accept completion of the lagoon pond one project.
Thomas Smith made a motion to accept the lagoon project as complete, but to hold the retainage until the liner proved to not be leaking based on the fecal coliform tests that are performed monthly. The motion was seconded by Clint Stevenson and was passed with a voice vote.
Layne Merritt of JUB announced that the bids had been received for the flow meter project, he explained that there was one bidder, Applied Solutions at $8,513.96 for the flow meter project.
Thomas Smith moved to accept the bid as presented from Applied Solutions, Larry Van Every seconded the motion and the motion passed with a voice vote.
Thomas Smith made a motion to accept the USDA Loan Resolution Security Agreement to fund the flow meter project at the lagoons, Larry Van Every seconded the motion and a hand vote was called for. The hand vote was four for and zero against with one member being absent.
Layne Merritt from JUB then handed out a new list of possible items to be placed on the six year street plan, the Council reviewed the list. Layne Merritt from JUB explained the process of placing the street projects on the list and attempting to have a goal of getting all the potential projects on the list. He further explained that the number one project on the list does not mean that it is the most important, just that it is in the number one slot. It is not a ranking order.
SRTC
Mayor Harnois explained that SRTC has looked at Rockford’s First Street sidewalk project and it has been ranked second on their list of potential projects to fund. The Mayor further explained that the Rockford project looks favorable and that the State will make up the short fall that the SRTC will not fund, specifically the match portion of the funding. The Mayor explained that it appeared the funding for Missile Base Road may occur next year.
Layne Merritt of JUB then handed out information to the council concerning the land acquisition process to buy land for the first street sidewalk project.
Clint Stevenson asked what happens if the land owners do not want to sell their property to the Town.
Layne Merritt of JUB explained there are other alternatives, condemnation, and other avenues and technologies can be used to acquire the needed property.
Mayor Harnois asked if new highway approaches would be included in this project. Layne Merritt of JUB explained that there would be new highway approaches installed and that all the approaches would be built to WA-DOT specifications.
Thomas Smith asked what happens if the project does not get fully funded or if it does not proceed as planned. Layne Merritt of JUB explained that there would have to be some clarification with the project to ensure that the Town does not have to pay a bill for services associated with the project that is not funded.
Carrie Roecks is opposed to the First Street Sidewalk Project, she is concerned about runoff, she is concerned about the house next to the ball park, and she suggested just installing a pedestrian traffic light. She further explained that the casino bus was intended to be used to get gamblers to the casino not to be used as Rockford’s public transit.
Clint Stevenson said the project will make the land owners lots smaller.
Layne Merritt of JUB explained alternatives will be explored, property owners will be contacted but property costs cannot be discussed. The bus stop will be moved from the Rockford United Methodist Church side of the street to the Rockford Mini Mart side of the street, and a proper bus stop will be installed. Mayor Harnois said that the bus stop could be used by the school.
Steve Meyer wanted to know if the sidewalk will continue past the ball field.
Mayor Harnois explained that the sidewalk will terminate at A Street.
Ivan Willmschen said he is opposed to the First Street Sidewalk Project, he thinks that other projects need to be completed first, and he wanted to know what the costs are to the Town.
Layne Merritt from JUB explained that if the project is not fully funded the project will not proceed.
Robert Tollefson said that Missile Base Road has not been classified as an over height bypass.
Mayor Harnois explained that it will be classified as such when the road is refinished.
Elliot Management Group
Elliot Management Group was present to discuss how the Town can accept credit card payments in person and over the computer. It was explained that the Town could save money on bill payments by accepting online and electronic payments. It was further explained that any fees associated with the online payments could be passed onto the consumer. Elliot Management Group has been working in Spokane Valley for eight years.
Larry Van Every asked what the total savings would be.
Deputy Clerk Gambrel said she was not too sure of the number of hours she spends processing payments, but she thought that the local banks already have a payment process for their customers.
Clint Stevenson asked if there was an initial set up fee.
EMG explained that there would be a $250.00 set up fee and a $55.00 monthly fee.
Carrie Roecks said that the Council should discuss this further at a later date.
Clint Stevenson said the Town needs to survey the public to see how many people would use this service.
Deputy Clerk Gambrel said she would put a survey together and have it in the July utility bill.
Mayor Harnois said the Town needs to get a feel from its users on this service.
Community Frameworks
There was a power point presentation by Community Frameworks.
Mayor Harnois explained that Avista will help the Town pay for a needs assessment associated with this project.
Community Frameworks will keep in contact with Paul Kimmel of Avista.
There was discussion of the changing demographics of Rockford, Rockford is showing that it s population is 50% of 45 and older for age of residents and the 1-19 years of age group is declining.
Mayor comments:
Vacation Bible School will be in the Park June 24th through June 28th; several churches are involved in putting on the event.
The Town Attorney has received an email from the Primmer’s attorney and the agreement between the Town and Primmer’s regarding the land use issues around the reservoir will be available for review at the July 3rd Council Meeting.
The Sheriff’s contract is finalized and the Town will pay $32,412.00 a year for police services.
Mayor Harnois has e-mailed the Sheriff concerning several contract issues that were negotiated concerning services that the Sheriff’s office said they would provide.
Mayor Harnois was pleased at the turn out for the budget meeting and wanted to thank everyone for coming and expressing their opinions and concerns.
Cougar Corridor Project
Mayor Harnois explained the Cougar Corridor project and said the sign up deadline date for the Rockford businesses was July 26th. A hand out was provided with all the details and the Town will get the pamphlets delivered in the next week.
Committee Reports:
NONE
June 5th Minutes
The June 5th Minutes were incomplete and will be handed out for review on June 21st with a DRAFT watermark they will be considered for approval at the July 3rd Council meeting.
Checks
The Mayor explained that URS is the company that is working on the Shoreline project.
Carrie Roecks asked why the Town reimbursed Pete Abbey. The Clerk/Treasurer explained that there was a conversion error on his bill that caused his account to be over billed and that Pete Abbey had requested a reimbursement instead of a credit on his account.
Carrie Roecks then asked why Pete Abbey had paid his bill if he had been over charged. The Clerk/Treasurer said that Mr. Abbey was very easy to work with and that when he came in to complain about his bill it was looked at and the mistake identified and corrected.
Clint 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
Larry Van Every seconded the motion, motion carried with a voice vote.
Treasurers Report
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer’s Report $297,848.64 for May 2013 CE-$119,205.18; Street-$25,242.42; Criminal Justice $2,993.08; Equipment/Property Reserve $51,540.00; Sewer $18,354.16; Lagoon Repair $12,621.37; Water Fund $-3,975.53; Sewer Reserve $43,546.94; Water Reserve $8,321.02; Waste Water Facility Reserve $20,000.00
Carrie Roecks stated that the water rates are too high and that is why the water fund is low, it is because people just are not buying enough water because it costs too much.
Old Business
Andrew Fricke Alley Vacation
Ordinance 13-04 was handed out for review and it was the consensus of the Council to hold the public hearing at 7:00 PM on July 03, 2013.
Contract for a Web Master
Larry Van Every is still working on the issue and he will report back at the next meeting.
Mayor Pro-Tem
Thomas Smith nominated Clint Stevenson as Mayor Pro-Tem, Larry Van Every seconded the motion and the motion carried with a voice vote.
Swim Program
Deputy Clerk Gambrel explained that the Town has not participated in the swim program since 2011 and at that time it cost the Town $244.95. The swim program ran twice a week and provided a snack on the bus and lunch at the pool, the bus generally got back to Town around 5:00 PM.
Larry Van Every said that the Town does not have the money to subsidize this program but was glad that the Town was included on the list.
It was the consensus of the Council to not participate in the swim program.
Meter Readings
Larry Van Every said that he felt that the Deputy Clerk’s time could be better spent by not reading the water meters. Larry Van Every suggested that the customers read their own meters where they are able to do so.
Carrie Roecks felt that it depended on where the meter was and if the citizen was capable of reading the meter. She went on to explain that citizens cannot read their own meters because they are too hard to read. Carrie Roecks felt that it was not a good idea and that the meters would be too hard to read for the average citizen.
Deputy Clerk Gambrel explained that some meters would have to be read by the Town especially the auto read meters.
Larry Van Every said that he was just trying to come up with ideas to reduce costs to the Town.
Mayor Harnois suggested putting slips in the water bills to see how many people could read their own meters and turn in a meter reading.
Steve Meyer said that people would just forget to read the meter and would not submit a meter reading.
Carrie Roecks said that having the meters read is a service that is expected from the Town, and if people choose not to read their own meters the Town could not charge them for failing to read the meter.
Robert Tollefson was concerned about the citizens not reading the meters correctly and turning in wrong meter readings.
It was the consensus of the council to put an article about the issue in the July Newsletter and then put meter reading slips in the August bill to see how many people could or would be willing to read their own meter.
Business Licensing
Larry Van Every feels that the Town needs to enforce its business license ordinance; he further explained this can be done by partnering with the State of Washington.
Mayor Harnois said that partnering with the State would be an option for the Town to pursue.
Larry Van Every explained that to partner with the State it would cost the Town approximately $25.00 to $30.00 for the state’s Information Technology time, and $10 for a license, and $3 for a license renewal. Currently the Town only issues vending licenses.
Mayor Harnois said that the Town would have to set up a link between the State and the Town and inform the businesses that it was partnering with the State to renew business licenses.
Larry Van Every said that there is a waiting list to get on the program.
Carrie Roecks wanted to know what the state process was.
Larry Van Every said that the state would handle all of the rules and regulations associated with the business licenses and the GIS info. Larry Van Every said that he has received written information on the partnering of the State and the Town for business licensing and would share that with anyone if they wanted.
Carrie Roecks said that she could not disagree with the idea.
It was the consensus of the council to not collect back license fees if they pursued this idea.
Happy Daze and Sugar Blossom Glass Shop
Larry Van Every felt that the new business may be considered an adult entertainment business; he then read the Adult Entertainment section of the zoning code, page 87 section 5.8.20 into the record. After some discussion it was the feeling of the council that the new business was not an adult entertainment business.
As they were in the audience, Mayor Harnois introduced Christopher Heck and Dallas Heck as the owners of Happy Daze and Sugar Blossom to the Council and the Citizens present at the Council Meeting.
Mayor Harnois then read a list of violations that the business has or is committing, the list as follows:
1. The access door to the building must be a swinging type of door; the current access door is a roll up over head garage door.
2. The reader board cannot be over 30 square feet and cannot impede the right of way.
3. Signs not –A- frame
4. No retail sale in public right of way
5. The current business needs to blend in.
6. Having the door wide open for a place that requires 18 and over.
Dallas Heck stated that the reader board they are using is ridiculous. Everything questionable was moved to the back of the shop. The garage door will be replaced by a proper door, and it can temporarily remain closed. The items up front are T-shirts and purses. The store in Deer Park is doing well and they currently operate seven other businesses of the same type.
Mayor Harnois said that the Valley store doesn’t have a bunch of stuff out on the sidewalk.
Dallas Heck said that the tinted glass that is seen on the shop in the Valley is no longer needed by State Law. Puffin Glass moved into a building that the Mayor has seen with the tinted glass which was already there before they moved into the store.
Dallas Heck said that their business is not going away and that someone else will be in Rockford if they are not. Dallas Heck went on to explain that they have some ideas to help with revenue for the Town.
Mayor Harnois stated that the Town will monitor their business. The Mayor said that she was not sure if the Town could have stopped their store from opening in Rockford.
Dallas Heck asked that the Town communicate with their Business.
Dallas Heck said that the neighboring owners to her business locked her out of the restroom.
Carrie Roecks said that the Heck’s should have introduced themselves sooner and taken ownership of the situation.
Dallas Heck said that she would keep her employees in check.
Christopher Heck stated that the business has spent $18,000 so far to open the store in Rockford.
Christopher Heck feels that the Town is trying to get the business out of Town. Dallas Heck said that the business has all of its operating licenses.
Mayor Harnois asked if the Town had the clientele for this type of business in Rockford.
Larry Van Every said that the Town is not trying to push the business out; the Town is just trying to regulate it.
Larry Van Every said that the financial risk of opening a new business, according to his strict Constitutionalist views, is just part of doing business and he cannot express sympathy for the amount of money they have spent so far to open in Rockford.
Carrie Roecks said they should comply with the Mayor’s list of corrections.
New Business
Volunteerism
Mayor Harnois said that there has been confusion on volunteerism. Mayor Harnois said that when people work for the town, they either fill out a volunteer form or they get paid.
Kathy Creed mentioned recognizing people who volunteer.
Carrie Roecks will do a spread sheet on what could be done with the volunteers.
Mayor Harnois said that her husband will not be volunteering to mow Primeland Ball Park anymore, and that many of the employees volunteer their time in Rockford as well.
Kathy Creed
Kathy Creed said that the three people at her table at the Public Budget Workshop would have voted for the Sheriff’s contract had they known more information about it.
Fire Levy
Mayor Harnois challenged the Councilmen to call people to get the levy passed and to remind people this is a replacement levy and not a raise in taxes.
Larry Van Every said that in the Mid-west, if a person did not pay the Fire Department Levy the Fire Department did not put the fire out. Larry Van Every also said that State of Washington outlawed contract firefighting 30 years ago.
Public Works
The Public Works Operator said that the Lion’s Club installed a culvert in the ditch in the park.
Thomas Smith said that people shouldn’t walk through the ditch.
Clint Stevenson and the Public Works Operator said they are done with the ditch.
Mayor Harnois said that the code enforcement is being done by her for free, and that the papers for the yellow house are signed for the abatement process.
It was the consensus of everyone at the meeting that Raymond is an issue for all who use the park.
Public Comment
Ivan Willmschen said to put on the reader board or in the water bills that the employees who are working on the composting site are being paid by a WA State grant that funded the composting project. He also stated that the Town needs to get the people out of the trailer behind the yellow house. He further explained that the WA Department of Health could evict the residents from the trailer because they do not have running water.
Art Grewe said that cell phones were being plugged in at the Rockford United Methodist Church sign by those that are waiting for the casino bus.
Bill Creed mentioned that the people at the yellow house and trailer behind it are using the Grange water and electricity without permission.
Robert Tollefson said that he closed the restrooms in the Rockford Mini Mart due to alleged drug use in the restroom, and that Peewee’s trailer is an issue (Trailer behind the Yellow House). Robert Tollefson also said that the Town needs to do something with the problematic nuisance people and the community shouldn’t suffer due to people bilking the system, and he was glad that a call was made about a loose dog near his residence.
Meeting adjourned 9:58 PM
________________ ____________________
John M. Goyke Micki Harnois
Clerk/Treasurer Rockford Mayor
[Editor's note: Town Council news is published when received.]
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