REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 22, 2013
7:00 P.M.
Note to persons
reviewing this document: This is not a verbatim transcript. While an attempt
has been made to document pertinentpoints, these minutes contain only a summary
of the discussion and voting.
Mayor Ed Huber called the regular council
meeting to order on January 22, 2013 at 7:00 pm. Council members present: Mary
Branon, Valerie Spurrell and Brian Kauffman.
Harry Gibbons and George Davidson are both
absent due to illness.
Others present: Randy Noble from TD&H,
Derek Knecht and Cheryl Loeffler.
Approval of Minutes
ACTION
Brian Kauffman motioned to approve the minutes
from the January 8, 2013 regular council meeting, seconded by Mary Branon. The motion carried.
ACTION
Approval of the Claims
Brian Kauffman motioned and Mary Branon
seconded to authorize claim vouchers #16949 through #16953 for $884.28 dated 12-31-12 and claim vouchers #16946-16948
and #16954 through 16963 for $12,135.42 and EFTs for $1,413.40 dated 1-22-13 as presented. The motion carried.
12-13-12 1-8-13
Claims: $ 884.28 $7,336.21
Payroll: 00.0 0 6,212.61
Total Claims: $ 884.28 $13,548.82
Check Register signed by: Mary Branon, Brian
Kauffman, and Valerie Spurrell.
Engineer’s Report
TD&H
Randy Noble from TD&H was present at
tonight’s meeting. He presented council with Consultant Supplemental Agreement #3 for $546.25, which would provide
reimbursement for costs incurred for the lighting inspection upon completion of the work. This inspection by
Trindera was not included in the design bid for the lighting project.
ACTION
Brian motioned to approve Consultant
Supplemental Agreement #3 for $546.25 additional costs of the final electrical inspection for the E. Main Rehabilitation
Project; seconded by Valerie Spurrell. The motion was approved.
Relocation of the light pole near rail
crossing
Randy explained that when the project was
designed, they were unable to locate the railroad’s standards for the distance for structures beside the tracks but the WAC
480-60-990 is 8’6” from centerline. The light pole adjacent to the siding track has raised safety concerns with UPRR and
they are requiring having it moved. Terrel Anderson from UPRR has stated that the railroad’s standard is 15’.
With Randy’s documentation, the base of the pole is 6’ from the nearest track
and 8’4” from centerline, which is still less than
WAC standards. Council asked Randy why he did not verify distances with the railroad before the project began and the
response was that he probably should have and it was their mistake.
Randy has three recommendations for the
council:
1. Leave it where it is.
2. Remove it completely and use the pole in
the next project or
3. Relocate the pole to where UPRR requires it
to be.
He then presented council with proposals from
ARC Electric for $1,500 to remove the pole and $8310 for relocation.
Sales tax was not included in the bid amount.
He stated that TIB had given preliminary approval for the additional funds and that TD&H was prepared to cover
Fairfield’s 5% as Ed had expressed in previous conversations with Randy that
the council was not prepared to approve this
expense.
Even though this project is funded by a grant,
the TIB funds come from the state gas tax. The town’s 5% is funded from the utility tax so the council questioned Randy
why taxpayers have to pay for a mistake by the engineer on the placement of the light. Ed also expressed that removing it
completely would also be a waste of taxpayer’s funds since it has already been paid. Both Ed and the council expressed that
they will not have any role in the abuse of grant monies and taxpayer funds.
Randy is unable to make any decision and will
talk with the regional manager to see how TD&H will handle it. It was expressed that Fairfield does not want to
pursue this legally and wants to keep this civil but legal advice will be
brought in if needed.
Cameron Reilly, LLC Change order #1
It was brought to the attention of council
that Cameron Reilly’s Change Order #1 dated 11-6-2012, has not been approved. This change order was for compensation for miscellaneous
items that had been approved and paid during the project.
ACTION
Mary motioned to approve Cameron Reilly’s
Change Order #1 for $28,405.17; seconded by Brian. The motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Approval of communications package for
shop
Don Adams from Controls Instruments Automation
has confirmed that the landline can be removed from the town shop and something like Magic Jack or Vonage can be
used for the telemetry system. Mary has the cell phone booster from Sprint and that is ready to be installed.
Frontier will be contacted to remove the landline and install their internet.
Don also presented a bid to move the telemetry
system from town hall to the town shop with a base bid of $1,684 and not to exceed $3,484. These do not include sales tax.
ACTION
Mary motioned to bring in internet,
remove the landline and purchase Vonage or a similar product for the shop and to approve the bid from Don Adams to move
the telemetry system to the shop not the exceed $3,484.00 which does not include sales tax; seconded by Brian. The
motion passed.
New employee review process
The next time the personnel handbook is
updated, Section 3.1 NEW EMPLOYEES will be changed to include part-time employee review period of six months.
Full-time employee review period will remain at three months with an additional three-month period at the discretion of the
mayor.
CDBG 2013 funding
Notification was received that the town has
received preliminary approval for full funding for the 2013 Sewer Improvement Project. The next step is a public hearing in
March. Cheryl did note that the total funds available from the federal government had not been received yet so the
amount could change.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2013-1 Fee Schedule
ACTION
Mary motioned to approve Resolution 2013-1-Fee
schedule pending stated changes; seconded by Brian. The motion
carried.
Sidewalk at Thiel Park
A concerned citizen has brought the fact that
the new sidewalk at Thiel Park is impassable with snow and ice to council’s attention. Ed has discussed this with Derek
and currently the town does not have the equipment it would take to clear this sidewalk and the pathway through Thiel Park.
For an immediate remedy, Derek will ask Greg Wernz if he would be interested in clearing the sidewalks and what
he would charge. For a long-term solution, Cheryl and Jeannie will look into grant funding possibilities and adding it to
the next budget cycle.
Vintage Post Office
This information was passed on to Fairfield
Pharmacy.
Animal hit on Highway 27
A dog was hit on Highway 27 Wednesday and
staff was not sure who should be called to take of it since the owner was not immediately identified. (The owner was able to
get the animal off the highway). Sheriff Ozzie was notified and asked to send a deputy down to monitor the speeding
traffic in that area. The sheriff was also asked about the progress of the SpoKanimal contract. He said that he has
passed it on to the commissioners. It has been determined that SpoKanimal should be called if no owner can be located.
SRTC Interlocal Agreement
ACTION
Brian motioned to approve the SRTC Interlocal
Agreement; seconded by Mary. The motion carried.
Public Works Report
WATER
WWTF
Pump #1 in lift station #1 was pulled last week and debris removed to find a worn out impellor and cutting edge. A new replacement motor has been ordered with the upgraded impellor design with a double vein cutting edge guaranteed not to clog.
Retrofit kit has been ordered to bring the damaged pump up to grade with a new double cutting impellor also. This will serve as the spare until pump #2 can be pulled and upgraded as well.
Testing is on schedule and is well within testing limits, effluent has a PH of 7.1, T.P. and T.S.S. are also looking great.
Screen room drains are being cleaned for overflow control.
ROADS
-
Sides of the roads and drains are being opened up for snowmelt off.
- Plowing and sanding when needed.
Other
Volunteer appreciation brunch is Sunday.
Cheryl asked for three breakfast casseroles to be made and to have council provide clean-up duties.
Complaints/Compliments
Thiel Park sidewalk complaint was addressed
above.
Adjourn:
The regular meeting adjourned 8:53 pm.
______________ _______________________
Mayor Ed Huber
Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Loeffler
