The City Council met in special session on September 4, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers City Hall.
Mayor Lester opened the meeting
Councilmembers present:
Scott Winkler
Mike Peterson
Beryl Grant
Pete Lane
Dylan Canaday
Councilor Farris absent.
City employees present were Chief Drew, Public Works Maintenance Supervisor Mager, Attorney Green and Clerk Kennedy. Public Works Director McFrederick absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MINUTES: The meeting was called to order and the minutes of August 20th were approved as presented by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Grant. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing was held on the proposed alley vacation in Block F of Schmadeka’s 2nd Addition. Laura Smith explained about a year ago they were going to have a green house and there were too many wild animals. They wanted to fence in the area so they built a PVC fence, visited with Bruce Walker and asked if they could gate in the alley. He said that was ok as long as there were no utilities in area. They got a puppy and finished the gates. Then they were told by the City they couldn’t fence/gate the alley. They have lived there 17 years this August and they haven’t seen anyone (utility companies or citizens) use the alley. There is no alley entrance. They’ve maintained the alley as grass, trees and landscaping.
Clerk Kennedy stated all notices to the paper and property owners were completed. The City did not receive any written notices. Public Works Maintenance Supervisor Mager stated there are no City utilities in the alley. The alley does not have an entrance or exists. The hearing closed at 7:37 pm.
Councilor Grant asked if Laura had talked to her neighbors about vacating the alley. Laura stated she visited with those close to her and they had no problem with it. Mayor Lester questioned the overhead lines running in the alley and how they would be accessed if the alley is vacated. Laura stated CenturyLink marked the one little square where they need access and it’s outside the gate. Avista stated they could do the tree trimming using buckets from the road. Randy stated the gates are the full width of alley. Councilor Grant felt the City needed to retain utility access for future use. Councilor Winkler questioned Mager whether the City would ever need access in that alley. Mager stated there is no reason why he’d need the alley. There is no road right now and no driveway approaches.
On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Peterson to vacate the alley located in Block F of Schmadeka’s 2nd Addition, retaining an utility easement for phone and power. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present. Attorney Green will create an ordinance for next meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing was held on the 2018-19 budget. Clerk Kennedy reviewed the amounts per fund. She stated water and sewer had a 3% rate increase and then read the rate increases over 5% including the WWTP dumping fees and pool fees. The hearing closed at 7:49 p.m.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: Public Works Report – Maintenance Supervisor Mager stated the department has worked on the following projects:
• Blade patching North Meadow
• Finished crosswalks and yellow curbs
• Pool is shut down and slowly working through fall maintenance. Boiler is inspected.
• Fixing the asphalt driveway approaches
• Skateboard park gates are in. Maintenance will occur on the equipment during closed times.
• 11 days left before shutting down phosphorus plant.
• Worked with JUB on fire flows for master plant
• Installing a new piece of playground equipment at Pioneer Park
On motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Lane to accept the 8/9/18 Recreation Committee Minutes. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
PIONEER PARK: Mayor Lester explained the City needs to come up with a list of ideas for responsibilities of the City and those for the band shell group. A list of proposed items was reviewed and discussed. Councilor Canaday ask why the group would need to provide a list of donations. Councilor Grant explained that way the City would know the products being donated so it lines up with what the City wants. It was also stated anyone working on the project needs to have a Public Works Contractor license.
Mager stated he and McFrederick have talked quite a bit about this project. They felt there needs to be a project created. They need building plans and a project list with a building permit. That will then dictate what products they can use after the City oks the project. Mager questioned why this isn’t a City project? He felt you’d need to have phases for completion. Councilor Grant questioned if Mager and McFrederick are willing to supervise the project? Mager stated yes the City would supervise. Councilor Canaday questioned what would happen if the project was started but then the band shell group ran out of money. Councilor Grant stated that is the reason why they wouldn’t start until they have all the funds. Mayor Lester questioned the Council if they want the band shell committee to meet with the council as a whole or a committee? A Pioneer Park Committee was formed consisting of Councilors Grant and Winkler, along with Mager and McFrederick. They will get together and then meet with the band shell group.
ORDINANCE NO. 922
(Ordinance No. 922 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE PROVIDING FOR THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 8-5-4 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE MODIFYING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUITY BUY IN FEE; PROVIDING FOR THE “EQUITY BUY IN FEE” FOR THOSE DESIRING TO CONNECT TO THE GRANGEVILLE MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM; RETAINING THE ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES YET UNAMENDED; PROVIDING FOR THE ORDINANCE BECOMING EFFECTIVE UPON ITS PASSAGE, APPROVAL, AND PUBLICATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH.
On motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Winkler, that the rules be suspended, the second and third reading be waived and the ordinance be passed and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Winkler, Lane, Grant, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Ordinance No. 922 duly approved and adopted.
BEER GARDEN: On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the beer garden application for Oktoberfest from 9/27/18-9/29/18, noon to midnight at Heritage Square. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
CATERING PERMIT: On motion by Councilman Peterson, second by Councilor Winkler to approve the catering permit for Rants & Raves Brewery in the Oktoberfest beer garden, 9/27/18-9/29/18, noon to midnight. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
WEED ORDINANCE: Councilor Grant felt a mistake was made with the weed ordinance. She felt it’s not enforceable and it should go back to what it was before. Clerk Kennedy explained City Hall worked with the Fire Chief. They kept a list of properties and when it became a fire hazard City Hall or the Fire Chief would contact owners by mail or letter to have the problem fixed. Chief Drew felt the Council needed to identify the purpose of the ordinance. Is it a minimum standard or is it a fire hazard? Councilor Grant felt it started out to have properties look nicer however she now felt it should be fire hazard only. Councilor Lane stated some properties look nice and others have weeds four feet tall. Mager clarified when he did it previously with City Hall it was never about weeds. He looked at grass and the volume. It is time consuming no matter what. This will be on an agenda in October for additional discussion.
ORDINANCE NO. 923
(Ordinance No. 923 in its entirety on file in the City’s Ordinance File)
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2018, APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $5,897,860.00 TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES OF THE CITY OF GRANGEVILLE FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR; AUTHORIZING A LEVY OF SUFFICIENT TAX UPON THE TAXABLE PROPERTY AND SPECIFYING THE OBJECTS AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH SAID APPROPRIATIONS ARE MADE
On motion by Councilor Peterson, second by Councilor Lane, that the rules be suspended, the second and third reading be waived and the ordinance be passed and adopted. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Canaday, Winkler, Lane, Grant, Peterson. NO: none. The motion passed. Mayor Lester then declared Ordinance No. 923 duly approved and adopted.
BEER GARDEN: On motion by Councilor Winkler, second by Councilor Canaday to approve the beer garden application for Grangeville Border Days Inc. for Olsen’s Mini Bulls State Finals on September 29th, 12pm to midnight at the Grangeville Border Days Arena. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
SIDEWALK WAIVER: Public Works Maintenance Supervisor Mager explained there are no curb and gutter, it has open ditches, poor drainage and the sidewalk would go nowhere. He recommends a waiver. On motion by Councilman Peterson, second by Councilman Lane to renew the indefinite sidewalk waiver for Don and Esther Owen at 1002 North College. Motion carried by a unanimous vote of the Council present.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
_________________________________
Wes Lester – Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Tonya Kennedy – Clerk
