MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO HELD JANUARY 4TH, 2012.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00PM BY KIRK L. HANSEN, MAYOR.
ROLL CALL SHOWED THE FOLLOWING PRESENT: KIRK L. HANSEN, MAYOR
RANDALL E. PRESCOTT, PRES.
MITCHELL J. HART
LYNDA LEE
TODD B. SMITH
EXCUSED:
ALSO PRESENT: Mark Steele Alan Skinner, Director
CHAT TV Staff Tausha Vorwaller, Clerk
David Zimmerman Clyde Nelson, Attorney
Kathy Ray
McKay Womack Greydon Wright
Paul Amoah Charles Fryar
The invocation was given by David Zimmerman, Mayor Hansen then led everyone in the
‘Pledge of Allegiance’.
The Council reviewed the minutes from the last meeting and the payroll and accounts payable for December 2011. Councilmember Prescott moved to dispense with the reading of the December 7th, 2011 minutes and approve them as written along with the payroll and accounts payable for December, 2011. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
(SEE ATTACHED PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS PAYABLE REGISTERS FOR DETAIL)
McKay Womack and Paul Amoah, ISU graduate students who also work for a company called Bengal Solutions made a presentation to the Mayor and Council of a community center feasibility study. The feasibility study was funded with a USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant with a $750 match from the City. The gentlemen reviewed in detail the communitie’s weaknesses and strengths and the opportunities available for use of a community center. The best scenario included collaborating with the Library, the local industry and the County. If the mining and industry companies helped fund the start up costs then they could use the facility to show case and promote their type of business. The library could provide after school programs which qualify for grant funds to help offset the annual operation of the facility. In addition to a library the other types of facilities considered were gymnasium, pool, meeting rooms, kitchen and technology center. Construction costs were estimated at $3.85 million and annual operating expenses of $177,000. The study suggested that only 45% of the operating costs could be generated through services and programs and the rest would have to come from grants, donations and fund raising. The final recommendation was to pursue finding the funding for construction and if constructed there would be enough support to sustain the facility. The Mayor thanked Mr. Womack and Mr. Amoah for a job well done.
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Attorney Nelson reviewed the procedure of approving the cable TV franchise agreement and also addressed the concerns raised by CHAT TV at a previous meeting. It was verified that CHAT TV’s contract is separate from the City’s and not affected by this franchise agreement. Councilmember Hart introduced Ordinance #632 entitled ‘AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SODA SPRINGS, IDAHO, PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND INDEPENDENT CABLE SYSTEMS OF IDAHO, LLC; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH SAID ORDINANCE PRIOR TO ITS ADOPTION; PROVINGID FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE. A motion was then made by Councilmember Prescott and seconded by Councilmember Smith that the rules requiring ordinances to be read on three separate occasions be dispensed with and that the ordinance be read once in full. A roll call showed the following vote:
Those voting aye: Mitch Hart Those voting nay: none
Randy Prescott
Todd Smith Absent: none
Lynda Lee
Motion Carried.
Attorney Nelson read Ordinance #632 at length. Councilmember Smith then moved to approve the adoption of Ordinance #632. Councilmember Prescott seconded the motion for adoption. A roll call showed the following vote:
Those voting aye: Todd Smith Those voting nay: none
Randy Prescott
Mitch Hart
Lynda Lee Absent: none
Motion Carried.
(SEE ATTACHED COPY OF ORDINANCE #632 - ORIGINAL ON FILE)
Renewal of the pole agreement with Independent Cable, allowing the use of the City’s electric poles was considered. Councilmember Hart moved to approve the renewal of the pole agreement with Independent Cable for a period of 5 years ending on December 31, 2015. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
Director Skinner gave a short update on the progress of the treatment plant project. He reported that flow was initiated through the new headwork’s building on December 20th meeting the requirements for EPA. Tom Hepworth, DEQ Engineering Manager and Craig Borrenpohl DEQ Water Quality Engineer viewed and inspected the process.
Payment requests for the WWTP were presented for review. One from Lakeside Equipment for the automatic screens, one for Forsgren for construction observation and testing, one from D&S Electric for the motor control center and one from Mountain West Electric, the electrical contractor for labor and materials. Councilmember Hart moved to approve authorizing the payment of the four invoices as submitted, seconded by Councilmember Lee. All in favor, motion carried.
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The 2013 Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) project scheduled for Highway 30 was reviewed. ITD has asked for the City’s opinion on installing sidewalk on the north side of the highway from 2nd East to 3rd East which is from the Liquor Store to the Chevron. Director Skinner detailed several issues with installing the sidewalk. He explained that the installation would be done at ITD’s expense but would then convert to the property owners to maintain. Some of the obstacles will be avoiding a sewer line, a fuel tank monitoring well, storm water drains, manholes and the need for two businesses to move their signs. Greydon Wright, ITD representative was present and commented that the State is pursuing the idea but is not guaranteeing that they will install the sidewalk. The Council agreed to have Director Skinner do a survey of the effected property owners and see if they would like it done.
Clerk Vorwaller asked the Mayor and Council if she should proceed with informing the employees of the upcoming change of the health insurance to the Idaho Independent Intergovernmental Agency (III-A). Mayor Hansen again expressed his reservations about the plan. Councilmember Smith suggested that previous concerns about providers had been addressed. Councilmember Prescott mentioned that there may be initial start up problems but felt it was going to work out and be a good move. Employee meetings and the information that needs to be shared with employees was discussed. Clerk Vorwaller will prepare a letter and set up the meetings.
Life insurance options to replace the Assurant Health life insurance was reviewed. Three quotes were provided. Clerk Vorwaller suggested that the Lifewise quote looked most favorable with the best dependent coverage and better coverage for newborns. Councilmember Smith pointed out that the MetLife quote was comparable and would not require individual applications. The Mayor and Council considered the options. Councilmember Hart moved to approve the policy with Lifewise as the new group life insurance coverage for the City employees replacing Assurant Health. Councilmember Lee seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Hansen administered the oath of office to Councilmember Lynda Lee re-elected to her 3rd term and to Councilmember Mitch Hart re-elected to his 5th term at the City election held November 8th, 2011. The Mayor congratulated them and presented them with their certificates of election.
The Mayor reviewed and discussed with the Council their past assignments. The Council all agreed to keep their current assignments which are as follows:
Councilmember Prescott – Police, Planning & Zoning and Equipment
Councilmember Lee – Library, GSSCDC, Parks & Recreation and Tree Committee
Councilmember Hart – Power, Fire and Sewer
Councilmember Smith – Streets, Water and Airport
Mayor Hansen thanked the Council.
Mayor Hansen pointed out the importance of the Council President being able to act in his JANUARY 4TH, 2012
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absence. The Mayor asked for nominations for Council President. Councilmember Hart
nominated Councilmember Prescott for Council President, seconded by Councilmember Lee. Councilmember Hart then moved that nominations cease. All in favor, motion carried. Being no other nominations, Mayor Hansen entertained a motion to accept that nomination and appointment of Councilmember Prescott as Council President by acclamation. Councilmember Hart moved to approve the election of Councilmember Prescott as Council President, seconded by Councilmember Smith. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilmember Prescott moved to approve entering into executive session pursuant to I.C. 67-2345(1)(b) to consider the evaluation of a public employee. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. A roll call showed the following vote:
Those voting aye: Mitch Hart Those voting nay: none
Randy Prescott
Lynda Lee Absent: none
Todd Smith
Motion Carried.
Councilmember Hart moved to exit executive session, seconded by Councilmember Smith. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilmember Smith moved to approve a wage increase for Director Skinner of 60 cents designating him as a DH5-6 on the City’s 2012 grade and step pay scale. Councilmember Prescott seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilmember Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:00pm, seconded by Councilmember Prescott. All in favor, motion carried.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THIS 18TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2012.
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Kirk L. Hansen, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Tausha Vorwaller, Clerk