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Moyie Springs City Council minutes, June 6
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July 26, 2012 |
City Council met in regular session June 6,
2012, at the Moyie Springs City Hall.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Doug
Evans. Present were Councilmen Steve Economu,
Chad Farrens, Terry Johnson, Bart Klaus, City
Attorney Dan Featherston, Fire Chief Ken English
and Public Works Supervisor John Nelson.
Discussed the minutes of the special meeting on
May 2, 2012. A motion was made by Steve Economu
and seconded by Terry Johnson to approve the
minutes as written. Motion carried.
Discussed the minutes of the regular meeting on
May 9, 2012. A motion was made by Bart Klaus and
seconded by Steve Economu to approve the minutes
as written. Motion carried.
Discussed the minutes of the joint meeting with
the City of Bonners Ferry, Boundary County
Commissioners, the Kootenai Tribe and the City
of Moyie Springs. The City of Bonners Ferry
hosted the meeting so the minutes were taken by
City Clerk Kris Larson. A motion was made by
Steve Economu and seconded by Chad Farrens to
approve the minutes as written. Motion carried.
Discussed the financial statement. A motion was
made by Terry Johnson and seconded by Bart Klaus
to approve as written. Motion carried.
Lori Johnson, Lila Finley, Ken Baker, Larry
Comer and Mike Sloan attended the meeting.
Ken Baker, Boundary Volunteer Ambulance,
attended to discuss the problems they are having
with the County Commissioners. Ken thanked our
fire department for working with the volunteer
ambulance. Ken Baker said the contract between
the County and the volunteer ambulance is coming
up – the last contract was in 1998. Ken said the
volunteers are going out on 800 calls per year.
The Commissioners are dealing with Bonner County
to come up here at a cost to taxpayers of
$550-$1100 per day. Ken said it will cost
$40,000 this year for education. Mayor Evans
asked when their last day will be? Ken said June
29th at midnight. Ken said the volunteers are
trying to improve the ambulance service. There
are times they can’t transfer patients. They are
a volunteer base and are trying to upgrade. Ken
said the ambulance also stands by for different
county events. Mike Sloan said $550 per day is
for 1 person and 1 ambulance. Terry Johnson
asked the cost with ours, per day? Ken said $220
per day. Ken also said reimbursements are low
and the equipment is outdated. They purchased a
2008 ambulance for $119,000, plus the cost of
stocking it, and their payments are $1500 per
month for 5 years. Ken Baker said the younger
generation doesn’t volunteer. Ken said they are
seeing a gap in funding and rising prices. Ken
said he would like the City of Moyie to put
pressure on the County Commissioners to work
with the volunteer ambulance. Mayor Evans said
Ron Smith said the County doesn’t have the kind
of money the ambulance needs. Ken said by
Friday, they will have an agreement with Bonners
County and it will cost us $550 - $1100 per day.
Steve Economu asked about the cost of going to a
residence and being told they’re not needed? Ken
said they are having problems with billings. Ken
Baker also asked the question what happens if
there’s more than 1 call at a time? Lori Johnson
asked how the County will pay $550 per day but
can’t pay the volunteer ambulance? Lori also
asked what amount the ambulance is asking for?
Ken said the attorneys are talking. Mayor Evans
said the ambulance has been very good in Moyie.
The Council said they will talk to the
Commissioners. Ken Baker said they have gone out
on 800 calls per year for the past 3 years. The
hospital is also nonprofit. Steve Economu asked
if they get paid? Ken said for transports they
get a stipend. Ken Baker said Bonner County has
a standby fee. Ken English said Boundary
Volunteer Ambulance buys what they can from
Bonners Ferry.
Larry Comer attended the meeting to discuss the
sewer system. Larry said the following 3 options
have been discussed, but the 4th has not:
1. Mechanical Treatment, Rapid Infiltration -
$2.5 million
2. Regional Force Main to Bonners Ferry - $2.7
million
3. Aerated Lagoon, Land Application - $3.6
million
4. Recirculation Sand Filter, Large Scale
Absorption System - $1.1 million
Larry said with the 4th option, we would need a
drain system on mill property which consists of
4 fields on about 10 acres. We would need to
talk to IFG about the use of their 10 acres – we
would need an easement and the cost of this
option would be about $1.147 million. Sandy
asked about DEQ approving this option is we
didn’t own the property? Larry said we would
have to have a permanent easement or a long term
lease. Larry said the next step would be a
hydrogeological investigation and
nutrient-pathogen study, which would cost
$10,000. Larry said DEQ would increase our grant
and pay ½ of that amount. An Archaeological
survey of the proposed treatment site may be
required, in order to obtain clearance on the
Environmental Information Document – the cost
would be $5,000 and DEQ may pay ½ . This option
would cost $14,000 per household already on the
sewer system. John Nelson asked if 1/3 of the
cost is for digging? Larry said yes. Terry
Johnson said he has been involved with domed
septic systems and some have failed. Mayor Evans
asked the council’s opinion? Chad Farrens &
Terry Johnson said this is the best option.
Larry said he hopes this option will come in
cheaper. Less area is needed with domes. Mike
Sloan asked how much increased capacity there
would be? Larry said we have about 70 on the
system now and this will handle 100 residences.
Larry said a flow meter needs to be installed.
The meter should be installed prior to sending
the letter to DEQ. The meter will cost about
$8,000 and DEQ may pay ½ .
Mike Sloan attended the meeting and invited the
council to the preopening of Super 1 on Tuesday,
June 12 from 6 – 8 PM.
Discussed the contribution to IFG for their
annual BBQ. A motion was made by Chad Farrens
and seconded by Bart Klaus to contribute $300.00
– 3 - $50.00 gift certificates from the Moyie
Springs Store and 3 - $50.00 gift certificates
from Super 1. Motion carried.
Sandy will contact the City of Bonners Ferry to
see if anyone is attending the AIC Conference
and will vote for the City of Moyie.
Discussed the Ordinance concerning council
absences. Dan Featherston said we can’t kick a
councilman off the council, but can discipline
them. Dan explained the Ordinance and the
council will take a copy home and go over it and
return any changes to Sandy – she will then send
the changes to Dan and he will write the
ordinance to be approved at the July 11th
meeting.
Discussed having Toni Hackwith attend the July
11th meeting to explain the 2010-11 audit to the
council. Sandy said that service isn’t part of
our audit fee, so there would be a charge
starting next year. The council decided she
doesn’t need to come.
The Time Certificate at Panhandle State Bank,
that matured on May 18th renewed for 3 months @
$0.15%.
Discussed the Comprehensive Plan. Dan
Featherston will send letters to the City of
Bonners Ferry, Northern Lights and Bonneville
Power concerning electric transmission
corridors. Dan will set it up for adoption at
the July 11th meeting and check the statutes.
The council will also check through the draft
ordinance.
Discussed the KVRI meeting. Mayor Evans said
Paul Hessburg, a Research Landscape Ecologist
for the US Forest Service, Pacific NW Research
Station in Wenatchee, WA. gave a presentation.
Mr. Hessburg studies fires and said no fires
have caused more bug damage. Mr. Hessburg is
also for logging, if done right.
Discussed the Volunteer Fire Department. Ken
English reported: May 10 – Ambulance assist; May
11 – Idaho Transportation meeting; May 12 –
Ambulance assist; May 13 – fire call; May 16 –
Fire Chiefs meeting; May 19 – Ambulance assist;
May 25 – Fire Chiefs meeting; May 27 – fire
call. Ken said they installed a Ham Radio
antenna on the fire shop. There will be a
pancake feed June 16th at 7 AM at Paradise
Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. Ken said there have
been 40 firefighter deaths so far this year.
There was a gas leak in Eastport and the
Kootenai River reached flood stage yesterday,
but is back down to 62’ this morning.
Discussed the Water & Sewer systems. John Nelson
reported we pumped a high on May 31st of 216,900
gpd; a low on the 6th of 60,200 gpd; an average
of 134,819 gpd and a total for the month of May
of 4,179,400 gallons. John said he replaced the
meter on Walnut St. at Rivers Mobile Home Park –
the valve was leaking. John said he also
replaced the drain line at the catch basin at
the filter plant – it was plugged. John also
started ripping up E. Railroad St. – he put on 4
loads of rock yesterday. Discussed the building
at the well site. John said he talked to Scott
at IFG, and the mill will supply the wire for
the building. John said Wil, at Boundary
Electric, said he thinks we can go back to 200
amp service – it’s now 400 amp. John said he has
a 200 amp meter. Wil is in Alaska right now so
John will talk to him when he gets back.
Sandy read the 1st reading of Ordinance #116 –
Cross Connection Control.
John said he would like to put a culvert at the
intersection of Canyon View and McGinnis, and he
has a culvert. The council approved. He would
also like to move Ed Hanson’s and Adam Michel’s
water meters out to the road. The line for
Oliver Andrews meter can be run through the
front wall of his house and Nati Summerfield’s
would have to dug in around her house. John said
just moving 2 of the meters would relieve the
pressure on that line. The council approved.
Sandy told the council Mike Tompkins is no
longer on the city BC policy, effective June 1,
2012, which will save the city $945.73 per
month. The city was also reimbursed $432.40 for
the May premium for Della Farrens and didn’t
have to pay the June premium of $432.40 for her.
The divorce was retroactive to March 19, 2012.
Sandy also sent Blue Cross a letter asking for
reimbursement of the April premium for Della in
the amount of $432.40.
Discussed the City Hall sign and whether it
should hang or be rigid. The council decided it
should be rigid from the bottom and should be
71/2 feet off the ground to the bottom of the
sign.
Discussed the bills. A motion was made by Steve
Economu and seconded by Chad Farrens to pay the
bills. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded
by Steve Economu to adjourn. Motion carried.
/s/
Attest: City Clerk |
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