Moyie Springs City Council minutes, August 8

City Council met in regular session August 8, 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 regular meeting on July 11, 2012.  A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Terry Johnson to approve the minutes as written.  Motion carried.

The minutes for the special meeting on July 25, 2012 will be approved at the September 5, 2012 meeting because the approval was not put on the agenda for this meeting.

Discussed the financial statement.  A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded by Bart Klaus to approve as written.  Motion carried.

Lori Johnson, Lila Finley and Mike Sloan attended the meeting.

Mike Sloan, EDC, attended the meeting to discuss Broadband.  Mike said there was a meeting in Sandpoint on Tuesday, and they went over the bond agreement.  Mike said there were some changes made and the contracts should be back by Friday and then the council will vote.  They should have the approvals by the 1^st week in September and then $18,000,000 in bonds will be issued.  Mike said PAC is liable for the bonds.  It will take close to a year to get broadband installed.  Mike will be leaving his position as head of EDC the end of August and David Sims will replace him.

A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Chad Farrens authorizing Mayor Evans to sign the Antiterrorism coverage with ICRMP.  Motion carried.

Discussed the tentative budget.  A motion was made by Bart KIaus and seconded by Chad Farrens to approve the tentative budget in the amount of $832,437.54 and set September 5, 2012, 7 PM for the budget hearing.  Motion carried.

Discussed sewer options.  John Nelson said he’s not too enthused about the facility plan options done by Welch Comer.  John said there is no discussion about the current lagoon.  John said ours was designed to accommodate 100 – 110 families and currently there are 70 families on the system.  John said what Welch Comer is doing only accommodates 100 families.  John said Welch Comer has not given us any options for upgrading our system.  John said DEQ is not happy with our discharge.  John would like to have John Tindall, with DEQ, come up here and go over the sewer system with him.  John said we don’t have an EPA discharge permit because we don’t discharge into the river.  John talked to Mike Woodward today.  John said he has read 99% of the study and he isn’t sure that’s all the options we have.  John would like to see more options in the study.  We don’t have a discharge permit so we don’t have to deal with DEQ or EPA on the discharge.  Terry Johnson asked if we’ve ever had testing done?  John said a long time ago.  There is a lot of information in the study, but not why we have to replace our treatment system. 

Ken English said just the fact we’re asking for advice would look better.  Mike Sloan said dealing with EPA is a very hard process.  John said we have to do a leak test soon.  John also said Welch Comer hasn’t done anything wrong, but haven’t given us enough options.  The Council agreed that John could have John Tindall come up and go over the sewer system. 

A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded by Steve Economu to have Sandy read  the 3^rd title reading of the Cross Connection Ordinance.  Motion carried.

A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded by Bart Klaus to approve a summary publication of the Cross Connection Control Ordinance at the September 5^th meeting.  Motion carried.

Discussed Phase 2 of the landscaping project.  Lori Johnson said the front of the City Hall property looks good, but the back doesn’t.  Lori said we should have the hillside behind the building sprayed to kill the weeds.  Lori asked what we are doing with the former Estaline Reader property?  It also needs to be sprayed for weeds.  Lori said John should talk to Duke, Boundary County Noxious Weeds, and Jim Tucker to find out the cost to spray the 2 pieces of property.  Lori said well maintained soil doesn’t grow weeds.

Sandy told the council Panhandle State Bank changed their policy, and we will no longer receive interest on our checking accounts.  Discussed the Time Certificate #2904066, that matures August 17, 2012.  A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded by Steve Economu to let the certificate automatically renew for another 3 months.  Motion carried.

Discussed the Volunteer Fire Department.  Ken English reported the following:  July 17^th – Ambulance assist;  July 18^th – Accident on the bridge;  July 19^th – Ambulance assist;  July 25^th – Ambulance assist;  July 27^th – Ambulance assist.  Sandy told Ken people in Rivers Mobile Home Park have been burning.  Ken said there is absolutely no burning allowed.  Ken said we’ve had no fires and the trucks are running good.  Ken also said 6 pagers have dead batteries and he will install new batteries.  Ken said the Commissioners and Boundary Volunteer Ambulance have come to an agreement and it should be reported in the next BF Herald.  Ken said he will probably be on the board for the ambulance.

Discussed the Water & Sewer systems.  John Nelson reported we pumped a high on July 10^th of 506,100 gpd; a low on the 21^st of 113,300 gpd; an average of 238,861 gpd and a total for the month of July of 7,704,700 gallons.  John said he doesn’t know why we had such a high usage on the 10^th .  John told the council concrete will be poured tomorrow for the well site building.   Idaho Forest Group mill has water flowing over the hill and we have bark & rocks on our well site.  The mill is supposed to fix the problem.  John said East Railroad St. will get chip coated next week.  John said he put one sleeve under McGinnis St. and will wait to finish until the bridge project is completed.  John is replacing the starter on the air compressor in the back of the work truck. 

Lila Finley said she was told we extended the city limits past her house.  She was told that is not true.  She was told that road is still private. 

Discussed the Comp. plan.  Dan Featherston said as soon as he gets a letter concerning the power corridor we can move forward.

Steve Economu asked if it would be possible not to show the whole social security number on the pay checks – just the last four digits?  Sandy said she would check to see how that could be done.  Steve also said we need a dry erase board for the wall in the meeting room.  John will check prices.  Mike Sloan will check with the City of Bonners Ferry because they had one that they took down and maybe we could have it.

Discussed the bills.  A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Bart Klaus to pay the bills.  Motion carried.

A motion was made by Bart Klaus and seconded by Terry Johnson to adjourn.  Motion carried.

/s/

Attest:  City Clerk