Town of Waterville
Council Minutes
MARCH 7, 2011
Regular meeting was called to order by Mayor Royal J. DeVaney at 7:30 p.m. All Councilmembers were present with the exception of Councilmember Huber. A moment of silence was observed followed by The Pledge of Allegiance.
• Minutes of the February 22, 2011 regular Council meeting were approved on a motion by Snyder, and seconded by Koenig. Unanimously approved.
• February 2011 Payroll for $25,028.01 (Wts. #5338 – 5352) and Accounts Payable for $26,695.06 (Wts. #13289 – 13306) were approved for payment on a motion by Olin and seconded by Koenig. Unanimously approved.
POLICING REPORT / HUMANE SOCIETY REPORT
Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal presented the Policing Report for February 2011 detailing 3 incidents of burglary, a felony warrant, a possible theft, and reported drug use off campus by two high school students as incidents of interest. The department met activity goals of 224.5 hours for the month.
Gjesdal also informed Council that his agency is training a drug and patrol dog. Training will take place out of state, with the goal of having a canine patrol unit in place by summer 2011.
LIVESTOCK PERMIT 2011-14: HALEY HENSON – PYGMY GOAT
• Council approved Livestock Permit #2011-14 to Haley Henson for one pygmy goat on a motion by Snyder, and a second by Koenig. Unanimous vote.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Lois Garrett presented Mayor Royal J. DeVaney with a scrapbook featuring news articles and pictures of Town activities that occurred from 2005-2009. The scrapbook titled Royal Memories is the third edition in an ongoing series.
RECYCLE CENTER ADDITION PROPOSAL: ELITE WOODWORKING
• Council approved a proposal to add walls to the new recycle center addition to Elite Woodworking for $3,113.28 on a motion by Olin and a second by Snyder. Unanimous vote.
The construction will be funded by a $25,000 grant awarded by Department of Ecology through Douglas County Solid Waste.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS – ENGINEERING SERVICES - RECONSTRUCTION OF CHELAN AVENUE FROM LOCUST STREET TO ELM STREET
• Council approved advertising a request for qualifications for engineering services for the reconstruction of Chelan Avenue from Locust Street to Elm Street on a motion by Koenig, and a second by Hawks. Unanimous vote.
The Town was recently awarded a grant for the reconstruction of Chelan Avenue from Locust Street to Elm Street from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) for $653,630.00 for construction in 2012. However, TIB will fund the required engineering services in 2011. The Town must contribute $34,365.00 matching share, bringing the total estimated project cost to $687,995.00.
SWIM POOL UPDATE
Mayor DeVaney informed Council that Town Attorney Steve Smith, Clerk-Treasurer Marsha Peterson, and he met with Douglas County Assessor Jim Ruud to discuss the possibility of forming a Metropolitan Park District to fund, manage, and operate the swim pool. Another option discussed was the Town placing an excess levy on the ballot at the next general election to raise tax revenues specifically for funding the pool only.
Handouts with financial information about the pool over the past five years were distributed among the audience. Comments included suggestions that all tax revenues for the Park Fund are included as well in the summarized information to obtain a more accurate financial picture, and that the Town might consider an optional $2.00 fee on each monthly utility bill to help raise money for the pool.
Clerk-Treasurer Marsha Peterson revealed a plan to reduce pool costs in 2011 whereby Deputy Clerk Treasurer Erica Browning would become the pool manager. Other elements of the plan included a new 2011 Pool Schedule that included closing the pool on Sundays but making it available for rental, reducing the number of lifeguards hired to five, closing the pool at 8:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, and combining the lap and parent-tot swims from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Peterson stated that should the additional duties assumed by Browning and herself interfere with regular Town Hall operations, a pool manager could be promoted from the current staff. Peterson also relayed that she had called Wilbur, Bridgeport, and Odessa to inquire as to how their municipal pools were funded noting that the resounding response was community volunteerism as a key component. Peterson offered to research telephone utility tax revenues, to assure that the Town is accessing all possible revenue sources.
• Council voted unanimously to approve the new 2011 Pool Schedule with a motion by Snyder and a second by Koenig.
Several people in the audience signed up to be placed on a Pool Committee, but requested that the Town provide more information before it initiated a plan of action.
ADVERTISE FOR LIFEGUARDS FOR 2011 SWIM POOL SEASON
• Koenig moved to advertise for lifeguards for the 2011 swim pool season, with a second from Olin. Unanimous approval.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Windy Osborne reported that a committee has been formed to host a special venue in Pioneer Park during the North Central Washington Fair in August as a fundraiser for Waterville School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). Formation of this committee came in the wake of the Town of Waterville Revitalization meeting held February 16th, in an effort to create more business and activity in the downtown area.
MAYOR’S REPORT
……Mayor DeVaney, representative to the Douglas County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC), informed Council that the Town will need to put garbage services out to bid, as the present contract with Consolidated Disposal, Inc. ends December 31, 2011. Mayor DeVaney requested that Town Attorney Steve Smith review the policy submitted by Countywide Solid Waste defining minimum service levels for service to be provided to residential and non-residential solid waste generators.
• The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p. m. on a motion from Snyder and a second from Koenig. Unanimous vote.
