Minutes of the Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Soda Springs, Caribou s9

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SODA

SPRINGS, CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO HELD SEPTEMBER 5TH, 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.

LYNDA LEE

TODD B. SMITH EXCUSED: MITCHELL J. HART

ALSO PRESENT: Mark Steele

Alan Skinner, Director

David Naccarato

Tausha

Vorwaller, Clerk

Joel Stobie

Clyde Nelson, Attorney

Carol Alworth

Charles Fryar

Joe Rice

The invocation was given by Carol Alworth, Mayor Hansen then led everyone in the

‘Pledge of Allegiance’.

Councilmember Hart was excused. The Council reviewed the minutes from the last meeting and the payroll and accounts

payable. Councilmember Prescott moved to dispense with the reading of the August 15th,

2012 minutes and approve them as written along with the payroll and accounts payable for

August, 2012. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.

(SEE ATTACHED ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND PAYROLL REGISTERS FOR DETAIL)

David Naccarato and Joel Stobie of McKinstry presented the completed energy audit of the City’s facilities. The summary review included potential savings by installing

programmable thermostats in several City buildings along with replacing 65 street lights

with new technology decreasing wattage and increasing bulb life. Mr. Naccarato

recommended holding onto this information until the hydro and generation studies were

complete to decide whether to have McKinstry move forward with any of the

improvements. He explained that there will be a cost savings if the projects are done

together. Councilmember Smith suggested that the City could install the thermostats

ourselves. Mr. Stobie mentioned that some rewiring may be required. Mr. Naccarato

mentioned that if the City waited and decided to have McKinstry perform the work then the cost of the study would be rolled into the cost of the projects. Mr. Naccarato reported that

the hydro study is about two weeks away from completion and off-takers for the

generation plant will be contacted in the next week. Monsanto and Agrium will be

contacted as potential off-takers even though they probably are not able to make a long

term commitment. Mayor Hansen suggested waiting to make a decision on how to proceed

until the other studies are complete as recommended.

TH SEPTEMBER 5 , 2012

Two pay applications for Forsgren Associates for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

were reviewed. Director Skinner explained that the final design invoice had been paid and

these invoices are for construction management. Director Skinner mentioned that the

second DEQ loan with the lower interest rate will be used first if possible but labor has to

be charged to the first loan. Director Skinner informed the Mayor and Council of a pump

failure due to the power outage over the weekend. DEQ and EPA will be notified of the

incident, thanks to Dan Squires who was on weekend duty the problem was found and

corrected quickly. Director Skinner also mentioned that there were some issues with the

concrete meeting specifications. The issue has been discussed with Edstrom and it will be resolved before further concrete is poured. Most of the secondary treatment equipment is

here and the contractor is trying to get everything lined up to meet the schedule but it will

be really tight. They are currently working 12 hours, six days a week. Councilmember

Smith moved to approve the two pay applications for Forsgren Associates, seconded by

Councilmember Prescott. All in favor, motion carried.

Mayor Hansen commented on the smoke-free park issue. He thanked everyone for their

efforts in trying to make our parks smoke-free and reviewed the Council’s past decision on

the issue. The Council did not support an ordinance but passed a resolution and agreed to encourage no smoking in the parks by putting up signs. The Mayor mentioned that there

were some smokers at the salmon dinner in City Park that made it miserable for some to

enjoy the dinner. Councilmember Smith asked if there had been an ordinance in place if

the police would have been called to the park to enforce it. Mayor Hansen commented that

he knows the smokers would have been very offended and probable caused a scene if they

were asked to stop smoking. The Mayor and Council agree it is a difficult thing to enforce.

The Mayor and Council all agreed that more signage would help and discussed where to

locate the signs. It was also suggested that portable signs be available for posting around

the tables for big events. Director Skinner will get enough signs to place more in all the parks and to make some portable ones. Mayor Hansen commented that he feels the

resolution and signage has made an impact.

The Mayor and Council discussed the recent vandalism to the parks restrooms and a

memorial bench by the skate park. Mayor Hansen would like to set a $1000 reward for

information that leads to conviction and prosecute to the full extent of the law. Mayor

Hansen expressed his frustration with spending the citizen’s money to provide facilities

that are then vandalized. Councilmember Lee asked that funds be budgeted for security

cameras stating that the vandalism is disgusting and costs so much money. Attorney Nelson reminded the Council that an ordinance regulating the times the parks were open

for use could help with the vandalism giving the police officers more authority to stop and

question people in the park after hours. Chief of Police Rice mentioned that as a

community service project the drug court participants will be putting the bench back in

place at the skate park. Chief Rice also mentioned that the users of the skate park have no

respect for the city facilities and property. The Council discussed the park hour’s ordinance

and whether it is necessary. Councilmember Smith mentioned installing timed locks on the

restrooms. Mayor Hansen asked Councilmember Prescott to investigate the options for

security cameras.

Councilmember Smith and Councilmember Lee reported on attending a meeting sponsored

by the Idaho State Utility Coordination Council and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

The reason for the meeting was to encourage the formation of a local utility council made

up of representatives from the power, gas and phone companies along with City and

County representatives. The purpose of the group would be to coordinate and install improvements all at the same time along with educating the public and contractors about

the use of Dig Line. One of the representatives would need to step forward and organize

the group by creating a contact list and calling an initial meeting to get things going.

The Mayor and Council agree that the City needs a representative on the committee and

encourages the County or any other interested party to step forward and get it started.

The Council reviewed an amendment to the City’s health benefits plan document with the

Idaho Independent Intergovernmental Authority (III-A). Councilmember Smith who is also

the City’s broker for the III-A plan explained that the amendment will make the City’s plan more consistent with the other plans in the group and all the changes are a benefit to our

employees compared to the original plan. Councilmember Prescott agreed that all the

changes were positive and brings the plan more in-line with others. Councilmember

Prescott moved to approve the III-A plan document amendment#1. Councilmember Smith

seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.

Clerk Vorwaller asked the Mayor and Council if they would like to provide a gift or bonus to

the City Employees with the $5700 workman’s compensation insurance dividend received.

The Council and Staff discussed any workman’s comp claims over the last year. Councilmember Lee stated that she likes to give it back to the employees as a thank you for

working safely. Councilmember Smith suggested using some of the funds to purchase

security cameras for the parks. Councilmember Lee moved to approve giving Chamber of

Commerce gift certificates to the City Employees with the $5700 dividend. Councilmember

Prescott seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried.

Councilmember Prescott moved to approve entering into executive session pursuant to I.C.

67-2345(1)(f) to communicate with legal counsel regarding probable litigation.

Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. A roll call showed the following vote: Those voting aye: Todd Smith

voting nay: none

Randy Prescott

Lynda Lee Absent: Mitch Hart

Motion Carried.

Councilmember Smith moved to exit executive session, seconded by Councilmember Prescott. All in favor, motion carried.

Councilmember Smith moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:25pm, seconded by

Councilmember Prescott. All in favor, motion carried.

TH PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THIS 19 DAY OF

SEPTEMBER, 2012. ______

Kirk L. Hansen, Mayor

ATTEST:

______

Tausha Vorwaller, Clerk