Town of Springdale
Council Minutes
September 28, 2020
Roll Call:
Council Seat 1: Paul Dean; Present
Council Seat 2: Lori Newell; Present
Council Seat 3: Klaus Joeschke; Present
Council Seat 4: Harold Love; Present
Council Seat 5: Royce Lynch
Mayor Pro Tem: Stefany Smith
Mayor Stefany Smith opened the Council Meeting of September 28, 2020 via Facebook live feed at 7:00 P.M. in regular order.
Minutes:
Mr. Love made the motion to approve the Council Minutes of August 24, 2020. Mr. Dean made the motion to second. Mayor Stefeny Smith called for the discussion to the motion on the table. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on that able after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Mr. Love made the motion to approve the Council Minutes of September 14, 2020. Mr. Dean made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion to the motion on the table. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Executive Session:
Mayor Stefany Smith closed regular Council Meeting at 7:02 P.M. to hold executive session with Department of Ecology Permit Holder via phone conference for thirty minutes. Mayor Stefany Smith opened the regular Council Meeting back to order at 7:32 P.M. at this time there is no action to the Department of Ecology list of items that need to get corrected.
Council Measures and Proposals:
Harold Love requested several items:
Computer in Council Chambers: Mayor Stefany Smith stated will be replaced with older office computers the issue is a power source.
Computer IT report: Town Action item
Town Vehicles and Equipment: Mayor Stefany Smith stated that this is not a high priority at this time, back hoe and equipment is located out at Sewer Lagoon and some of the equipment is in use at this time.
Police Bicycle: Clerk Treasurer stated this has not been taken care of for consignment at this time due lack of hours to get this completed with regular work schedule.
Water Meter replacement at Medical clinic. Mr. Dearing stated this has not been completed to date as Department of Ecology issues have been priority at this point.
Noxious weeds at cemetery: Mr. Dearing stated yes he did investigate this after Mr. Love reported this and this spring (2021) will go spray to kill them.
Mrs. Newell updated Council members that the Booster Club purchased two new freezers for the food pantry and that they will help reduce energy costs. Been busy average 52 families 198 people have been using the Food Pantry the Springdale Food Pantry is the third Wednesday monthly from 3-5 P.M.
Planning Commission: Mr. Joeschke is heading up the Planning Commission Mr. Dearing will also be helping with the Town point of contact. Letters of intent are needed to be placed on the Planning Commission several community Members are interested in becoming part of the commission.
Mayor Measures and Proposals:
Mayor Stefany Smith updated public and Council members that on Sunday/Monday early morning Springdale Grocery was broken into they have video however please be vigilant as they were seen driving around for two hours casing everything. If you see anything suspicious please call 911.
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed that she and the Code Enforcement Officer drove through Springdale and have sent out numerous Nuisance Violations certified to start the process of getting things cleaned up around Town. Also Department of Health has been contacted of several of these properties for health Code violations possibly.
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed that she had sent out several letters to residents that live with properties adjacent to alleyways about blocking with vehicles and or items. Mayor Stefany Smith stated she drove around and noted every single one has complied and she wanted to thank them for doing so as this was a public safety issue for Police and Fire for first responders.
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed per first Town Resolution then Ordinance Personnel Policy that there was a no probation period for accruals on new hires and as such Mr. Dearing had a years’ worth of accruals that needed to be corrected this is for sick and vacations time in 2019. Town Action item
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed that all the ordinances that were being amended have been sent out to the Stevens’ County Civil Prosecutor for review and recommendations once they are received back they will come to the Council table for amendment.
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed that a cell phone needed to be purchased per personnel policy for the Mayor. Item is under Town Action on the agenda
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed that she made contact with a company that did come and sweep the Computers in Clerk Treasure and Mayor’s Office the ones in Public Works are too old and need to be upgraded. Mayor Stefany Smith stated that they recommended that two new computers be built for the Town’s needs and then cleans the computers for use in Public Works for the remaining part of the year. However they all are in great need to be replaced they will also contract with the Town for IT support that can be done remotely. Town action item on the agenda
Mayor Stefany Smith addressed that a new poll was set up to vote on the top three ideas for the New Town Motto. Winner of this will be names on October 12, 2020.
Mayor Stefany Smith placed on the agenda Ordinance 467 Complete Street for second and third Read under Old Business.
Guest Speaker:
Mr. James Sullivan was let into the Council Meeting to address his issues with the Nuisance violations that he had received for both his properties. Due to health concerns he was advised he did not have to wear his face mask. Mr. Sullivan stated that he is aware of the one wall falling down in the wind storm couple of weeks ago however due to his health he is unable to correct this right away and is looking for a contractor to fix. His hands are tied on the property he just purchased as he purchased this to get rid of the issue that was plaguing him on encroachment from them. Due to COVID-19 he cannot evict however he did state he hoped the letter from the Town will get them to clean the property up. Mr. Sullivan also stated that the Town did win the judgment with Muslim America and that they cannot live in the out buildings and RV might want to check into this however he did not know with the COVID-19 if even the Town could do anything at this time. Mr. Sullivan addressed the sidewalk that was placed up on that side of Town where his property is. In the Town UDC ordinance it states that there was to be a planters strip as well as Railroad Avenue has not exit it is sidewalk. He is concerned about snow removal. Mr. Love stated that the Town purchased a snow blower and the sidewalks will be taken care of. Mayor Stefany Smith thanked Mr. Sullivan for attending the Council Meeting and will take all these items under advisement.
Ms. Cox was let into the Council meeting to address issues of trash around Town. Ms. Cox aggressively addressed Ms. Newell about the property she had lived in. Ms. Cox addressed that the trees falling onto power lines being an issue and that the Town needed to take care of this. Several Council Members explained that this is an issue however the Town cannot just cut peoples trees down that the property owners must take care of this with Avista. Ms. Cox also addressed that she also had received a nuisance violation for the single wide trailer located on her property, Ms. Cox stated that she told the renters to stop tearing it down as it was connected to the Town water and she didn’t want the pipes broke. Several Council Members tried speaking with her about the issues when Ms. Cox left the Council Meeting abruptly upset.
Town Action:
Public Hearing for 2021 Budget will be held 1 and 2 Council Meetings and final first meeting in November.
Mayor Stefany Smith passed around the accrual sheets for Mr. Dearing one had the corrections on the sick and vacation. Mr. Love made the motion to approve the correction to the accruals for Mr. Dearing. Mr. Dean made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council members.
Mr. Love made the motion for the Mayor to purchase a cell phone for the Mayor Office up to $200.00 with accessories. Mrs. Newell made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no further discussion. Motion carried by all present Council members.
Old Business:
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the second read of Ordinance 467. Mr. Dean made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion to the motion on the table. Mayor Stefeny Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the third and final read to Ordinance 467 Complete Street. Mr. Lynch made the motion to second. Mayor Stefeny Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Mr. Love addressed the Personnel policy that he has looked into if this should be done by Ordinance or Resolution and he stated that he felt by resolution would be the best way to go so that it only took one read to amend. Discussion was held at the table pertaining all members’ view of the idea of returning the personnel policy back to resolution. Consensus of Council was to go back to the Resolution form.
Mr. Love made the motion to repeal Ordinance 464 Personnel Policy and adopt Resolution 21-01 Personnel policy with a scheduled workshop after Clerk Treasurer completes typing the resolution. Mr. Lynch made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council members.
New Business:
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the Ordinance 409-21 Wage Scale first read with 2019 amounts. Mr. Joeschke made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no further discussion. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the first read of Ordinance 398-1-21 with the $2.50 increase to O&M for 2021 Sewer rates. Mr. Dean made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the first read to Ordinance 367 AB-21 with the $2.50 increase to the O&M for water rates. Mr. Dean made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no discussion. Motion carried by all present Council members.
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the first read of Ordinance 421 B-21 Building Permit rates. Mrs. Newell made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Mr. Love addressed some of the rate scales being too high. Clerk Treasurer will bring to table other community rates. Mayor Stefany Smith called for further discussion. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after hearing no further discussion. Motion carried by all present Council members.
Mr. Love made the motion to accept the first read to Ordinance 390 Bb-21 Dog. Mr. Lynch made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for discussion. Clerk Treasurer was asked what had been amended; there was a proposed increase to license fees as well as removing limit on dogs. Also this is one of the Ordinances that have been sent up to the Civil Prosecutor for review and recommendations this will just start the process for the amendment. Mayor Stefany Smith called for further discussion. Mayor Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table after a lengthy discussion to why the fees need to increase. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Public Comment:
Mayor Stefany Smith read the comments at this time from the feed from Facebook live; dog license fees increasing will hurt the low and elderly residents in the Town, raising the utility rates that already the highest in the state going to push people from moving to the Town as well as make some leave the residents can’t afford this.
Bills and Payroll:
Mr. Love made the motion to pay the bills and payroll in the amount of $44,501.21 with check numbers 7387-7395 1 debt and 1 EFT. Mr. Lynch made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the discussion. Department of Health is the loan payment on the Water System. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to the motion on the table. Motion carried by all present Council members.
Adjournment:
Mr. Lynch made the motion to adjourn at 9:07 P.M. Mrs. Newell made the motion to second. Mayor Stefany Smith called for the vote to adjourn. Motion carried by all present Council Members.
Date this the 12th Day of October 2020
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Mayor
Stefany Smith
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Attested Clerk Treasurer
Lisa Sheppard
