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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980.07.16 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES��- RE: BILLS A motion was made by Jim Morris to pay the bills, seconded by Morgan Garner. All Aye. RE: ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Jim Morris to adjourn, seconded by Nile Boyle. All Aye. 1 Mayor j John C. Porter i City Clerk jyW-Bagley MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING July 16, 1980 State of Idaho) County of Madison(SS City of Rexburg) A meeting of the City Council for the,City of Rexburg, Madison County, held July 16, 1980, at the City Hall. Present were the following: Mayor: John C. Porter Councilman Morgan Garner Sander Larson Norris Reese Nile Boyle Jim Morris Councilwoman: Darlene Balckburn Also Present Mary Smith, City Attorney Rose Bagley, Cit- Clerk Richard Horner, City Trens. RE: MINUTES APPROVED A motion was made by Nile Boyle and seconded by Darlene Blackburn to approve the minutes as corrected. All Aye. RE: REQUEST BY RICHARD SMITH TO HOOK UP TO THE CITY WATER Mayor Porter said that he had a request by Richard Smith to hook up to the City Water when the new water line is put in up by his property on the hill. He plans to build a house there. The property is 100 feet from the line, but no in the City Limits. Ruth Smith also called to say she would like some of her property that is just outside the city limits to be hooked on to the city water. A motion was made by Nile Boyle to allow Richard Smith to hook up to the City Water and then later the property could be annexed to the City, seconded by Norris Reese. All Aye, RE: REPORT ON WATER RATE INCREASE Sander Larson, chairman of the finance committee, reported that they had reviewed the suggested water rate increase given by Earl Kemp and propose not to raise the water rates at the present time but instead do a water balance and audit. There would be a check made on the amount of gallons of water that the City should be receiving money for. There are a lest of meters that should be fixed and not estimated. This would help that department run more efficiently. After a three months period, the water balance would show where we stand and whether or not to prepare a rate increase nt this time based nn the study and a mare efficient oper- ation. RE: COLLEGE WATER USAGE VS PAYMENTS RECEIVED Mayor Porter said that he and Richard Horner, Jerry Brian, and Jim Keller had met with the college and went over their water usage vs what they had been paying and the gallons used by them. They had agreed on six things that they were going to do (1) to check all meters for accuracy, (2) check for back flow or low pressure, (3) run a water audit on amount of water pumped vs amount billed, (4) get annual pumping cost per 1000 gallons, keeping track of the three well on amount pumped, (5) estimate Ricks College use, (6) check Ricks PR vs flows. After auditing the system for a three month period we can see the amount of water we pump and see what it costs to pump it. That way we will know what it costs to pump 1000 gal of water. The gollege figures it will cost 15G per thousand. The college will check the meters and system to see if they have any leakage. The people who checked the compound meters in June of 1978 will come and check them again to see if they are registering correct. They are checking the big meter over a 24 hour period. Three million gallons went through the meter in one day, which was prob- ably a peak day. The city is pumping too million gallons of water a day through out system. RE: WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE Norris Reese reported that the Water and Sewer Committee had just had a meeting with that department and they are having daily meetings with Jerry Brian. He also stated that the previous study that had been done was not erroneous. It was correct as far as the information that they had at the time. It will prob- ably help to get the meters all read and not estimated. He had had several citizens call him after they had read the article in the paper. One citizen said he would rather pay his water bill monthly. His last bill was the same as the one in December, and he know that his meter was not being read or it was broken, or estimated because he certainly was using more water to water his yard than he used in the middle of the winter. The Water & Sewer Committee will be ready at budget time for a suggested water rate increase. Right now the department needs to get the water meters running. They are trying to get things corrected, however they do have a way to go. After a water audit is done and the meters are fixed, we will be able to see where we are. We have one man and maybe two assigned to repairing meters and get them running. This will make a more efficient and business way to run the department. It will be a challan;-e to the water department to run more efficiently and possibly other departments as well. Mayor Porter said he felt that progress is being made. Sander Larson sommented that we should be careful handling the accounts that have not been read correctly, or the meters that have been broken by billing a large amount to make up the amount that they had not been billed for. RE: EXPENDITURE SHEETS AND BUDGET SHEETS REVISED Richard Horner handed out expenditure sheets and budget sheets. He stated that this report was more eccurate than the last report. As a budget total we were running right on target. Some departments are over their budget. He cautioned that we should be careful on our spending. He said that he was making up a special work sheet for each department to use while working on the new budget. RE: REVENUE SHARING LETTER Mayor Porter said that he had a letter from the Revenue Sharing telling us to use the same figure as we did last year until we get our new figure. The bill has not been passed yet but they think it will be and we will get the same amount as last year if not more. RE: TWO VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING BOARD Mayor Porter said that there were two vacancies on the Planning Board. Gail Weber had resigned and the Mayor had also received a letter of resignation from Alice, who was moving to California. He recommended that Charles Cole be appointed to serve on the Planning Board, he has had some experience and the Mayor felt that he would do a good job. A motion was made by Morgan Garner and seconded by Nile Boyle to appoint Charles Cole for the position on the Planning Board. The other ap- pointment will be made at a later date. #2 4� RE: COMPLAINTS ABOUT STREETS THAT NEED REPAIRS Mayor Porter said that he had been getting a lot of complaints about the streets that need to be repaired, especially on lst West. A motice would be put in the paper to let bids for street repair on August 6. RE: CENSUS The Mayor said that after checking the census, the figure is 11,616 population. there will be a few more as returns come in. He had talked to Mrs. Feeley of the Census Bureau about it, she is the lady over this area. He had written a letter to her telling them that we are satisfied with the figure. RE: LETTER FROM CITY OF AMMON - REGARDING THE UTAH POWER & LIGHT RATE INCREASES The Mayor said that he had put in eash councilman's folder a letter from the City of Ammon, regarding the Utah Power & Light rate increases. They would like to organize the Cities assessing each city the sum of $.25 per citizen, which will be used for protesting. He urged the councilman to read the letter so a decision could be made at a later council. This would have to be decided before budget time. (copy attached) RE: CITY HALL ROOF Mayor Porter said that the City Hall was badly in need of a new roof, especially after the hail. He said that we needed to call for bids so that the roof could be fixed before it started storming. RE: PUBLIC HEARING The Mayor reminded the council again of the Public Hearing next Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30 P.M. on the South Aerterial Road. RE: PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS LID FOR PARKING LOTS The American Land Title brought over property descriptions and information sheets on Zone 1 on the LID for the parking lots. They will bring over the rest of it the first of next week. As soon as we have all the names, descriptions and the information, Mary said that she would get started on preceedings and have the first Public Hearing. RE: BOND ELECTION The Mayor said that all the brochures were ready for the Bond Election. He had distributed some around various businesses in Rexburg. He would like some of the council members to hand them out at the civic club meetings. Mary Smith said that we needed a special meeting to canvass the election votes. It was decided to have the meeting on July 30, at 4:00 P.M. . The Mayor said that he would like each council member to prepare a statement about the Sewer Bond Election. He would like these statements by next Monday. We would put them in the paper and buy spots on the radio for them. He would like the councilman in the various wards to see if the relief society would hand out the brochers. RE: BICYCLE CONTROL ORDINANCE Mayor Porter said he had had some phone calls asking about a bicycle control ordin- ance. We would have to get a sample form from another city. We could possible designate special routes. Mary Smith would check it out. RE: MORE STREET LIGHTS IN STARLITE ADDITION Sander Larson ask if it would be possible to get somemore street lights in the Starlite Addition. Since the new church house has been built at the end of Park Street there is a lot of foot traffic and the streets need to be lighted. There has also been some vandalism. Mayor Porter said that a petition had gone through council once before to put street lights in that addition and been okayed, but they had had some complaints from people that did not want them so they told the Power Company not to put them in. He would call Mr. Johnson of the Power Company and tell him to have them put in. RE: BILLS A motion was made by Sander Larson and seconded by Nile Boyle to pay the bills. All Aye. RE: ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Norris Reese and seconded by Morgan Garner to adjourn. All Aye., CITY OF AMMON 3270 Molen St. AMMON, IDAHO 83401 523-4211 July 14, 1980 Honorable John C. Pater, Mayor and City Council City of Rexburg P. O. Box 245 Rexburg, Idaho 83440 Dear Sirs: As you know, the cities served by Utah Power & Light Company in'•the State of Idaho have received staggering in- creases in rates over the past five years, amounting to 275% compounded on the rate that it was at the start of 1975. This effects the citizens of the cities, directly, by their individ- ual bills, and indirectly through the cities consumpution of electrical energy. The City of Ammon has intervened in the last four rate cases, representing the interests of the cities and the con- sumers generally and we feel that we have been successful in keeping the rate increases at a significant lesser amount than that requested by Utah Power & Light Company. In these cases, the City of Ammon has expended a considerable amount of its own funds and has received grants from the Idaho Office of Energy, funded through the Department of Energy, for the intervention to represent the interest of consumers in these rate increase applications. The grant funds are expiring, however, and in future rate cases it does not appear that there will be any source from which grants may be obtained for such purpose. There is a proceeding to allow intervenors to be paid their expenses and costs from the applicant, but this is very tenuous and must be applied for after the hearing is completed, to assess the impact that the intervention has upon the rate application, and, therefore, the expert assistance that is needed to present an adequate intervention case cannot be acquired since there is no surety of a source of payment. We believe it is imperative that the interests of the cities and the consumers of the cities be represented and their g t 1 point of view presented to the commission. We cannot expect to prevent rate increases, but I think we can expect to keep them at a minimum, substantially less than the company asks for. However, it is necessary to present these points of view to the commission so that the record will show their decision as based upon fact. We would propose that the cities served by Utah Power & Light Company, in Idaho, associate together to continue the interventions in these rate increase applications. We suggest that from those who do associate in this endeavor that a steer- ing committee of five (5) elected officials, either councilmen or mayors of the cities, be appointed or elected to form a steering committee to determine the scope and course of inter- ventions, and that the funding of this intervention be met by assessing each city the sum of $.25 per citizen, based upon the Association of Idaho City Officials 1980-1981 directory. Since budgets must be prepared in the very near future, we urge you to give this your prompt consideration and I would appreciate your call back to me or your letter in response, to let me know if you agree that this proposal has merit. GW:df Sincerely yours, CITY OF AMMON Georgeann, Mayor ? 3270 Molen Drive Ammon, Idaho 83401 Telephone: 529-4211 (City office) 529-1630 (home) )WC'C2'& Mayor John C. Porter City Clerk Roag1 MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE MEETING July 16, 1980 At an executive meeting it was decided to allow Autum Arborto put in a six inch sewer drainage pipe with one pipe directly under another. This needed to be done because of the lava rock. MINUTES OF SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING July 30, 1980 State of Idaho) County of Madison(SS City of Rexburg) A special meeting of the City Council for the City of Rexburg, Madison County, held July 30, 1980, at the City Hall. Present were the following: Mayor John C. Porter Council: Nile Bovle Norris Reese Darlene Blackburn Sander Larson A Special meeting to canvas election votes. (minutes to be done by City Attorney) RE: RICKS COLLEGE METER Mayor Porter told the council that Ricks College had been checking their meter and think it was measuring wrong, it was too high. Jim Keller was in Logan Monday and talked to the firm that checks meters. They will come up to Rexburg either Friday or Monday to check the meter. RE: MAP OF STREET REPAIRS John Millar and Earl Kemp came to the meeting to show a map of the street re- pairs that will be done. He reviewed with the council present , what would be done to the streets. John Millar told the Mayor that they were going to start putting storm drains on Main Street on Monday and needed the easements. MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 6, 1980 State of Idaho) County of Madison(SS City of Rexburg) A meeting of the City Council for the City of Rexburg, Madison County, held 45