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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998.05.06 CITY COUNCIL MINUTESr, ~~ ~~ DATE: (050698) City Council 5/6/98 7:30 P.M. State of Idaho) County of Madison( as City of Rexburg) Present were the following: Mayor: Councilmembere: City Clerk: Attorney: Engineer: Finance Officer: Nile L Boyle Kay Beck Farrell Young Bruce Sutherland Glen Pond Nyle Fullmer Rose Bagley Stephen Zollinger Joe Laird Richard Horner County Commissioner Brooke Passey also attended the meeting. Pledge to the flag. Introduction of scouts. A motion was made by Farrell Young and seconded by Nyle Fullmer to approve the minutes. All Aye RE: JEFF LOCHRIDGE REGARDING A MONUMENT TOPIC: (22,25,,,M0NUMENT,2ND E,MAIN STREET,LOCHRIDGE*JEFF) Jeff Lochridge regarding a monument. He would like to propose a monument to the City of Rexburg and mainly get city permission and a site where that could be erected. He gave handouts and also showed "" miniature statues that he had done. The main reason he decided to bring this up is because of the Comprehensive Plan that was presented. He felt a monument would aim to one goal. A monument designates a landmark and he felt it would be important to the city. The idea he is depicting is pointing toward the work ethic and family value theme which he felt was strong in this area. As he drives down Main Street and 2nd Eaet he has felt that would be a good location for the monument. on his handout it explained the method for fund raising and then discussed the method. There was also a cost estimate on the handout. (copy on file) The mayor told him it would be a ambitious undertaking. The city could give him the support if he could raise the money. We could pick a Bite for it later however we could pick a spot on Main Street. A motion was made by Farrell Young to indorse his effort and keep in touch with the progress. Seconded by Kay Beck. A11 Aye RE: ALLEY BEHIND CO-OP TO NEW JAIL TOPIC: (22,25,,,ALLEY,NEIBAUR*MITCH,PARKING,L.I.D.,JAIL) Mitch Neibaur acted as spokesman for a group of property owners and tenants bordering the alley behind Coop extending east to the new Jail. They have a concern about the condition of that alley way and the pot ',._... holes. They are concerned about keeping their property values. They are trying to improve that area and the exterior of the buildings which falls in line with improving the alleyway and the parking facility in back. His understanding is that the State has tried to get the city to eliminate angle parking on Main Street which would eliminate some parking on Main street, so they are trying their best effort to make another alternative to their customers in the area. As the conditions is now it is quite an eyesore. They are requesting that the city improve that alley. The council agreed that it needed to be done but did not know where the money would come from. The mayor told them as we ran the T.V. Cameras down the sewer line there is two places we need to dig it up, and then repair the alley. The only way he knew to improve the alley would be through an L.I.D. and that would go to the property owners. Marilyn Fife pointed out they paid on the L.I.D. for parking lots years ago. Those parking lots are on the other side of Main Street and their customers don't use them. They are going to resurface the parking in the back. The Mayor asked if they talked to Coop? Kay suggested that we start building a fund to do this type of things to be used on a priority bases. RE: LEGISLATION PASSED FOR RAISING THE MILL LEVY TOPIC: (22,26,,,TAXES,VOTE,PROPERTY TAXES) The mayor discussed that the Legislature for the first time ever did give us a way to raise our mill levy. There is no city even close to our size that has as low mill levy as we do. They passed a law that would permit us to raise our mill levy up to .004 because we were caught with a real low mill levy. That would bring in about an additional $100,000 a year. That would take a 60~ vote of the people to do that. Whenever you want to raise property taxes it ie a hard sell but there is no other way to get the needed revenue. RE: ALLEY BEHIND CO-OP TO NEW JAIL TOPIC: (22,26,,,ALLEY,JAIL,L.I.D.,NEIBAUR*MITCH) Nyle Fullmer suggested that if there is anything we could do to help improve that alley we should do it. Maybe if we even patched it. Mitch stated that it is a city alley and it is their responsibility. Clarence Gummow asked what it would cost to pave it? Joe gave a handout on costa which did not include the sewer line. Discussion on the sewer line and repair of the alley. Clarence asked why that alley has gone so long without repairs? (discussion) Nyle felt something needed to be done. With the new law enforcement building going in there, the traffic has increased. He asked Joe if we could put a cap on the alley or something without going in and completely tearing it out? Joe said you could put a overlay on it but in two or three years it would be in bad shape again. (discussion on the alley) Kay felt that a big problem with the roads is cutting into them for utilities and he proposed that we increase the cost to cut into the roads. Discussion on an L.I.D. Mitch suggested that the city pay 1/3, County 1/3 and the property owners pay 1/3 on an L.I.D. Dale Thomson stated that now the Jail Facility is there the alley is getting more use. A lot of people are coming in the back from the alley and using it as a main entrance. The mayor asked if the city went 1/3 of the cost could they get Madison Coop and the other property owners to commit to pay the charge on the rest of it. Dale Thomson stated if the property owners agreed to do it we would not need to go through all the legal hearings for an L.I.D? Mitch said he would like to pursue that alternative. Nyle stated that he felt the city has some responsibility. Bruce agreed. RE: SOROPTIMIST CLUB DONATES MONEY FOR PLAY GROUND EQUIPTMENT TOPIC: (22,26,,,SOROPTIMIST CLUB,PLAY GROUND EQUIPTMENT, NATURE PARK) Mayor Boyle told the council the Soroptimist Club had donated $1000 -"- more for Play Ground Equipment. We have put Play Ground Equipment in Smith Park and will put some in the Nature Park. Kay stated that he wanted the Soroptimist Club to know that we want to thank them and acknowledge them for their contributions. RE: PROCLAMATION FOR MOTOR CYCLE AWARENESS MONTH TOPIC: (22,26,,,PROCLAMATION,MOTOR CYCLE) Mayor Boyle read a Proclamation for Motor Cycle Awareness Month. A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Kay Beck to proclaim May as Motor Cycle Awareness Month. A11 Aye Jt } RE: CROSS CONNECTION FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TOPIC: (22,27,,,WATER DEPT., BACK FLOW, SPRINKLERS) Cross Connection for sprinkler systems. The mayor explained that we have made it so all Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers will have to be changed to Pressure Vacuum Breakers by the year 2000 to prevent the back flow into our water system. To have them inspected would cost $15 to $20. Discussion on how often the city should require these to be inspected after they are installed properly. Every sprinkler that is put in now is put in with the new breakers. Glen suggested that every year is too often to inspect because if you go out and find the problems now and have the home owner correct the problem, you would not need to go out next year and check it again. Discussion. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland to inspect the sprinklers every three years, seconded by Nyle Fullmer. Those voting aye: Bruce Sutherland and Nyle Fullmer. Those voting nay: Glen Pond, Farrell Young and Kay Beck. Motion defeated. A motion was made by Nyle Fullmer and seconded by Glen Pond that the sprinklers be inspected every other year. A11 Aye RE: FEE TO HAVE WATER TURNED ON OR OFF TOPIC: (22,27,,,WATER DEPT.,FEES,SPRINKLERS) The mayor told the council that there is not hardly a day when the water department isn't called out to turn water off and on or to put sprinkler meters in or out. DeLynn feels we should have a $15 to $20 fee charged every time the water department has to go turn water off or on or put in a sprinkler meter. Bob Carlson was at the meeting. He told the council he had a plumber --- put the meter in and turn it in for his sprinkler system and he charged him $35. He felt if he had the city come and do that for him, he should have to pay them $35. Nyle made a motion that we charge $20 to turn the water off or on or $35 to put the sprinkler meter in and turn it on. Stephen suggested that might cause problems if residents start doing it. (discussion) Nyle amended his motion to charge a $20 service fee for shutting their main line on and off. Seconded by Bruce Sutherland. All Aye Nyle recommend that we get out of the business of servicing sprinkler meter systems, we don't want that liability and we should not be competing with private business. The council agreed. RE: B.M.X. BIKE TRACK TOPIC: (22,27,,,BIKE PATH,NATURE PARK,WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT) Trever Burt- The reason he and his dad came to the meeting was to talk to the council about putting in a B.M.X. Bike Track. They have been looking around for a good location for this and felt a good location would be over behind the Medical Center by the high school. After checking they find it does belong to the school district. They have come tonight to get the council's support. The object of this is to have a place for kids to go and have something to do. There is a big interest in bikes and skateboards. They have got in touch with the bike association and checked out the liability insurance. Glen suggested they use to have one at the Fair Grounds. Maybe they could approach the county about that area. Discussion on a location. The council suggested possibly if we could find a spot for both the skateboard park and the B.M.X. bike park together it would be a good idea. Farrell asked if they have a fund raising potential? Trever told him in Idaho Falls they have a day when the kids and their families build the park and maintain it and he suggested that could be done here. They would need hoses for water and electricity and access to restrooms. It would be fenced and open only for races or when there is supervision. The council suggested that it be put at the end of the nature park where the old lagoon is. (discussion) Nyle Fullmer told him the council was supportive of it and would like to see a more detailed plan and as far as the commitment he would need from the city. Stephen told them they are going to breach the fence and the bike path is ~f~ intended on going along the westerly end of the lagoon so there would be access to the lagoon. The fence will be breached and moved over so the Sewage Treatment Plant will be enclosed. Nyle Fullmer had to leave the meeting early for another commitment. The council discussed getting to work on an election for the mill levy. RE: HEALTH INSURANCE TOPIC: (22,28,,,HEALTH INSURANCE,INSURANCE) Richard discussed Health Insurance and gave a handout. He had been checking on deductible options on insurance. The insurance will allow us to buy a $1500 deductible policy instead of a $500 that we now have. The premium difference would be about $53,000 per year but the city would then do a deductible buy down which would be anything above the $500 deductible the employee would pay 208 and the city would pay 808 up to the $1500 deductible. The city would be limited to 808 of the $1000. There are a lot of employers who do this already. The bookkeeping will only take about 30 minutes and we can program our computer to do that. We can take the savings and put it in a holding account for future increases in insurance rates. The program will cost $1000 but we would not need to hire extra people. With the council's okay they will be able to start this June 1. A motion was made by Farrell Young that we go with the $1500 deductible and handle it the way Richard has explained. Seconded by Kay Heck. Those voting aye: Farrell Young, Kay Beck. Those voting nay: Bruce Sutherland and Glen Pond. There being a tie vote, the mayor would make the deciding vote. Mayor Boyle voted aye to the vote but with the stipulation that the money goes into a no touch account with strict restrictions on it that it could be used for the next time the insurance premium is raised. A motion was made by Bruce Sutherland and seconded by Glen Pond to pay the bills. All Aye A motion was made by Glen Pond and seconded by Kay Beck to adjourn. All Aye r' i~ City Clerk, Rv'ee~B~gley .~~ , ~~~r,~t Mayor, Nile L.~~Boyle