COUNCIL QUANDARY

Town of Ruston, WA Regular Council meeting Monday, September 20, 2010 7:00 PM
Absent Deborah Kristovich
STAFF REPORTS
Jeremy Kunkel, Police Chief
-Saved 250 dollars with bundling agreement with COMCAST
-Save additional fifty dollars if signed before deadline
-Two tires donated
Jane- Thanks for cutting costs.
Don Torbet, Fire Chief
-Less calls than previous
-Down one firefighter,have three excellent applicants
-Jeff, training coordinator accepted grant not approved
-CPR Training, one instructor
-Cost to put on is Card for $8.50
-Ruston resident no cost
-Training in compliance State of Washington
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim- Need to have public comments on Agenda items as was done for over 100 years until 2004
(Note: This is bewildering as Council cannot decide to restore changes made by previous CABAL council eliminating public comments on agenda items. particularly bewildering as same seven or eight people are regular attendees with one or two more who have interest in particular agenda item. One council person (holdover) and Town Attorney are particularly opposed. In all probability there would be no public comment but it is a matter of decorum and respect for the citizens of Ruston which has been sadly lacking since 2004. They could fix it with simple change but choose to keep the Town's taxpayers silent. Same old thing seems to hold the day except old is new in this case.)
Sherri- representing Bucky Turner. Tall house being built at 5311 N. Shirley appears to exceed roof height limit. Why not inspect now instead of after house completed?
BUSINESS
Agenda item #1 - introducing new Town Electrician JOHN PARKER replacing TIM BURTRON Tim has relocated and can no longer support Town of Ruston.
Agenda item #2 - COMCAST Contract- passes 4-0
Agenda item #3 - KRAFT SIMPSON Contract
David cannot hear, sits in back
Agenda item #4 - Ordinance 1317 Pertaining to the Town of Ruston Planning Commission
.Reduces members from six to five
Rob- Odd number better, reduces deadlocks
David- cannot hear, sits in back
Jane- cannot hear, soft voice
Second reading passes 4-0.
Agenda item #5 - Ordinance 1318 Variance from side yard setback 5402 N. Commercial street
Lyle-One change made over line?
Rob- cannot hear, sits in back
Second reading, passes 4-0.
Agenda item #6 - Ordinance 1319 approval and modification of Ruston Landing Group Master Development Plan, regarding an application made by the Commencement Group, LLC. second reading
Rob- Brief overview for council persons absent at last meeting...
Cannot hear Rob or David sitting in rear. Cannot hear Jane, soft voice.
Lyle-
-Wants to see property on Winnifred street returned to Town
-Commencement is returning property to Town
-Real estate amendments
-Done and recognized and can go away now.
Jane- not prepared to vote on this
Rob-
.Acknowledging changes what occurred
.Request maintenance fee
JimH- (sitting back) cannot hear
Bradley- cannot hear
Moved to EXECUTIVE SESSION following COUNCIL TIME
Agenda item #7 - Garbage Rate Discussion
Bruce-
.Increase rate where it truly belongs now not next meeting.
.Needs to go to 75 dollars per month and eliminate recycle credit
Bradley- ...
JimH-
.Raise rate or outsource
.A hefty one time rate increase
(Note: Appear to be floundering. Where is Mary Joyce when we need her.)
Lyle-
.Intermediate rate meeting our needs
.Not funding insurance
.Few residents qualify for age discount.
.Give hardship, hardship standards
Bruce- Do it now or have two hour STUDY SESSION
Lyle-Earlier study session?
Bradley- ...
(Note: Voices got noticeably lower as decision time neared. Unable to make tough decisions. STUDY SESSION? What a joke. Flakes and flim flam. Could not hear where they went with this one? Stay tuned.)
Agenda item #8 - Discussion on GOOGLE sites
Bruce-
.Best thing we have ever done
.Hardin (Lyle)has done excellent job
.Handles Email.
.Away from SPRINT
.Archive our documents
.Create a website on GOOGLE
.Mirror image of our current site
.GOOGLE allows non technical people to input
.Old system can't get changes fast enough
.Communication from website, Council meeting notes
.All things we need to get done now available
.Bottom line each user $50.00 per year
.twenty five (25) gigabytes per user
Lyle-Current site difficult to use
passes 4-0
MAYOR'S TIME
Bruce- Mostly covered my items defer to Jerry Morrissette, Town Engineer
Jerry-
.90 percent of plans on sewer project to Steve Taylor
.Conflicts Geo Tech good thing
.Hoping to get contract out in 2010]
.Finish in 2011 not feasible
.Bids in December construction starts January-March time frame
.Kevin copies of financial notes
.Good news one project substantially complete, one customer online.
.Two pieces of information came in today
.5228 N. 49th street near Baltimore $1,100.00 plus tax on USDA grant
.Larger item cost wise replace pavement
.Trench patch $38,000.00 total cost $135,000.00
.One inch asphalt $142,000
.Soil on 49th street lower grade. Need to re[lace.
.2 inch asphalt, 8 inch rock, 2 inch ballast, extra inch of asphalt best
JimH-
.Your recommendation
.Why wasn't in original USDA bid?
Jerry-
.Did not fit existing USDA criteria for loan.
.Add ons at your request.
JimH-Hope this is an isolated case.
Jerry-Yes, type of solution makes sense.
Lyle-
.Road resurfacing go with complete road repair partial breaks down.
Jerry-OK. Two inch asphalt better than what is there now.
Lyle-Compaction requirements not strict in past.
Jane- authorize mayor draw up resolution for up to $133,000 adding change order per approval of mayor/attorney.
COUNCIL TIME
Bradley-
.Response to public comments on agenda items, not audible
.Will have car show next year
Jane- $900 came back four fold
Lyle-
.Many car show compliments
.Need to make Mayor's life easier.
.Also Town clerk and staff.
8:45 EXECUTIVE SESSION 15 minutes reconvene 9;00 PM
RECONVENE 9:00 PM
Ordinance 1319 Commencement application passes 4-0.
ADJOURN 9:01PM
-30-
Town of Ruston officials:
Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson, Jim Hedrick, Deborah Kristovich, Lyle Hardin, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton
Planner, Rob White
Clerk/Treasurer, Myriah Mesa
Fire Chief, Don Torbet
Police Chief, Jeremy Kunkel
Electrician, John Parker
Electrical Engineer, Mo Fesharaki
Engineer, Jerry Morrissette