1980 08 27CITY OF MOSES LAKE
MOSES LAKE,WASHINGTON
REGULAR COUNCIL SESSION August 27,1980
COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2:00 P.M.
Members Present:Robert E.Hill,Don Swanson,Barry Ziegler,Stephen Shinn,
Charles Edwards,Harvey Vernier,and Norman Johnson
This meeting is a continuation of the Regular Council Session of August 26,
1980,continued for this one-item agenda -the animal control shelter.
The meeting was called to order at 2 p.m.by Mayor Bob Hill.
Mr.Don Swanson statedthat he did not think that a special bond issue to
build the dog pound would be passed by the voters at this time and that it
would cost the city between $400 and $600 to put the request on the ballot.
Mr.Edwards stated that if the request was put on the ballot and it did not
pass that it is going to have to be carried over until next spring and then
see what the Council can do about it.
Mr.Shinn stated that the building of the animal control shelter should be
taken into consideration on the budget process this year.
Mr.Hill stated that one concern of his was that this is a city problem and
not the Humane Society's problem.The City is aware the responsibility of
animal control is theirs.The Humane Society became active and took over the
city's burden.He said the building should be built.
Mrs.Marilyn Bertram said that the people that work at the animal control
shelter feel frustrated because they thought the money had been budgeted in
December and that construction would have begun in March.They would like a
decision of what is going to happen.
Mr.Hill asked what the date frame was for construction,and Mrs.Bertram
answered that there was no time frame because the Job Corps was going to
furnish the labor,and they would not have had a time frame.
Public Works Director Bob Townsend said that the Job Corps would be under a
program and we would have to go with their schedule.The public works depart
ment had a price for concrete at $35 per yard,now the cost has probably gone
up.
Mr.Hill stated that in spite of the budget problems the city has because of
clean-up costs of the ash that the city should go ahead with construction.
Mr.Swanson stated that the Humane Society has worked awfully hard and he
suggested that a some of the frills in the building be left out.If the basics
were built maybe they could give a commitment that they would build.
Margaret Larson stated that cuts had already been made,that it had originally
been designed in a "T"shape and the public works department had made it a
rectangle,they added solar energy panels which could be taken out and two
sections and the garage could possibly be eliminated.
Mr.Edwards stated that eliminating the garage would probably only lower the
cost about $10,000.
Mr.Townsend stated that you have to cover the outside of the building with
something,and that the things they were talking about eliminating were not
going to cost that much more.The shape of the building from a "T"shape to
a rectangular shape had already been done.
Mrs.Bertram stated that she did not know how the humane society could exist
the way it is out there now.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES:2 August 27,1980
DVM Dean Campbell was present in the audience and stated that the City of Moses
Lake should have built an animal control shelter a long time ago,it is long
past due.The animals can not be cared for right in the shelter they are in
now and it was embarrassing to give back dogs to the citizens.
Mr.Shinn stated that this had been discussed for three years and if the
volcano hadn't blown he would say go ahead.Where is the city going to get the
money?If the city deleted the cash reserves and bonding capabilities the
city is not going to be able to pay the creditors.He was ready to put it on
last year but the city is looking at a completely different money situation now.
Mr.Ziegler stated that the city does need a dog pound.But right now the city
does not know where it is going to end up with the clean-up costs of the volcanic
eruption.Right now the city is looking at $600,000 in the red.The city does
not know what FEMA is going to do,and the city has to see where it is financially.
Virginia Hill stated that the cost of the ash clean-up is not the problem of the
Councilmembers,it is the problems of all the citizens of Moses Lake.The
burden of clean-up costs should not be on the shoulders of the Councilmembers.
She did not think that the people that work at the humane shelter could go on
with that mess out there.The windows have had to be covered over with black
paper because of thievery.The patrolmen don't want to have to go over there.
Since there is money already in an account it seemed to her that the shelter
should be built.
Mr.Shinn stated that on that note the money that we are borrowing from those
funds is money that the city has to pay back with interest.
Virginia Hill stated that she was referring to the Municipal Building Fund.
Mr.Ziegler stated that as for the cost of clean-up being on the ballot,that
the city does not know the total amount of the clean-up yet.The city has been
run conservatively in the past and he was assured that the city can handle this
situation,but the city might have a $600,000 deficit.
Mr.Swanson said that the city should take the step and go ahead with it next
year.He said he would be in favor of making a motion that Council include this
in the 1981 budget.When Council passes the 1981 budget that the bid could be
opened the first of February.
Mr.Swanson moved that the construction of the animal control shelter be included
in the 1981 budget and the bid opened the first of February,seconded by Mr.
Ziegler,and passed unanimously.
Mr.Hill stated that he did not see the point in waiting until February,why not
do it now.
Virginia Hill asked if they will know by February where the city stands on the
ash clean-up.
Mr.Shinn asked how long before the specifications and Mr.Townsend answered 30 days.
After discussion it was agreed that the Police Chief,City Manager,Public Works
Director,would meet at the Animal Control Shelter to review the building.The
date of the meeting and the time will be set at a later time.
The Council meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
Robert E.Hill,Mayor
ATTES
City Clerk