1971 03 09U
156L
COUNCIL MINUTES -Regular Session March 9,1971
Council Chambers 8:00P.M.
Members present -Councilmen,Robt.E.Hill,W.B.Moe,Norman W.Johnson,
Gordon M.Ebbert,Otto M.Skaug,*E rnest V.Lindell and
Michael Boyle.
Mayor Otto Skaug called the meeting to order.Minutes of the regular council
meeting of February 23,1971 were approved as written upon a motion by Lindell,
second by Boyle.Motion carried.
REGULAR BILLS TOTAL AMOUNT PAID
GENERAL $10,092.46
LIBRARY 1,300.67
PARK 4,709.28
STREET 5,084.98
URBAN ARTERIAL 870.00
EQUIPMENT RENTAL 5,274.36
WATER AND SEWER 7,485.47
.SANITATION 7,031.36
•-
Motion by Johnson that the regular bills be allowed for payment.Second by
Hill.Motion carried.
Warrant No's.1 through 81 in the amount of $41,848.58 were approved for payment.
DEPT.OF SOCIAL &HEALTH SERVICES-DIVISION OF HEALTH -PRESENTATION OF
OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE TO PAUL MAYBEE./O^
Roger James,Supervising Public Health Engineer,was present,and on behalf .
of the Board of Certification for the State of Washington of the Pacific Northwest
Pollution Control Association,presented a certificate to Paul Maybee indicating
an increase in qualifications for him in being advanced to«Group IV.
Mr.James went on to explain that the aim of the program is to improve the caliber
of the water pollution control plant operation and provide a means whereby those
responsible for employment of such operators can readily determine their qualifica
tions,and elevate the status of the water pollution control plant operators .by sett
ing forth their qualifications.He stated that less than 50%of the operators pass this
type of test when first taken,therefore,this is an accomplishment for Paul Maybee
and he is to be highly commended for this certificate of competency.
CONSIDERATION OF GASOLINE BIDS
A letter was read from the Finance Director,Charles Davenport,stating that on
March 2,1971 bids on gas requirements for the City of Moses Lake,the School
District and Port of Moses Lake were opened,with seven companies submitting
bids.He recommended acceptance of the bid from Shell Oil Company in the
amount of $.2152 per gallon.This is the identical unit price that the City paid
for gas this past year.
Motion by Hill to accept the Finance Director's recommendation and award
the bid to Shell Oil Company for $.2152 per gallon.Second by Boyle.
Motion carried.
ORDINANCE -AMENDING ORDINANCE NO.433 AMENDING RESTRICTIONS
FOR UPHOLSTERY UNDER THE TITLE OF HOME OCCUPATIONS (Second Reading
continued).
The Councildelayed action on this item at their meeting of February 23,1971,
pending a report from the Fire Department to the extent of fire hazards that
might be associated with 'upholstery'as a home occupation.
Aletter was read from Russ Beeman,Fire Chief, stating that it is the opinion
of the Fire Department that an upholstery business within a residence could
be an undue fire hazard, not normally found in the home.An upholstery busi
ness would normally require certain amounts of combustible fibers to be stocked
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March"9;1971-.~.
which are readily ignitable,such as cotton,kapok,excelsior,certain synthetic
fibers and other like materials.The Fire Prevention Code would require a permit
for storage of combustible fibers in excess of 100 cubic feet.Upon talking to
some of the local insurance agencies,found they would allow certain types of
home occupations,but did not include upholstery occupations.If an upholstery
business was carried on in the home,the home owner would most likely pay
an insurance penalty for the additional hazard.
Councilman Hill stated that in view of the information furnished by the Fire
Chief,he wishes,to move not to include upholstery in "home occupations".
Second by Johnson.
Discussion followed by the City Manager and the City Attorney,whether the
amendment establishes a new criteria for home occupations;to leave the
ordinance as it exists,or as proposed on page 2 of the proposed amendment,
or specifically exclude upholstery and move it down to the uses as listed not
deemed as permitted home occupations?The City Attorney's opinion was that
they could specifically eliminate upholstery,bythe motion as stated,thus leaving
the ordinance as it exists.
Councilman Boyle -asked the Fire Chief -would this home occupation,if
allowed,have any effect on a neighbor's insurance?
Fire Chief - Not necessarily,since the occupation is not allowed in any out
buildings -would affect the home owner only.
Councilman Lindell - They cannot have too much of this material;I feel they are
very limited in what they can keep in the particular home.
Fire Chief -The problem is making sure that anybody engaged in this business
adheres strictly as the ordinance requires,which would create quite a policing,
problem.The potential is there.The insurance companies do take a dim view
of it.Most of them allow home occupations ,but do exclude upholstery shops .
Councilman Ebbert -Does that mean they would not insure at all?
Fire Chief Beeman -No,they would have to pay an extra amount of fire
insurance premium for the extra hazard.
Councilman Boyle -There is nothing in the ordinance that restricts it to any
particular area of the house -nothing that restricts it to any living area of
the house,only a certain percentage of the area of the house.
Fire Chief B&eman -It does exclude garages and outbuildings.
Mayor Skaug called for a vote on the motion,not to allow adoption of the
amending ordinance.Motion carried.Councilman Lindell opposed.
0 WATER &SEWER STUDY - APPROVAL BY HUD2—•
<T A letter was read from City Manager,Waggener,stating that a letter has been
.received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development indicating
approval of the Water andSewer Study conducted by Stevens,Thompson and
Runyan,Inc.,and accepted by the City Council on December 8,1970 by
Resolution No.510. The project was accomplished under an advance planning
loan from HUD in the amount of $27,000.Our submittal of their Form HUD-4430 .
proposed repayment of the loan upon completion of first stage construction.
Their proposed alternate method of payment holds us to original estimates as
submitted in our application for funding.Finding no objection to their proposed
basis of repayment,he requests authorization from the Council r0 sign and
return the duplicate copy of the letter indicating City of Moses Lake concurrence.
Upon inquiry, the City Manager,further explained that the $795,000 figure
referred to in the letter from HUDwas the proposed figure estimated by Stevens,
Thompson &Runyan,Inc.,on the Water/Sewer Study.
March 9,1971
Councilman Hill - Do I understand correctly,at any time we spend $100,000
on this water/sewer construction, we would repay one-eighth of the $27,000.
City Manager - That is correct.The major importance is to get the $27,000
from HUD and make us eligible for additional funding.
•Councilman Ebbert - Is this re-evaluated each year?
City Manager - Any time we go into construction,we wil 1 have to make a re
payment accordingly.As a matter of practice,they will have us submit an
annual statement,just to be sure we have not done something we have forgotten
to report to them.
Motion by Moe to authorize the City Manager to sign the necessary documents
indicating City of Moses Lake concurrence.Second by Boyle.Motion carried.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENT INTO MOSES LAKE
Aletter was read from the City Manager referring to an article in the Columbia ./&^/
Basin Herald reporting a presentation made to the American Association of
University.Women.That article relates to pollution of Moses Lake and the pur
ported contribution of the Moses Lake Sewage Treatment Plant to such pollution.
He also submitted excerpts regarding algae control from a report prepared for '
the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District in 1964 by Robert O.
Sylvester,Professor of Sanitary Engineering at the University of Washington,
regarding Moses Lake water environment.In that report Mr.Sylvester stated
that removal of the sewage treatment plant effluent would do nothing to resolve
the algae problems of Moses Lake,since the Lake is supersaturated with
phosphates and nitrates from other sources.
He further stated in his letter that if some means can be found for removal of
phosphates and nitrates from waters entering Moses Lake,-very serious
consideration should be given to tertiary treatment at our Moses Lake Sewage
Treatment Plant,or otherwise diverting the flow from Moses Lake.At the
present time such removal from other sources does not seem 1'ikely.
City Manager Waggener,explained that he certainly realized the article in
the paper is merely a reporting,and did discuss this with Mrs.Lewis,that'
he was not being critical of the report.He has attempted to contact the Presi
dent of the Association of University Women,and as of this date has not
been able to make contact with the organization,but will continue to make
every effort to do so.The memo was only intended for information to the
Council and should they probably not be aware of the report by Mr.Sylvester
in 1964.
The excerpts of Mr.Sylvester's report were discussed by the Council and
the City Manager,and the various methods that have been tried to clear the
algae from the Lake.The consensus of the discussion was that the removal
of the Sewage Treatment Plant effluent would notaffect the algae growth
..control,since algae will always bloom in a body of water that has a high
temperature,which Moses Lake is,and also it is a shallow lake.
Councilman Hill asked if there would be any purpose of meeting with the Moses
Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District,the U.S.Bureau of Reclamation and
I the Irrigation Districts?The City Manager thought perhaps,since there are
^different personnel involved now,and if might "be worth the effort.
Motion by Hill to have the City Manager meet with the Moses Lake Irrigation
and Rehabilitation group,the U.S.Bureau of Reclamation and the Irrigation
Districts,and see if something can be worked out.Second by Johnson.
Motion carried.
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March 9,1971
REQUEST TO CALL FOR BIDS -WHEELER ROAD-LOCUST LANE,PHASE If PROTECT
A letter was read from Richard L.Weaver,City Engineer,requesting permission to
advertise for bids for the above project.
Rich Weaver presented the plans to the Councilmen for their perusal and to
answer any question they might have regarding this project.Schedule I will
consist of Wheeler Road in conjunction with the County;one-half mile -City
of Moses Lake,and one-half mile -Grant County.Schedule II of the project
will be Locust Lane.The first section will be merely grading and installation
of storm sewers.The second section will be the curbing,sidewalks,gutters
and catch basins,to come under a following contract.
Motion by Hill to grant permission to advertise for bids.Second by Moe.
Motion carried.
WASH.LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TRAINING COMMISSION -PRESENTATION
OF CERTIFICATE TO POLICE CHIEF -COMPLETION OF EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
SEMINAR.
)0l*Mayor Skaug presented a certificate to Wm.Bjork,Police Chief,for completion
of an Executive Development Seminar at the Washington State Patrol Academy,
from February 23 through February 26,1971.The Seminar was sponsored by the
Washington Law Enforcement Officers Training Commission and directed by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation from Washington D.C.,by the staff of the
F.B.I.National Academy.The Seminar included discussion of management,
philosophies,and indepth review of leadership,styles,and working of practical
problems involving planning,organization,and staffing.
MISCELLANEOUS
^
There being no further business on the Agenda,Mayor Skaug thanked the people
present for attending the Council meeting,and asked if there was any further
business from the floor.Jim Melville asked for a few minutes,since he had an
important item he would like to present for the Council's attention.He stated,
as spokesman for a group of individuals deeply concerned about the drug problem,
not only in Moses Lake,but the whole County,feels something should be'done
about it,and believes there are a lot of people feel the same way .Consequently he
polledmembers of the Council,as individual citizens,on their attitude toward the
circulating of petitions for a grand jury investigation of law enforcement agencies
of Grant County.He stated a grand jury investigation will "clear the air".
Councilmen Hill,Moe,Johnson andEbbert indicated approval of his concern.
Mayor Skaug questioned Mr.Melville's approach in order to get tacit approval
of the City Council.Councilman Lindell objected to Mr.Melvilles procedure,
that a public meeting was not the proper place to poll individuals as to their
opinions .Whereupon Mr.Melville apologized and agreed to discontinue his
polling of the other members.Steve Hitchcock was ruled out of order by Mayor
Skaug, when he disagreed and urged that Jim Melville proceed with the polling,
that the City Council's opinion onthe matter should be made public.Motion by
Johnson to adjourn the meeting.Second by Moe.Meeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M.
'Mayor -Otto 1%).Skaug
ATTEST:/^\
SUjA
ity Clerk -Charles Davenport
n