Moyie Springs City Council minutes, June 6
July 26, 2012
City Council met in regular session June 6, 2012, at the Moyie Springs City Hall.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Doug Evans. Present were Councilmen Steve Economu, Chad Farrens, Terry Johnson, Bart Klaus, City Attorney Dan Featherston, Fire Chief Ken English and Public Works Supervisor John Nelson.

Discussed the minutes of the special meeting on May 2, 2012. A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Terry Johnson to approve the minutes as written. Motion carried.

Discussed the minutes of the regular meeting on May 9, 2012. A motion was made by Bart Klaus and seconded by Steve Economu to approve the minutes as written. Motion carried.

Discussed the minutes of the joint meeting with the City of Bonners Ferry, Boundary County Commissioners, the Kootenai Tribe and the City of Moyie Springs. The City of Bonners Ferry hosted the meeting so the minutes were taken by City Clerk Kris Larson. A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Chad Farrens to approve the minutes as written. Motion carried.

Discussed the financial statement. A motion was made by Terry Johnson and seconded by Bart Klaus to approve as written. Motion carried.

Lori Johnson, Lila Finley, Ken Baker, Larry Comer and Mike Sloan attended the meeting.

Ken Baker, Boundary Volunteer Ambulance, attended to discuss the problems they are having with the County Commissioners. Ken thanked our fire department for working with the volunteer ambulance. Ken Baker said the contract between the County and the volunteer ambulance is coming up – the last contract was in 1998. Ken said the volunteers are going out on 800 calls per year. The Commissioners are dealing with Bonner County to come up here at a cost to taxpayers of $550-$1100 per day. Ken said it will cost $40,000 this year for education. Mayor Evans asked when their last day will be? Ken said June 29th at midnight. Ken said the volunteers are trying to improve the ambulance service. There are times they can’t transfer patients. They are a volunteer base and are trying to upgrade. Ken said the ambulance also stands by for different county events. Mike Sloan said $550 per day is for 1 person and 1 ambulance. Terry Johnson asked the cost with ours, per day? Ken said $220 per day. Ken also said reimbursements are low and the equipment is outdated. They purchased a 2008 ambulance for $119,000, plus the cost of stocking it, and their payments are $1500 per month for 5 years. Ken Baker said the younger generation doesn’t volunteer. Ken said they are seeing a gap in funding and rising prices. Ken said he would like the City of Moyie to put pressure on the County Commissioners to work with the volunteer ambulance. Mayor Evans said Ron Smith said the County doesn’t have the kind of money the ambulance needs. Ken said by Friday, they will have an agreement with Bonners County and it will cost us $550 - $1100 per day. Steve Economu asked about the cost of going to a residence and being told they’re not needed? Ken said they are having problems with billings. Ken Baker also asked the question what happens if there’s more than 1 call at a time? Lori Johnson asked how the County will pay $550 per day but can’t pay the volunteer ambulance? Lori also asked what amount the ambulance is asking for? Ken said the attorneys are talking. Mayor Evans said the ambulance has been very good in Moyie. The Council said they will talk to the Commissioners. Ken Baker said they have gone out on 800 calls per year for the past 3 years. The hospital is also nonprofit. Steve Economu asked if they get paid? Ken said for transports they get a stipend. Ken Baker said Bonner County has a standby fee. Ken English said Boundary Volunteer Ambulance buys what they can from Bonners Ferry.

Larry Comer attended the meeting to discuss the sewer system. Larry said the following 3 options have been discussed, but the 4th has not:
1. Mechanical Treatment, Rapid Infiltration - $2.5 million
2. Regional Force Main to Bonners Ferry - $2.7 million
3. Aerated Lagoon, Land Application - $3.6 million
4. Recirculation Sand Filter, Large Scale
Absorption System - $1.1 million
Larry said with the 4th option, we would need a drain system on mill property which consists of 4 fields on about 10 acres. We would need to talk to IFG about the use of their 10 acres – we would need an easement and the cost of this option would be about $1.147 million. Sandy asked about DEQ approving this option is we didn’t own the property? Larry said we would have to have a permanent easement or a long term lease. Larry said the next step would be a hydrogeological investigation and nutrient-pathogen study, which would cost $10,000. Larry said DEQ would increase our grant and pay ½ of that amount. An Archaeological survey of the proposed treatment site may be required, in order to obtain clearance on the Environmental Information Document – the cost would be $5,000 and DEQ may pay ½ . This option would cost $14,000 per household already on the sewer system. John Nelson asked if 1/3 of the cost is for digging? Larry said yes. Terry Johnson said he has been involved with domed septic systems and some have failed. Mayor Evans asked the council’s opinion? Chad Farrens & Terry Johnson said this is the best option. Larry said he hopes this option will come in cheaper. Less area is needed with domes. Mike Sloan asked how much increased capacity there would be? Larry said we have about 70 on the system now and this will handle 100 residences. Larry said a flow meter needs to be installed. The meter should be installed prior to sending the letter to DEQ. The meter will cost about $8,000 and DEQ may pay ½ .

Mike Sloan attended the meeting and invited the council to the preopening of Super 1 on Tuesday, June 12 from 6 – 8 PM.

Discussed the contribution to IFG for their annual BBQ. A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded by Bart Klaus to contribute $300.00 – 3 - $50.00 gift certificates from the Moyie Springs Store and 3 - $50.00 gift certificates from Super 1. Motion carried.

Sandy will contact the City of Bonners Ferry to see if anyone is attending the AIC Conference and will vote for the City of Moyie.

Discussed the Ordinance concerning council absences. Dan Featherston said we can’t kick a councilman off the council, but can discipline them. Dan explained the Ordinance and the council will take a copy home and go over it and return any changes to Sandy – she will then send the changes to Dan and he will write the ordinance to be approved at the July 11th meeting.

Discussed having Toni Hackwith attend the July 11th meeting to explain the 2010-11 audit to the council. Sandy said that service isn’t part of our audit fee, so there would be a charge starting next year. The council decided she doesn’t need to come.

The Time Certificate at Panhandle State Bank, that matured on May 18th renewed for 3 months @ $0.15%.

Discussed the Comprehensive Plan. Dan Featherston will send letters to the City of Bonners Ferry, Northern Lights and Bonneville Power concerning electric transmission corridors. Dan will set it up for adoption at the July 11th meeting and check the statutes. The council will also check through the draft ordinance.

Discussed the KVRI meeting. Mayor Evans said Paul Hessburg, a Research Landscape Ecologist for the US Forest Service, Pacific NW Research Station in Wenatchee, WA. gave a presentation. Mr. Hessburg studies fires and said no fires have caused more bug damage. Mr. Hessburg is also for logging, if done right.

Discussed the Volunteer Fire Department. Ken English reported: May 10 – Ambulance assist; May 11 – Idaho Transportation meeting; May 12 – Ambulance assist; May 13 – fire call; May 16 – Fire Chiefs meeting; May 19 – Ambulance assist; May 25 – Fire Chiefs meeting; May 27 – fire call. Ken said they installed a Ham Radio antenna on the fire shop. There will be a pancake feed June 16th at 7 AM at Paradise Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. Ken said there have been 40 firefighter deaths so far this year. There was a gas leak in Eastport and the Kootenai River reached flood stage yesterday, but is back down to 62’ this morning.

Discussed the Water & Sewer systems. John Nelson reported we pumped a high on May 31st of 216,900 gpd; a low on the 6th of 60,200 gpd; an average of 134,819 gpd and a total for the month of May of 4,179,400 gallons. John said he replaced the meter on Walnut St. at Rivers Mobile Home Park – the valve was leaking. John said he also replaced the drain line at the catch basin at the filter plant – it was plugged. John also started ripping up E. Railroad St. – he put on 4 loads of rock yesterday. Discussed the building at the well site. John said he talked to Scott at IFG, and the mill will supply the wire for the building. John said Wil, at Boundary Electric, said he thinks we can go back to 200 amp service – it’s now 400 amp. John said he has a 200 amp meter. Wil is in Alaska right now so John will talk to him when he gets back.

Sandy read the 1st reading of Ordinance #116 – Cross Connection Control.

John said he would like to put a culvert at the intersection of Canyon View and McGinnis, and he has a culvert. The council approved. He would also like to move Ed Hanson’s and Adam Michel’s water meters out to the road. The line for Oliver Andrews meter can be run through the front wall of his house and Nati Summerfield’s would have to dug in around her house. John said just moving 2 of the meters would relieve the pressure on that line. The council approved.

Sandy told the council Mike Tompkins is no longer on the city BC policy, effective June 1, 2012, which will save the city $945.73 per month. The city was also reimbursed $432.40 for the May premium for Della Farrens and didn’t have to pay the June premium of $432.40 for her. The divorce was retroactive to March 19, 2012. Sandy also sent Blue Cross a letter asking for reimbursement of the April premium for Della in the amount of $432.40.

Discussed the City Hall sign and whether it should hang or be rigid. The council decided it should be rigid from the bottom and should be 71/2 feet off the ground to the bottom of the sign.

Discussed the bills. A motion was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Chad Farrens to pay the bills. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Chad Farrens and seconded by Steve Economu to adjourn. Motion carried.


/s/
Attest: City Clerk