CITY of ELGIN
COUNCIL MINUTES FOR JUNE 8, 1999
COUNCILORS PRESENT- Glenn Clark
John McElravy
Joe Estes
John Braughton
Berta Churchill - Mayor
ABSENT- John Stover
Pat McMullen
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7 PM by Mayor Berta Churchill
Hearings:
7:00 Budget Hearing
Mayor Churchill opened the budget hearing. No one present offered testimony
regarding the budget. After a brief discussion among the Councilors, Mayor
Churchill closed the hearing. Councilor Clark moved to adopt the budget as
presented, with Councilor Braughton as second. The vote was unanimous for
approval, motion carried.
Mayor Churchill called a special meeting for June 22, 1999 at 7:00 to
approve a resolution appropriating funds and levying taxes.
Approval of Minutes
The Mayor called for approval of the minutes of the meeting of May 11,1999.
Councilor Estes moved to approve the minutes as presented, with Councilor Clark
as second. The vote was unanimous for approval, motion carried.
With some time remaining before the next hearing, Mayor Churchill proceeded to
the supervisors reports:
Police- Chief Sibley reported that the DARE graduation went very well, and
reported that the bicycle jamboree was well attended. The þNatural Helpersþ
from the school were excellent in helping the kids with the instruction. Chief
Sibley also reported that Nick Pallis, a new reserve officer, is being trained to
act as the ordinance enforcement officer.
7:10 Hearing, Vacation of alley between 15th & 16th.
Rick Smith had requested the vacation of an alley-way in the North 300
block between 15th and 16th streets. Notices have been published for four
consecutive weeks in the Elgin Recorder and Posted at either end of the alley.
Mr. Smith has request that the hearing be continued until July. Nick
Pallis, property owner adjacent to the alley-way was present and indicated he
uses the alley to provide access to his property especially during the winter
months. He stated that he and Mr. Smith were working together to find an
alternate access that would allow closing a protion of the alley.Mayor
Churchill recessed the hearing until 7:10, July 13, 1999 at the City Hall.
Supervisors reports continued:
Public works- Kyle Boylen; absent, no report.
Library- Sandra Good submitted a written. She also presented some policy
changes for the Council to review. The current policies have been in effect for
a year, and with that experience, a few items need to be addressed. These will
be considered in July.
7:15 Hearing, Vacation of alley between 14th -15th,
Marie Dalton had asked the Council to initiate vacation proceedings for the
alley-way in Block 22 of North Elgin Subdivision, between 14th and 15th Ave
running south from Baltimore. No one was present to offer testimony in this
matter. Councilor Clark stated that he had contacted the McMurdo, an adjacent
property owner. McMurdo is in favor of the vacation. Dalton, the other
property owner, was the requesting party. Councilor Braughton stated that he
has examined the area and can see no benefit in retaining the right-of-way.
Notices have been published for four consecutive weeks in the Elgin
Recorder and Posted at either end of the alley. With no further comments,
Councilor Clark moved to approve the vacation to the alley as requested, with
Councilor Estes as second. The vote was unanimous for approval, motion carried.
Supervisors reports continued:
Fire- Chief McDonald reported that the Fire Department will have a
breakfast at Riverfest on Saturday morning from 7:00 to 10:00. He also reported
on the BCC fire. He was very pleased with the performance of the new fire
engine.
Ambulance- no report.
Municipal Court- Ralph Howell; no report, with the absence of the clerk,
there was no court this month.
Recorder/Administrator- Joe Garlitz, no report.
Citizens to Speak
Maureen Smolkowski was present to request that the $600 budgeted to 2010
in the current fiscal year be disbursed. The Council, by consensus, agreed that
the monies should be disbursed as budgeted.
Karen Owen was present to address the Council. She in formed the council
that she has been hired by UCEDC as executive director. In order to prevent
any conflict of interest or appearance of conflict, she has resigned her
leadership rolls in Elgin EDGE. She will continue as an active member of EDGE
and assured the Council that she will remember where her roots are. She noted
that Kathy Gifford and Chuck Koch will be co-chairing EDGE. Mrs. Owen reported
that she and Sheri McDonald had the opportunity to visit a business incubator
in Ellensburg, WA last week. She said the facility was well run and is a good
model for such a facility in Elgin.
7:30 Hearing, Transportation Plan
Dara Decker and Hanley Jenkins were present to facilitate the
transportation plan hearing. The hearing notice was published in the Elgin
Recorder on June 1, 1999. Mayor Churchill opened the hearing. No one present
offered testimony in the matter. The Councilors thanked Ms. Decker for her
efforts in preparing and compiling the plan. Councilor Clark noted that having
the completed document, put the whole plan in perspective for him and was very
comprehensive. An implementing ordinance will be presented at the July
meeting.
Citizens to Speak; continued.
Kathleen Koch was present to address the Council. She presented a letter
requesting that the Council consider placing þporta-pottiesþ in Witty Park.
Sheri McDonald was present to introduce a group of EOU students who
have done an economic development analysis on Elgin. The students reviewed
their research and conclusions for the Council. Of special note, in the report,
was an analysis that compared Elginþs relative merits for recruiting outside
businesses with LaGrande, Enterprise and Baker City. Elgin is not in a
competitive position primarily because it is not on a major transportation link and
has a smaller population base. It was also reported that Elgin has a competitive
disadvantage because the standardized test scores for the Elgin School District
are substantially lower than the scores for the other communities.
The report suggested that Elgin has opportunities for diversification of its
economic base by developing its tourist/visitor facilities and by developing a
business incubator to foster the growth of local businesses. It was also noted
that the small wood products industry is the most likely forest related industry
that has potential for develpoment in the Elgin area.
The presentation was well received by the Council, and will provide a
substantive basis to further the communityþs economic development efforts.
Committee Reports
The Mayor then called for the committee reports.
Administration: Councilor Estes reported that the bills had been reviewed.
Public Works: Councilors Braughton and McElravy, no report.
Public Safety: Councilor Clark reported that the committy and the police
chief had met with school district personnel. The meeting was constructive and
provided a basis for continued efforts to meet the schoolþs and the communityþs
expectations regarding matters of patrol and enforcement in the school. Chief
Sibley has written a letter to the school administration describing services that
the City can provide and an outline for further cooperation.
Old Business
Toilets at Witty park
The Council discussed the merits of providing portable toilets at Witty park
for the summer months. After discussion, Councilor Estes moved to direct the
Administrator to determine the vendor which can provide toilets at the best cost,
and to have them installed as soon as possible, with Councilor Braughton as
second. The vote was unanimous for approval, motion carried.
Bid approval for Hun-a-ha sewer lift pump.
A bid from Hydronix, Inc. of Portland was submitted for review and
approval. The bid submitted for the package lift station to be installed at Hun-
a-ha Park was for $15,762.00. The bid was complete and was below the estimated
cost. Mr. Garlitz noted that the company was well regarded in the Portland area
and recommended approval of the bid. Councilor Braughton moved to accept the
bid of $15,762 from Hydronix and approved the mayorþs signature on the
necessary documents, with Councilor Clark as second. The vote was unanimous
for approval, motion carried.
New Business
Resolution 1058: Sponsor Cycle Oregon as special City event
Resolution 1058 providing that the Cycle Oregon þ99 visit to Elgin be
designated a special event and that the City be the sponsoring entity to contract
with Cycle Oregon. Councilor Clark moved to approve resolution 1058 as
presented, with Councilor McElravy as second. The vote was unanimous for
approval, motion carried.
Resolution 1059: Covering Volunteers for Workers Comp
Resolution 1059 electing to provide workers compensation insurance for the
Cityþs volunteers was presented. The resolution presented is an updated version
of the existing resolution electing to cover volunteers. It makes no changes to
the current coverages. Councilor McElravy moved to approve Resolution 1059 as
presented, with Councilor Braughton as second. The vote was unanimous for
approval, motion carried.
Resolution 1060: Expenditure of unforseen Grant funds, Hun-a-ha Park
The City has been granted and additional $21,000 for continued
construction at Hun-a-ha Park. These funds are for the purchase and
installation of the sewer lift pump, and must be expended prior to the end of
June. Councilor Braughton moved to approve Resolution 1060 as presented, with
Councilor Clark as second. The vote was unanimous for approval, motion carried.
Resolution 1061: Declaring election to receive State Revenues
Each year the City is required by the State to þelect to receiveþ state
revenue sharing funds that come from a special allocation of liquor taxes.
Resolution 1061 declares the said election. Councilor Clark moved to approve
Resolution 1061 as presented, with Councilor Estes as second. The vote was
unanimous for approval, motion carried.
Request by Community Bank to share cost of paving alley-way
Community Bank is in the process of remodeling a build on 8th Street for
their bank location. Part of the construction provides for parking with access
from the alley that boarders the south side of the lot. They have approached
the City to share the cost of paving that portion of the alley that abuts the
parking. A prior pole of the Council indicated an agreement to the proposal.
Councilor Estes moved to share one half the cost of paving the alley as indicated
up to $1,000, with Councilor Braughton as second. The vote was unanimous for
approval, motion carried.
Correspondence
The following correspondence was noted:
CCIS: has sent a certificate presenting the City with participation credits
for insurance coverages totaling $1,247.49.
Elgin EDGE sent a note thanking the City for sponsoring Rural Futures
Forum training for 5 participants.
Mayor Churchill received a letter inviting the Councilors to the annual
Solid Waste District tour. The tour will be held June 17.
Good of the Order
Councilor Estes moved to approve the bills as presented, with Councilor
Clark as second. The vote was unanimous for approval, motion carried.
Councilor Estes moved to adjourn, with Councilor Braughton as second.
The vote was unanimous for approval, motion carried.
Minutes respectfully submitted;
Joe Garlitz,
Recorder/Administrator