The regular meeting of the Monroe City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Jean Okerlund-Vigil. Prayer was given by Councilmember Ogden.

The minutes of the previous meeting will be ready for review and approval at the next council meeting.

Present:

Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson

Councilmembers: Warren Monroe, Troy Torgersen, Jean Okerlund-Vigil, Lamar Ogden, Ed Oldroyd.

City Treasurer Allison Leavitt

City Public Works Superintendent Devin Magleby

City Water Superintendent Rodney Wanlass

Citizens:

Kamelle Gleave, Planning Commission Chair, Sandy Phillips, Richfield Reaper, Darin Robinson, Jones & DeMille

Buddy Qualls, Utility Board Chair, Daniel Brady, Tanner Mills,Tracy S. Johnson, Renton L. Barney, Dallas Julander, Jerry Julander, Raymond Weeks, Calvin Johnson, Ellie Johnson, Ryan Savage, Hiram Smith, Beth Adams, Charles Adams

(A) Planning Commission Recommendations: Conditional use business licenses:

(2) "Utah Trail Buddies" Internet vacation planning at 340 North 430 East:

(3) "Osiyo Home" at 295 West Center, Foster Care- Charles and Beth Adams which would provide foster care for children with disabilities.

(4) Ken Castles, 300 North 45 East, single lot split, flag lot.

Ryan Savage from Savage Surveying submitted a revised map for Ken Castles, single lot spilt with a flag lot. Kamelle Gleave stated that with the revised map that has now been submitted, the planning commission recommends approval.

(5) Rex Friant, Crandall Subdivision property line issues

Chairperson Kamelle Gleave explained that the planning commission does not recommend the city take part in Mr. Friants attempt to establish property lines for the residents in the Crandall Subdivision. There are a lot of discrepancies with the property lines in this subdivision, and this is a personal property issue not a city issue. The City council agreed with the planning commission, and the city will not be a party in this matter.

Mayor Nilsson thanked Kamelle and the board for all that they do.

(B) Monroe City Utility Board recommendations

First item of business tonight during the utility board meeting was to select a new Chairperson for the calendar year of 2009, Buddy Qualls was nominated and is willing to accept this position again. It was also necessary to replace a board member so that the utility board does not have more than two members terms ending at the conclusion of 2010. Craig Mathie has agreed to be replaced, however he agreed to be an alternate when needed. Chairman Qualls told the council that at the next utility board meeting a list of names for possible replacement would be prepared for the councils review.

Second item of business was a presentation from Darin Robinson, from Jones and DeMille. He presented the Monroe Irrigation System Capital Facilities Plan that was submitted to the city council during their January 13, 2009 council meeting. This was mainly for information, and no recommendation was needed.

Last item on the agenda was the water line that takes water to Glen and Sandy Phillips and Thomas and Carolee Jenson, north of the cemetery on 360 East.

This line was installed as a partnership between the Jenson’s and Phillips’. After much discussion, the Utility Board has given a recommendation that this line be exempt from the $20 surcharge to the current owners. Once these properties are no longer in their names, the surcharge will be charged to the new owners.

The city will take ownership of this line and maintain the line just as the other lines outside the city limits. There are only two tap rights on this line and no other tap rights will be granted.

Buddy explained that the difference between this line and any other line outside the city limits is that there is documentation that this line was paid for and installed by private parties and that the city has no capitol money invested in this line. A letter will be written and signed by Mayor Nilsson and Councilmember Ogden stating the conditions for this line.

Council gave Allison, city treasurer, permission to credit the Phillips’s and Jenson’s accounts for the $20 charged to their accounts for the billing period ending 1/31/2009.

A motion was made by Councilmember Jean Vigil seconded by Troy Torgersen to proceed with a draft letter agreeing to exempt Glen and Sandy Phillips and Thomas and Carolee Jenson from paying the surcharge for their culinary water service outside the city limits. All were in favor, Councilmember Warren Monroe abstained. Motion carried.

Mayor again thanked Buddy Qualls and the Utility Board for their hard work.

(C) Glen and Sandy Phillips - culinary water issues

No action- discussed and action taken during Utility Board report.

Before beginning with item (D) on the agenda, Councilmember Warren Monroe stated that he would like to disclose that he is an employee of Jones and DeMille and that this will no way influence his vote tonight.

(D) Darin Robinson, Jones & DeMille Engineering: Has three things on the agenda and will start with the waste water study update. Nothing much has changed since work session with Brad Shafer, discussing funding potential for the study. Darin did receive a phone message from Ed McCauley, engineer section manager for Department of Water Quality, Division of Environmental Quality, to make sure we understood that they would support us in application for funding in updating the waste water study. He also said that the CIB could also be another funding agency. If funds through the stimulus package were to come available, having an updated waste water study would give the wastewater project the potential of being what the government terms "shovel ready."

Darin had wanted to have a conference call with, at least the Mayor and Shelly Thomas (Andrews), who is the Environmental Coordinator for Water Quality; and Scott Stoddard, who is the Army Corp manager for the 595 funds. He was unable to do that, however, he did visit with Scott who gave him some information that the city would need to do to be placed on the list for funding from the 595. He suggested that the city submit a letter to the Army Corp requesting to be placed on their list for funding. We also need to submit an application for appropriation to Senator Bennett’s office; which at this time Darin has not received the application. Emalee has drafted the letter in the event the city decides to submit application to be included on the list. Scott informed Darin that right now there are probably 50 or so applications pending, however only small number have completed both the letter and application. With the letter and application, the city could move up on the list.

The 595 requirement needs an environmental assessment, and assessment must be completed for Water Quality too. However these two agencies have different requirements. The Army Corp is more stringent. Scott suggested that we do not complete this assessment until we are 45% completed in the design phase of the project, not during the study. Shelly Thomas (Andrews) with Water Quality, feels it’s best to complete the environmental assessment as part of the study. For one thing you do not want to get down the road and find out there is an environmental issue that would require that the design be totally different, and the Army Corp is more stringent and takes more time. She has worked on many joint projects with the Corp and says that this slows down the process for the funding with Water Quality. So the city needs to decide if they are going to proceed and which scope they are wanting to go with. Darin recommended that the Mayor and others have a conference call with Shelly . With her being the coordinator, she can give a clear picture of the scope of the project and which way is the best to proceed. Darin will contact Shelly to set up a conference call.

A few citizens were here tonight to express their feelings about the city looking into funding to do a waste water system. Mr. Raymond Weeks asked why the city was proceeding with the sewer project when years ago the citizens were against it. It was explained to him that this is just a study update so that if funds became available, the city would be in a position to move forward. This is not to say we are doing anything, but just looking at our options.

Mrs. Ellie Johnson also spoke to the council that she did not feel like it was the right thing to do to accept money from the government, mainly the stimulus package, when the government does not have the money to give. "It is just not morally right," she stated: " we as Monroe governing body should take a stand and not accept the money from this type of government plan." The council recognized Mrs. Johnson statement with an applaud, however funding from the stimulus package is a long shot and if we get to that point there will be public hearings for more citizen response.

Mr. Weeks asked that when these meetings are held that they be advertised more than just in the front window of the city hall. Mayor Nilsson tried to explain to him that in the past these meetings have been posted in many different locations, published in the newspaper, and if at the time of a city newsletter, it is put in there. Never is a public hearing just advertised in the city hall window.