April 14, 2009 Monroe City City Council Minutes

Written by Emalee Curtis

MINUTES

MONROE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

APRIL 14, 2009

7:30 p.m.

1. Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson

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 Troy Torgersen. Prayer was offered by Councilmember Warren Monroe.

The minutes of the March 24, 2009 city council meeting were reviewed by councilmembers.

Correction: Page five delete the sentence: "He asked Councilmember Monroe to attend."

A motion was made by Councilmember Lamar Ogden, seconded by Councilmember Warren Monroe to approve the minutes of the March 24, 2009 Monroe City Council meeting as corrected above. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Present:

Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson.

Councilmembers: Troy Torgersen, Warren Monroe, Lamar Ogden, Ed Oldroyd.

City Recorder Emalee Curtis. Public Works Superintendent Devin Magleby.

Excused: Councilmember Jean Vigil has been hospitalized and is very ill.

Citizens:

Kamelle Gleave, Monroe City Planning Commission Chairman

Chad Hunt, Richfield Reaper

Frank Davis

Rick Adams

Lynn Cook

Elle and Devin Woolsey

Bill Peterson

Kim Hackwell

2. Citizen input

Frank Davis, Paiute ATV Trail Committee, brought photos to the council of a proposed ATV trail kiosk, following up from a previous meeting with the council. This sign will be placed south of the city yards where there is sufficient area for off-street parking and unloading ATVs. This kiosk sign will help orient ATV riders who come into town.

3. Business

(A) Planning Commission recommendations: Conditional Use Business Licenses

Kamelle Gleave, planning commission chairman presented the following conditional use business license applications to the council for approval.

(1) Elle Woolsey, Ellemay’s Salon, (hair, nails) located at 467 N 200 W

Elle’s application is for a hair and nail salon to be located in a remodeled area of her garage. She will also sell products and craft items. There is plenty of room for parking. The garage is 24'x26' and the salon area will be 13'x26'. The planning commission recommended approval of this application.

(2) Rene’ Lindgren Studios, (artist) located at 290 E 100 N

Rene’ Lindgren submitted an application for a conditional use business license for an art studio in her home. This business will not generate any traffic. The planning commission also recommended approval of this request.

A motion was made by Councilmember Warren Monroe seconded by Councilmember Lamar Ogden to approve both of the above conditional use business licenses listed above as submitted. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Kamelle reported that the planning commission is currently looking at a city ordinance regulating signs in the community.

(B) Monroe American Legion - cemetery project and parks flag purchase

Lynn Cook and Rick Adams, American Legion Post 37, approached the council about adding an explanation of the purpose of the flag holders for veterans in the legend at the city cemetery. They thought the explanation would assist relatives of veterans buried in the cemetery identify their loved ones. Sometimes the flag holders have been confused for religious crosses, and a number of the flag holders have been removed due to the confusion.

Councilmember Torgersen suggested calling them American Legion flag holders, to give the Legion credit and to better help identify their purpose. Councilmembers agreed that this project is a good idea to better explain what the flag holders mean and why they are there.

Mr. Cook also asked the council for assistance in the cost of replacing one of four sets of flags at the Veteran’s Memorial located at the Lion’s Park. The current cost to replace one set is $250.00. The council agreed to purchase one set of veteran’s flags for $250.00 with the cost to come from the city’s general miscellaneous fund budget. A check will be made out to the American Legion.

Mr. Cook thanked the council for their support.

Mr. Bill Peterson met with the council. He is from Manti and is the president and founder of the Palisade Pals Foundation. This is a 501 3c foundation. In the past, they have had a contract to provide transportation services in the area, but now there is no public transportation service.

They have submitted a grant to UDOT in hopes of providing a transportation program which will target services for the elderly, disabled and low income individuals.

If funding can be found, he would like to eventually expand the type of services offered. He is not asking for any money tonight, he is just explaining what programs they are trying to get running.

The grants he has applied for require matching funding. He is asking the cities to consider paying $1.00 per person per year in each community served.

Eventually he would like to offer daily routes. Non emergency medical is one form of transportation and would be by phone reservations. The dispatch will be from Manti. He would like to put three busses in three different areas and eventually would like to have busses in those areas with routes three times a day.

Councilmember Ogden said that his introductory letter didn’t include the Monroe area. Mr. Peterson said that was an oversight. Routes would include the South Sevier area.

Councilmember Oldroyd asked who would determine who can and who can’t ride. Mr. Peterson doesn’t feel that the program will be abused.

There is not a toll free phone number to their office at this time.

Mr. Peterson said that he can’t do this alone. He is asking all communities to help make this a success. He will be back, if not to ask for money, to ask for a letter of support. This project won’t happen tomorrow, it may be a year or longer before the project becomes a reality.

Councilmembers agree that this may be a very valuable service to our community.

4. Staff reports: Department budget reports-Tentative budget worksheets

Budget worksheets were distributed to each councilmember. They were asked to meet with Recorder Curtis within the next two weeks to prepare tentative budget figures for their departments. One issue that needs to be decided as the budget is prepared is whether the city will have paper ballots or contract with the county for electronic equipment elections.

The quote from PEHP for the city’s health insurance premiums showed a 9 percent increase. The council needs to decide whether to accept the quote for the same coverage as the previous year or reduce the premium cost by increasing the deductible and out of pocket expenses for those employees covered by the plan. What the council decides to do with the cost of health insurance may affect whether or not they can provide full time employees a three percent wage increase as well.

Mayor Nilsson commented that the city has great employees and would like to continue the three percent cost of living salary increase if possible.

Recorder Curtis reported that she attended a training sponsored by the state auditor’s office yesterday. A legislative update reported that there are changes to the reporting requirements for audits and impact fees. There will also be changes in services provided by the auditor’s office due to budget cuts.

The no smoking signs have been installed at the parks.

Public Works Supervisor Devin Magleby thanked the council for the emergency leave he was granted which allowed him to do what he needed to do during his wife’s illness and death.

The council discussed what they would like to see as duties for a summer part time employee.

Brandie Lynch will not be returning to work for the city this summer. She is taking time off to be with her two young children. Devin suggested that it might be a good idea to have seasonal part time help work on the parks under Bob’s supervision and have Bob work more with city crews on city projects.

Councilmember Torgersen asked Devin to write down what things he would like to have Bob do.

It was determined that the city will post a job opening flyer around town advertising that the city is accepting applications for a seasonal part time worker. The closing date for applications to be submitted will be April 24^th. The applications will be reviewed and a recommendation made to the council at their next meeting.

5. Department business - reports and concerns - Law enforcement concerns

Department reports:

Councilmember Ed Oldroyd - Streets Department - Weeds - Equipment

City crews are working on pot hole repairs. They still have the Canyon Road left to do

Crews are also working on replacing damaged and faded signs around town

It was noted that new trail signs have been vandalized and removed at Monrovian park

Councilmember Oldroyd is still talking with Scott Parsons and they still haven’t resolved the issue of an effective pre emergent weed spray. The ones he has been looking at won’t take care of puncture weeds which is our biggest problem.

Cold Springs project update – the city made a good decision with contractor that was hired for this project. Today they tested the water through the manhole and down the pipeline. They have changed the direction of the overflow pipe. The contractor is ahead of schedule and within budget.

Councilmember Lamar Ogden - Water/Irrigation Departments - Sewer -Garbage - Landfill

He is really pleased with the progress of the Cold Springs remediation project. We will be able to recover 100 gpm instead of 60 gpm. The contractor and engineers are doing a very good job.

The new fence around the pond and treatment plant is completed. The contractor billing came in under bid.

The city’s pressurized irrigation will be fully pressurized by tomorrow night.

Councilmember Jean O. Vigil - Library Department - Utility Board - Fire Dept - Sr. Citizens

No new business

Councilmember Warren Monroe - Electric Department - Mosquito Abatement

There are still rumblings on carbon cap and trade issues. It may end up to be just a carbon cap federal energy requirement.

Calculations on water flow at Cold Springs. There is now an additional flow of 144,000 gallons per day based on 100 gpm. This additional flow may make a new hydro plant on that culinary line more feasible.

Regarding Ralph Eyre water rights issue. His application was protested by a group of Delta water users. The appeal was based on non consumptive use. There may have been an error on his application on the point of diversion. To clarify, it is not the city’s point of diversion. Devin said that Ralph ties into the city’s penstock. This was done more than 30 years ago, probably as a gentleman’s agreement in order for this property to be able to obtain their water right flow since the city put the stream in a pipeline.

Councilmember Troy Torgersen - Parks Department - Cemetery Department - Planning Commission

He has met with the American Ramp Company to look at skate park equipment. He is asking for a layout and cost estimate.

Councilmember Torgersen reported that he recently attended a parks and trails planning meeting. Budgeted funds might be utilized to hire an intern from a local university to work with the city to develop a parks and trails master plan for our community. They also might organize sports programs and look for grants. Typically, an intern works 20 hours a week.

A boy scout is interested in organizing and planning for installation of the new playground equipment at Mtn. View Park.

It was suggested that the city consider adopting a parks and recreation bond tax, which would be 1 tenths of one percent of sales tax. This would require public support and be placed on a ballot and voted on at a local election.

Several individuals have expressed interest in serving on a parks and recreation board. He will get this organized soon.

There is a federal government program for construction of sidewalks for safe pedestrian traffic, especially to schools. The deadline for application was February. The city might consider looking at applying for next year’s funding after prioritizing our sidewalk needs.

Delta City has some used survey grade GPS equipment. Devin was asked to look into it as the city doesn’t have survey grade equipment.

Councilmember Torgersen has been attending CERT training. Would the city fund purchase of a trailer to hold emergency supplies for our area? The cost may be around $2,500 for a used one. The cost might be shared between departments.

Mayor R. Kirt Nilsson - General administration report - CIB & Water Quality Board meetings

Mayor Nilsson reported that he received a letter from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality commending and recognizing Monroe City Public Works Supervisor for 15 years of certification in providing the city with safe culinary water.

Mayor Nilsson informed the council that he approached the Utah State Water Quality Board meeting to request $23,500.00 matching funding for a wastewater study. This is a loan, which may need to be repaid once a project begins.

Councilmember Monroe attended a recent Community Impact Board (CIB) meeting. Four project applications were denied at this meeting. Monroe City was approved for a $23,500.00 grant for a wastewater study project. He explained to the board that council will not proceed with a wastewater project without public support. The council has decided that we will pursue the study. Following the completion of the study, the council needs to make the tough decision, whether or not to proceed with construction of a sewer project. As the study is completed, the council will need to get information out to the community. Education is the key. Pros and cons will remain the same, but the cost will go up the longer we wait to begin a wastewater project. The council can choose to do the study, but the community will determine if the project actually happens. The purpose of the study is to get the details before proceeding. The city council agrees to continue with the study and move ahead.

6. Adjournment

A motion was made by Councilmember Warren Monroe, seconded by Councilmember Troy Torgersen to adjourn at 9:35 p.m. All were in favor. Meeting adjourned.

Approved this 28^th day of April, 2009

_______________________________

Emalee H. Curtis, City Recorder

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