City Council Meetings

City of Green River, Special City Council and Workshop Proceedings for March 14, 2017, 7 pm, Council Chambers, Mayor Pete Rust called the meeting to order. The following Council Members were present: Gary Killpack, Lisa Maes, Ted Barney, Robert Berg, and Allan Wilson. The following were present representing the City: City Administrator Reed Clevenger, Director of Finance Chris Meats, Director of Human Resources Cari Kragovich and the Director of Public Works Mark Westenskow. Approval of the Agenda: Council Member Wilson moved to approve the agenda. Council Member Maes seconded, motion carried. Council Action Items: (1) Approval of the Issuance of a Catering Permit to the Red Feather Inc. Council Member Wilson moved to approve the issuance of a catering permit to the Red Feather Inc., to cater the Shilcox Wedding on March 18, 2017, from 4 pm to midnight, at the Island Pavilion. Council Member Barney seconded, motion carried. Adjournment to Workshop: Council Member Killpack moved to adjourn to the Workshop at 6:34 pm. Council Member Berg seconded, motion carried. Solid Waste Transfer Station – Questions and Answers Mr. Clevenger said the Transfer Station Bid Award was tabled at the last meeting. The lowest bid was from L.M. Olsen for $1.97 million. The City has $1.5 million for the equipment and the construction of the transfer station so there is a difference that will have to be made up through a loan process. The loan has to be funded through rates. If the bid is awarded the rates will have to go up to cover the shortfall and they are looking to increase it in April. Council Member Wilson said he is in support of moving forward with the transfer station construction. He would agree to the solid waste rate being increased in April as requested. He asked how much the solid waste rate would increase and when will it be increased. Mr. Meats said they are looking at somewhere around $5 but he is not sure. He is hoping to have everything ready for the loan so he can present it to council at the last meeting in April at the latest but it will show on the May 1, 2017 or June 1, 2017 utility bills. Council Member Wilson asked how long it will take to get the front end loader. Mr. Meats said it depends on how it is bid it out. If we bid it in two pieces it will take longer but if we combine them in to one then it will be quicker. The containers are an issue as well so we will need to order them and they can take a while to come in. Council Member Wilson suggested getting a flyer together that will inform the public that there will be a rate increase and when it will take effect. He said the City needs to work with businesses on where the garbage bins can be located to make it more efficient for them and the truck drivers. Mr. Westenskow said they have been talking with the business owners to see what would be best for them and they will continue to do so. Currently, the city is out of 300 gallon containers so they are looking in to moving some of the shared 300 gallon containers to individual 90 gallon containers to make some available. Council Member Killpack said he understands the recommendation and he will vote to un-table and approve the Bid Award for the Transfer Station. He will agree to increase the solid waste rate as well. He asked if Mr. Meats will include the increase from the rate study as well as the increase for the loan right away or do one now and one later. Mr. Meats said he was planning on the solid waste rate only and only the amount needed to cover the loan. Council Member Killpack suggested increasing the rates all at once. Mr. Meats said the rate increase will have to go forward by resolution to make it formal. He can go with all or part of the increases it is up to council. Council Member Wilson suggested only doing the increase that is needed for the loan and do the rest of the increases in July. Council Member Killpack asked how much is the city saving by doing a transfer station instead of keeping the landfill. Mr. Meats said to run a non- lined landfill is around $65 to $70 per ton, to line a landfill it is around $80 to $100 per ton. It is roughly a savings of $15 to $30 per ton. Council Member Barney asked what the cost difference is between the 300 gallon and 90 gallon for residents. Mr. Meats said if there is a 300 gallon being shared at a residence it is the same cost as the 90 gallon. It is $25.50 per resident. Council Member Wilson asked how much waste can be held at transfer station if the roads are closed to Rock Springs. Mr. Westenskow said there will be four bins at the transfer station and they can hold up to two days’ worth of trash and they can hold more on the floor. Council Member Killpack asked how the collection of tires, fridges and freezers will work. Mr. Westenskow said the collection of tires will change because we will have to pay someone to pick them up. Right now residents can dispose of 4 tires per year for free. Staff is recommending that there is a fee to dispose of tires for everyone. Fridges and freezers will be collected in the metal bins. He said they are planning for some beautification around the transfer station with some trees. The irrigation will be run but the trees will have to be planted at a later date because of funding. They would like to try for some grants to pay for the trees. Council Member Maes thanked staff for looking for other funding ways. Council Member Barney suggested trying to get donations from the public like the benches around the City that are placed in honor of someone. Mr. Westenskow said he will look in to that. Council Member Berg thanked Mr. Clevenger and Mr. Meats for meeting with him and answering his questions. He said the residential rates are great. Commercial is still a little questionable. He asked if they could take 10 businesses in Green River and say what they will be paying for in garbage, water, and sewer with the proposed increases so they can understand better. Mr. Westenskow said there are too many variables involved with the commercial side and if the new front load trucks are purchased then that will be an important part of the commercial side. Council Member Berg asked how much will the commercial rates increase with the proposed rate study. Mr. Meats said the study does not show an increase in commercial rates. The Rate Study shows a pick up on a 300 gallon is $18.80 per pickup. In the study it shows commercial 300 as $79.50 which is around 4 pickups per week per container so there will be a little change. The Mayor said people are going to want to know why we are increasing rates when we say we are saving money. Council Member Maes said people are asking why the city does not go with privatizing solid waste. She tells them the only item they are talking about is the collection side and it does not include the operation costs. Mr. Meats said the city runs a municipal solid waste and it includes collection services. Our services are included in the rates. Service to service there is no comparison because we offer many additional services included in the rate. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:39 pm. _______________________ Pete Rust, Mayor Attest: ______________________ Chris Meats, City Clerk