Buffalo Wyoming City Council Meeting Minutes 10/07/08
Nov 7, 2008
Recorder: Julie Silbernagel

CITY OF BUFFALO
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
October 7, 2008
The Buffalo City Council met in Regular Session in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Present were Mayor Johnson, Councilman Dyess, Councilman Hancock, Councilman Humphrey and Councilman Vogl. Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilman Humphrey addressed Council with several concerns. Humphrey requested clarification from the City Attorney as to whether Council minutes can be voted on by members who haven’t attended the meeting. Attorney Kirven advised to approve the September 2nd meeting minutes again with all Council members present. Councilman Humphrey also asked Council for a determination on whether his absence at the September 16th Council meeting was excused or unexcused. In closing, Humphrey questioned why a letter for presentation at the September 16th Council meeting was not read in its entirety. Councilman Hancock apologized for the misunderstanding on not reading the letter and advised that the contents of the letter had been presented and Council action was taken. Hancock stated he would read the letter at this Council meeting.
Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the September 2, 2008 Regular Council Meeting minutes. Councilman Humphrey seconded the motion and the Mayor and all Council Members present voted aye.
A brief discussion regarding definition of excused or unexcused absences was held. Councilman Vogl made a motion to approve the September 16, 2008 Regular Council Meeting minutes to include the excused absences of Councilman Humphrey and Mayor Johnson. Councilman Dyess seconded the motion with Councilmen Dyess, Hancock and Vogl voting aye. Mayor Johnson and Councilman Humphrey abstained.
Wyoming’s Chief Justice, Bart Voight and Holly Hanson addressed Council regarding the Judges Automation System. Voight stated he had learned about the City of Buffalo ending their participation in the program via a news article and invited Council to reconsider this decision. Holly Hanson explained the automation system and apologized for the lack of training provided on the case management system. Hanson informed Council of the increased efforts to get municipality participation in the program. Hanson also offered to help resolve problems to regain the City of Buffalo’s participation. Municipal Court Judge, Mary Hupy, assured Voight and Hanson that the City was willing to reconsider the program if past problems could be resolved.
Mayor Johnson then presented a letter of resignation for Alternate Judge Chris Wages due to increased conflicts. Councilman Dyess made a motion to accept the resignation with a second from Councilman Hancock. The Mayor and all Council members voted aye.
Andy Stafford, Clear Creek Middle School Science Department, requested Council permission to put nesting boxes and a platform along the trail system. Stafford explained the process and purpose of the request and Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the placement of the boxes and platform. Councilman Humphrey seconded the motion and the Mayor and all Council members voted aye.
Councilman Hancock made a motion to introduce Ordinance #1308 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 27, Section 12 of the Code of the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming on first reading. Councilman Dyess seconded the motion with the Mayor and all Council members voting aye. Mayor Johnson explained the Ordinance and how it addressed the rules of the City path systems. There being no Public Comment Councilman Hancock made a motion to approve Ordinance #1308 on first reading with a second from Councilman Humphrey. The Mayor and all Council members voted aye.
Councilman Hancock made a motion to introduce Ordinance #1309 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2B, Section 1 through 5 of the Code of the Town of the City of Buffalo, Wyoming on first reading. Councilman Dyess seconded the motion with the Mayor and all Council members voting aye. Mayor Johnson explained the Ordinance addressed the duties of the Trails Board. There being no Public Comment Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve Ordinance #1309 on first reading with a second from Councilman Vogl. The Mayor and all Council members voted aye.
Colin Betzler, City Planner, presented a change order in the amount of 1,358.23 for the old landfill monitoring project. Councilman Dyess made a motion to approve the change order with a second from Councilman Vogl. The Mayor and all Council members voted aye. Betzler also presented a request from TetraTech RTW to increase the contract on the design phase of the Waste Water Treatment Plant to 700,000 from 650,000. Betzler explained that extra work was needed on the design to obtain Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality approval. Mayor Johnson questioned whether TetraTech RTW could define where the additional costs were being incurred. Council requested more detail on why the additional costs before they would grant the increase. Betzler then explained that a storm water easement needed to be secured on the Lucas/Euskaldun Kalea project. Betzler requested permission to purchase the easement for an estimated 2,018.75. Councilman Hancock made a motion to approve the purchase of the easement with a second from Councilman Dyess. The Mayor and all Council members voted aye.
In closing, Betzler updated Council on the Planning Commission Agenda items, the Level 2 Water Study, the Historic Bridge project, Section 318 projects, State Revolving Fund financing, and WYDOT signage West of Buffalo. Betzler then answered Council questions regarding the water and sewer line to the fairgrounds.
Les Hook, Public Works Director, presented the bid results for a street sweeper. Council directed Hook to look into other options. Hook also presented wage recommendations for Council approval. Councilman Dyess made a motion to increase a street crew employee’s wage to 14.84/hr with a second from Councilman Vogl. The Mayor and all Council members voted aye. Councilman Dyess made a motion to grant a 2% merit increase for two employees that had reached their 90-day review with an additional .50/hr for obtaining their CDL license. Councilman Hancock seconded the motion and the Mayor and all Council members voted aye.
Hook also presented a request from the School District to purchase an old sand truck. Councilman Dyess made a motion to sell the sand truck to the Johnson County School District #1 for 100.00. Councilman Hancock seconded the motion and the Mayor and all Council members voted aye. Hook then presented a proposal from Watco Pools to winterize the Spray Park. Hook stated it was not his recommendation to accept the proposal.
Police Chief, Michael Chapman, updated Council on continued discussions with the Wyoming Game and Fish regarding deer harvesting in the City. Chapman also updated Council on the speed enforcement grant results and addressed Council questions.
City Attorney Kirven advised he was working on new parking ordinances and addressed Council questions.
Richard Frankovic addressed Council with a list of concerns regarding the Lucas project and questioned how the City proposed to fix the problems. A brief discussion followed regarding perceived problems on the project, notification of affected landowners and drainage. Council questioned Jack Morey Jr. of JLM Engineering on possible solutions and Frankovic on what he was willing to accept as a remedy. Mayor Johnson outlined the process going forward and advised Frankovic that this would take some time.
Councilman Hancock read Russ Humphrey’s letter from the September 16 Council meeting and advised that action had been taken regarding the Council approval for the Public Works starting wage.
Mayor Johnson announced City offices would be closed for Columbus Day October 13th. Johnson also announced the next City/County breakfast would be October 21st at 7 a.m. at the Best Western. In closing, Johnson announced the next Department Head meeting would be October 28th at 9 a.m. at the City Fire Hall.
The following bills were audited and approved for payment: American National Bank & Horizon Management, contract – 34,722.86; Linda Betz, service – 398.50; Blue Cross/Blue Shield, insurance – 44,695.82; Buffalo Senior Center, agreement – 2,536.84; Buffalo Volunteer Fire Dept, supply – 5,830.95; CBM Associates, contract – 1,639.50; Michael Chapman, supply – 82.14; Nancy Hall, service – 180.00; JLM Engineering, contract – 17,899.50; Jo. Co. Solid Waste District, supply – 25,652.25; Johnson County Title Co., supply – 67.00; Johnson County Treasurer, supply – 18.83; Joint Powers Fuel Facility, supply – 11,171.77; JS Machine & Welding, supply – 350.00; Landsmark Partners, contract – 1,102.00; Local Gov’t Liability Pool, insurance – 250.00; NCPERS Group Life Ins, insurance – 160.00; North Wyoming Insurance, insurance – 102.00; Postage By Phone, supply – 800.00; RDG Planning & Design, agreement – 199.50; Tetra Tech RTW, contract – 3,354.25; St. Francis Animal Shelter, agreement – 1,300.00; Spencer Internet Services, service – 400.00; Three Way, Inc., contract – 437,793.95; Andy Tkach, supply – 186.63; Visa, supply – 1,413.03; Elaine Walker, service – 200.00; WCS Telecom, supply – 249.23; WLC, agreement – 12,266.89; WWC Engineering, agreement – 1,862.00; Wyoming APCO Chapter, supply – 100.00; WY Dept of Revenue, agreement – 368.84; WY Dept of Transportation, contract – 211.54; WYDOT, supply – 370.00; WY Educators’ Benefit Trust, insurance – 393.75; WY Retirement System, retirement – 24,347.24; Hillary Zimmerschied, service – 260.00.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Mayor
ATTEST:

City Clerk