MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE SARATOGA TOWN COUNCIL HELD February 3 2009, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE SARATOGA

TOWN HALL.

Mayor Pro Tem Judy Welton called the meeting to order.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  Members present were Councilman John Collamer, Councilwoman Kassey Westring. Mayor John Zeiger and Councilman Ed Glode were absent from the meeting.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilwoman Westring made a motion to approve the agenda with the deletion of Mike Jones from Items from the Public, seconded.  Motion passed.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Councilwoman Westring made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2009 meeting, seconded. Motion passed.

APPROVAL OF THE BILLS: Councilwoman Westring presented the following bills for approval:Accounts Payables:  $16,264.14; payroll and FICA for 2/2/09 in the amount of $50,578.35 and manual checks in the amount of $282.38 for a total of $67,124.87.

Councilman Collamer made a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $67,124.87, seconded. Motion passed.

CORRESPONDENCE:  Mayor Pro Tem Welton reported that approximately 40 letters in support of the Not-So-Hot Hot Pool had been received by the town clerkwith one letter against the development of a Not-So-Hot Hot Pool. Mayor Pro Tem Welton added that anyone interested in reviewing the letters could stop by the town clerk’s office and request that they be able to read the letters.

REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTS: 

Town Hall: Clerk Suzie Cox requested the council approve the Business Ready Community Grant and Loan Program Agreement. The grant application is for Community Enhancement funds for the hot pool improvement project. Clerk Cox requested permission for the Mayor to sign all necessary paper work for the grant application.

Councilwoman Westring made a motion approve the Business Ready Grant and Loan Program Agreement and allow Mayor Zeiger or Mayor Pro Tem Welton to sign all necessary documents, seconded. Motion passed.

Clerk Suzie Cox explained that a Budget Workshop Schedule had been provided in the council packets and asked that the council review the schedule and get back to her about the dates that will work best for each person.

Clerk Suzie Cox reminded the council of the goal setting workshop following the council meeting on February 17, 2008 at 7:00.

Clerk Cox reported that the closing on the property located at Pic Pike Road, Veterans and River Street would be February 12, 2009 at First American Title company in Rawlins.

Police Department: Chief Grayling Wachsmuth presented a report of police activities for the council to preview.

Recreation Department: Recreation Director Lisa Burton reported that approximately 125 were in attendance for the Queen City Jazz Band concert held on January 24, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.  Discussion followed and it was reported that the cost for the program was approximately $4,000.00 plus advertising and lodging, and approximately $788.00 was collected.

Ms. Burton reported on the survey that was provided for those in attendance. The survey was required as a part of the grant application submitted to the Arts Council. A discussion followed on the results of the survey and different ways to advertise the different activities provided by the recreation department.

Recreation Director Lisa Burton requested the council approve the Michael Hurwitz agreement and allow the mayor to sign all necessary paperwork. The Michael Hurwitz concert is scheduled for February 21, 2008 at 7:00 in the Community Center Theater

Councilman Collamer made a motion to allow Mayor Zeiger or Mayor Pro Tem Welton to sign all necessary paperwork for the Michael Hurwitz agreement, seconded. Motion passed.

Director Burton requested permission to submit the State Forestry Grant/Tree Board project for Tree City USA. The deadline for the application is February 16, 2009 and the grant is a matching fund grant in the amount of $2,500.00 and would be used to plant trees on the property adjacent to Veteran’s Island that the town is proposing to purchase.  Ms. Burton requested permission to allow the mayor or mayor pro tem to sign the grant application.

Councilwoman Westring made a motion to allow the submission of the State Forestry Grant Application in the amount of $2,500.00 and allow the mayor or mayor pro tem to sign the application, seconded. Motion passed.

Director Burton requested permission to submit a grant application to the Carbon County School District #2 Recreation Board in the amount of $8,528.00. The deadline for the application is February 16, 2009 and the grant breakdown is as follows: $3328.00 to retain the open gym supervisor and increase the rate of pay from $7.50 per hour to $8.00 per hour; $2500.00 for pool chemicals and benches; $1700.00 for Good Times Park for 2 tables and a grill; $1000.00 for open gym equipment.  Ms. Burton requested permission to allow the mayor or mayor pro tem to sign the grant application.

Councilman Collamer made a motion to allow the submission of the Carbon County School District #2 Recreation Board in the amount of $8,528.00 and allow the mayor or mayor pro tem to sign the application, seconded. Motion passed.

Ms. Burton reported that she had submitted her annual report for the recreation department.

Street Department:   Chuck Bartlett reported that the crews have been busy removing snow and ice from town streets.

Mr. Jim Catlin thanked John Lasco and the town crew for their efficiency in cleaning and maintaining all town streets.

Councilman Collamer added that he thought the town crews were much more efficient this year than in the past.

Water and Sewer: Chuck Bartlett reported for clarification that the town would not be giving up town water rights with the wells in production. Mr. Bartlett added that the 10.39 CFS water rights that the town currently has will be maintained for municipal use and that the town’s current water rights will be retained as municipal water rights.

Councilman Collamer reported that he would like to see some clarification in the Rawlins Daily Times to note that the town would retain their municipal water rights as municipal rights and not as irrigation water rights.

Mr. Richard Hodges noted that if the correction had been made when the article was written The Daily Times would have done a retraction, but because the article had been written some time ago the retraction might not be forthcoming. He apologized and noted he welcomed clarification or corrections to any articles that he gets published.

Mr. Bartlett reported that a water line repair had been completed at Mountain View and S. River Streets and a sewer line problem had been located and would be repaired on Cliff Drive.

Chuck Bartlett requested permission to allow Energy Equipment from Casper to service the blowers at the lagoon at a cost of $1,800.00. Mr. Bartlett noted that he did not believe the blowers had not been serviced in at least four (4) years.

Councilman Collamer made a motion to allow Mr. Bartlett to contract with Energy Equipment from Casper to service the blowers at the lagoons at a cost of approximately $1,800.00, seconded. Motion passed.

REPORTS FROM BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

Airport Board:     Chuck Bartlett explained to the council that the Federal and State Grant application in their packets is for the engineering design services for the apron project at the airport. Mr. Bartlett requested that the council approve the application and allow the mayor to sign all necessary paper work to begin the design process. Mr. Bartlett reported the cost of the engineering phase of the project and his request for approval is for $300,000.00 in federal grant funds $9,474.00 in state funds and that the town’s share would be $6,315.00 which was budgeted in this year’s budget. 

Councilwoman Westring made a motion to approve the Federal and State Grant application and allow the mayor to sign all necessary paper work on the application, seconded. Motion passed. 

Community Center Joint Powers Board:  Councilwoman Welton reported the next meeting would be Monday, February 16, 2009 at the Community Center at 4:00 p.m.

Water and Sewer Joint Powers Board:  Chuck Bartlett reported that there would be a tour of the new water system beginning at 4:00 on February 11, 2009.

The next meeting of the water and sewer joint powers board will be February 11, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.

Planning Commission: Chuck Bartlett reported that a public hearing had been held at 5:30 prior to the council meeting to get public comments on a zone amendment from RB Retail Business to RD6000 Medium Density Residential District for Lots 7, 8 9, 10 and the west ½ of Lot 11 Block 5, Hugus and Chatterton First Addition located at 107 through 111 W. Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga. The intended use of the property is residential and the Saratoga Planning Commission recommended approval for the zone amendment. 

Councilman Collamer made a motion to approve a zone change amendment for Lots 7, 8 9, 10 and the west ½ of Lot 11 Block 5, Hugus and Chatterton First Addition located at 107 through 111 W. Saratoga Avenue from RB retail business district to a RD6000 residential district, seconded.  It was reported that there were no public comments in opposition to the zone amendment at the public hearing. Motion passed.

The next meeting of the planning commission is February 10, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.

Recreation Commission The next meeting of the Recreation Commission will be held on February 12, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.

Ms. Burton reported that there are three (3) positions on the Recreation Commission that will be up for reappointment this April with one letter requesting reappointed having been received.

Being no further business to come before the meeting was adjourned.

The next regular meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be held 

February 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.in the Council Chambers of the Saratoga Town Hall. 

/s/ Judy Welton, Mayor Pro Tem

ATTEST:

Suzie Cox, Clerk 

Legal #4733

Published in the Saratoga Sun

February 25, 2009