MINUTES
FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR THE CITY OF THORNE BAY
ALASKA,
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY HALL
February 16, 2010
6:30p.m.
The meeting was preceded by a workshop beginning at 6:00p.m.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Gould called the meeting to order at 6:30p.m.
2. PLEDGE TO FLAG:
The audience and council stood for the pledge to the flag.
3. ROLL CALL:
Gould, Currit, Kelly, Marsh, Hartwell and Minnillo were present. McDonald
attended by phone.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Hartwell moved to approve the agenda. Marsh seconded the motion. There was
no further discussion.
MOTION: Move to approve the agenda
F/S: Hartwell/Marsh
YEAS: Marsh, Kelly, Minnillo, Gould, Hartwell, Currit and McDonald
NAYS: None
STATUS: Motion Passed.
5. MAYOR’S REPORT:
Gould stated he spoke with Marry Premerton of the Associated Press about
Thorne Bay being against the Sealaska Land Exchange. Gould stated she quoted
one sentence from him in the weekend paper. Gould stated he and Justin
Sornsin would be at Southeast Conference in Juneau from February 28, 2010 to
March 5, 2010. Gould stated that Betty Marsh, Justin Sornsin, Teri Hammons
and himself would all be gone for the next regular City Council meeting. Gould
suggested changing the date for the meeting.
6. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Justin Sornsin reported the following:
A& P Proposal - Discontinued development project based on public
comments
USKH Presentation for Comprehensive Sanitation Plan Items
USKH Stormwater Engineering (awaiting internal contract review /
negotiation)
Denali Commission Davidson Landing $562,761 grant application
awaiting Federal Co-Chair approval
Water / Sewer Utility Easement on Sandy Beach Road
Pete Isom Utility Request - special circumstance
AEA Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant ($27,800) - retrofit
of street lights
DNR - FY10 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant ($100k-$500k)
USDA Rural Development: Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)
Application - creation of Revolving Loan Fund for Small Business
Development ($100,000)
USFS / Downtown Business District Easement Appraisal update
Thorne Bay Biomass Initiative presentation
IT/18 needs to be replaced. We are looking to get a 2002 – 2007
model used with a cost between $80,000-$100,000 \
Sornsin gave a power point presentation on the Thorne Bay Biomass Initiative
(Attached).
A. USKH Presentation:
USKH Engineers: Dean Syta, USKH Project Manager,
Justin Sornsin, City Administrator
Nathan Leigh, USKH Assistance Project Manager
Stephanie Gould, USKH Civil Engineer
Presentation attached.
Hartwell inquired if they were going to do there project on rainy days. Dean Syta
stated they had the camera for four weeks and will be waiting for a good rain to
do the project. Kelly stated when the City paved the streets the sewer main and
storm drains were paved over. Dean Syta stated 40 of the 75 are brought to grade
and they will inspect the ones that are accessible. Kelly inquired if the other 35
still needed to be lifted. Dean Syta replied that they did. Hartwell inquired if
water was getting into the system from the man hole cover lids. Dean Syta stated
some of the water was from that, but the bulk of the water was coming from the
ground water and rain water infiltration.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
A. Library Report:
Volunteers: Kristen Lease, Doug MacAllister, Sean Maiers, Betty Marsh, Jen
Ramsay, Denise Boule, Katie Martin, Holley Mayer and Penny Black.
Library Hours: Closed-Sunday, Open- Monday, Friday and Saturdays 10am-2pm,
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-4pm., Wednesday s 11am-2pm, Monday and
Thursday nights 6pm-8pm.
User Statistics:
108.5 hours the library was opened, 162 patrons utilized the library, 45 patrons
used the computers, 31 assistances, 9 were assisted to PDF Applications. On 1-11-
10, seven of Friends of the Library Members meet for their annual meeting. The
discussion was of fund raising, purchasing a movie license, and where the library
would like to go.
Current Events:
Because there was no reading of the library last month I just want to update:
Friends of the Library gave $200.00 along with the $95.00 that was made by
movies to purchase a movie License so we can now show movies without risking
fines or jail time. Yeah! On Saturday the 13th of February the library will be
showing the classics CASABLANCA from 3-5pm at 5:30 BUTCH CASSIDY and
the SUNDANCE KID. New books, magazines, audio, DVD’s and VHS’s are in.
Come and enjoy. Current list of donors: Les Hubbard and Cindy Edenfield.
B. EMS Report:
We had 9 attendees at our monthly meeting. There will be a meeting on February
23rd for our local senior citizens to bring their ideas and concerns about health
care in our area. Esther Ehrmann, the director of the POW Health Network will
be here to conduct this meeting. EMS will be holding a fundraising dinner on
March 13th at the fire hall. Irish dinner, corned beef and cabbage with the
trimmings and dome music and dancing. We will be having ETT classes the first
two weekends of March. If you know anyone interested in these classes, they can
contact Cindy Edenfield or Karen Petersen. Blood Borne Pathogen class to be
held at 4:30p.m. on February 23rd at the fire hall.
C. Law Enforcement Report:
VPSO O’Malley reported the following:
1-animal complaint, 1-public assist, 1-process delivery for City of Thorne Bay, 1-
process delivery for Tlingit Haida, 1-suspicious circumstance-school. I took two
weeks off in December for Christmas vacation and three weeks off in January for
medical leave. I responded to the following calls during that time: 2-atv
complaints, 1-burglary, 1-City Council meeting.
D. Fire Department Report:
During the last two months our fire crew has conducted two training burns. The
first one was a trailer house at the dump and it went well. The whole trailer burnt
to the ground in 20 minutes. It should be noted that trailers burn fast and
because our response time is between ten and fifteen minutes the fire (if it is an
older trailer house) is over when we get there. The second fire was a cleanup fire
out past the school and it was mostly wet brush and didn’t go well. We tried to
get it to burn for two hours before giving up. We will be re-burning that fire as
soon as things dry out.
Justin got us a grant to replace some of our fire hoses and we received the new
hoses last week! (Thank you Justin). It was like Christmas around the fire hall
when we opened and installed the new hoses!
I would like to invite the council and public to any of our fire meetings, we have
one every Wednesday evening at 5pm. We are gearing up to start working on our
new budget and the council will be voting on our budget so it would seem like a
good idea to know what we do and why we ask for the things we do in our budget.
Klawock will be hosting some training next month and has invited our fire crew
to join. It will be the first weekend in March for three days, Friday-Sunday, it is
free and we hope to send some of our crew to this training.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Eric Henning requested the City provide a camp ground for people. Mr. Henning
stated he thought the biomass deal was great, but if the Forest Service can give
$750,000.00 why should we? Mr. Henning inquired if the City should save the
land to use it for something else. Kelly stated the Forest Service cannot give land
away. Kelly stated the Forest Service can issue special use permits. Kelly stated
the Sort Yard was dedicated as a log transfer facility. Hartwell requested Mr.
Henning define what he wanted in the camp area. Mr. Henning stated a place to
park a car and have a camp fire and take a quick shower. Kelly stated Davidson
Landing was a possibility for a camp site. Kelly stated there was a gentleman that
offered to donate a toilet the City would have to install it. Currit inquired where
Mr. Henning recommended the camp area to be. Mr. Henning stated either the
Sort Yard or Downtown area.
Jim McFarland stated he attended a school board meeting last Wednesday. Mr.
McFarland stated Lauren Burch talked about the work Justin has done on the
Biomass Project. Mr. McFarland stated there was a Forest Product meeting on
Thursday February 17, 2010, at 4:00p.m. Mr. McFarland stated there was a POW
Visitor Committee meeting on the 18th in Klawock at 11am. Mr. McFarland stated
there was a Business Association meeting on the 18th at 7pm at the library. Mr.
McFarland stated there was a basket ball game tonight in Thorne Bay. The next
basket ball game will be on the 20th of February.
9. COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Hartwell inquired if the City put in for a grant for a wood fired boiler. Sornsin
stated the SISD did that. Hartwell stated there was a half page article in the
Island News against the SeAlaska land exchange proposal. Hartwell requested
that citizens get a hold of our Senator and Representatives and let them know
how you feel. Hartwell stated there were dogs running around town, parking not
taken care of and abandoned vehicles not moved. Gould stated the City did not
have the money to purchase a radar gun for Clinton. Gould suggested that
Clinton solicit the troopers to come over and help. Gould stated if he could
identify someone by vehicle speeding he would file a complaint.
10. CONSENT AGENDA:
The Consent Agenda includes routine items of business, which may not require separate discussions. When
the Mayor calls for public comment on the consent agenda, you may raise your hand and the Mayor will recognize you,
asking which item(s) you wish to have removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion and action. Following
the removal of any item from the consent agenda, the Council votes on the remaining items in one motion. All items
that are removed from the consent agenda will follow the format of Administrative Report, or Public
Hearing/Participation and Council Action.
A. MINUTES:
1. Minutes from the February 2, 2010, City Council meeting
discussion and action item:
Gould moved to approve the consent agenda. Marsh seconded the motion. There
was no further discussion.
MOTION: Move to approve the consent agenda
F/S: Gould/Marsh
YEAS: Kelly, Currit, Gould, Marsh, McDonald, Hartwell and Minnillo
NAYS: None
STATUS: Motion Passed.
11. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Resolution 10-02-16-01, approving the recommendations from the
Roads Committee for Speed Limits, Roads, and Parking, discussion
and action item:
Hartwell moved to approve Resolution 10-02-16-01, amending the wording in
Roads/Parking (2) to say (disallow storage of boats or abandon vehicles). Gould
seconded the motion. Kelly inquired if there were no boats allowed on City
property unless permitted. Gould stated it was a safety issue on Rainy Lane.
There was no further discussion.
MOTION: Move to approve Resolution 10-02-16-01, amending the wording in
Roads/Parking (2) to say (disallowing storage of boats or
abandoned vehicles)
F/S: Hartwell/Gould
YEAS: Currit, Gould, Marsh, Minnillo, Hartwell, McDonald and Kelly
NAYS: None
STATUS: Motion Passed.
B. Appointing Nick Gefre to the Thorne Bay Harbor Commission,
discussion and action item:
Currit moved to appoint Nick Gefre to the Thorne Bay Harbor Commission.
Hartwell seconded the motion. There was no further discussion.
MOTION: Move to appoint Nick Gefre to the Thorne Bay Harbor Commission
F/S: Currit/Hartwell
YEAS: Hartwell, Kelly, McDonald, Currit, Minnillo, Marsh and Gould
NAYS: None
STATUS: Motion Passed.
C. Resolution 10-02-16-02, supporting the Prince of Wales Biofuels
Consortium in constructing a biomass plant in Thorne Bay,
discussion and action item:
D. Resolution 10-02-16-03, supporting the USDA Forest Service
Thorne Bay Ranger District Biomass-Fired Boiler project discussion
and action item:
E. Resolution 10-02-16-04, supporting the Thorne Bay BioMass
Initiative, discussion and action item:
Hartwell moved to approve Resolution 10-02-16-02, Resolution 10-02-16-03 and
Resolution 10-02-16-04. Currit seconded the motion. Kelly stated Sornsin gave a
great presentation on the Biofuels. There was no further discussion.
MOTION: Move to approve Resolution 10-02-16-02, Resolution 10-02-16-03
and Resolution 10-02-16-04
F/S: Hartwell/Currit
YEAS: Hartwell, Gould, McDonald, Marsh, Minnillo, Kelly, and Currit
NAYS: None
STATUS: Motion Passed.
12. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION:
A. Ordinance 10-03-02-01, amending Title 3-Revenue and Finance,
Chapter 3.17-Sales Tax, Section 3.17.100-Exemptions, 317.100(y),
discussion and action item:
Currit moved to approve Ordinance 10-03-02-01. Hartwell seconded the motion.
There was no further discussion. There was no further discussion.
MOTION: Move to approve Ordinance 10-03-02-01
F/S: Currit/Hartwell
YEAS: Minnillo, Hartwell, McDonald, Currit, Gould, Marsh and Kelly
NAYS: None
STATUS: Motion Passed.
13. CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT:
Eric Henning stated he heard a lot of funds were no longer going to be available
from the State. Henning inquired if the council suspected funding for the
Biofuels would demise. Gould stated he did not know.
14. CONTINUATION OF COUNCIL COMMENT:
Hartwell stated the Coast Guard should have been notified first in the boat rescue
that occurred the beginning of February. Sornsin stated he made the decision to
send the rescue boat out to help the vessel in distress. Sornsin stated he had full
confidence in the rescue squad that if the weather was too bad they would not go.
Dennis Stauffer stated next time they have an incident like that they will notify
the troopers first so the squad will be covered by their insurance. Katurah
Saddler stated she is updating the rescue boat procedures.
15. ADJOURNMENT:
Gould adjourned the meeting at 7:54p.m.
______________________
James Gould, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Teri Hammons, City Clerk