Mayor Hawkins called the meeting to order with Councilmembers Minder, Price, Amenn, Hunt, and Turner present. Public Works Director Light, City Clerk Gilleland, and Deputy Upton were also present. Chief Ruchty was on vacation.

Mayor Hawkins requested members of the audience and the Council to hold all comments during Comment periods to three minutes in order to allow the business meetings of the Council to proceed in a more timely and orderly fashion. During the comment periods, there will be no dialogue or questions back and forth between members of the audience, the Council, or Staff. If anyone has a specific question for a specific Councilmember or Staff member, Mayor Hawkins requested that they make arrangements to speak with the Councilmember or Staff Member after the meeting, during regular business hours, or jot them a note that will be answered as soon as possible.

Mayor Hawkins requested Council add two items to the Agenda under New Business; (1) a Resolution to surplus property and vehicles; and (2) set a minimum bid for the vehicles. She apologized for getting the proposed items to the Council just before the meeting. However, the Council has decided to surplus the property and equipment and this is the first step necessary in order to follow through with the sales. Mayor Hawkins reminded Council that discussion of the property sale price is an Executive Session item. A minimum price will not be set this evening. A discussion will be held later during this meeting regarding appraisal for the property. She will be asking Council to submit their suggested minimum sales price once additional valuation information is obtained.

By motion of Councilmembers Minder and Turner, the Agenda was approved as amended. Councilmember Amenn objected to adding to the Agenda without being given time to review the items and voted no.

By motion of Councilmembers Minder and Price, the Minutes of August 17, 2004 were approved as submitted. Councilmember Amenn, stating he wants a more accurate representation about what happens at the meetings and wants an opportunity to adjust the Minutes, voted no.

By motion of Councilmembers Hunt and Minder, claims vouchers in the amount of $5,148.22, paid by checks #12015 through #12033, and Payroll in the amount of $23,190.67, paid by checks #2683 through 2700, for a grand total of $28,338.89, were approved for payment.

No comments were offered.

Historical Society: Mayor Hawkins called Council’s attention to a memo from staff regarding the Historical Society’s refusal to provide the financial report requested by Council. The reason provided by the Croshaws was that Council is going to cut funding for the Museum next year so going to the trouble of preparing these reports seemed futile. Mayor Hawkins stated that the Council might wish to evaluate the wisdom of providing public funds to an organization that refuses to provide a financial report during the upcoming budget discussions. However, she urged the Council to continue support for the remainder of the year. Discussion followed.

By motion of Councilmembers Minder and Hunt, the Council directed staff to inform the Historical Society that they have 45 days to provide the requested information for a two year period and if it is not received, notice will be given to the landlord that the City would no longer be paying the rent. Councilmember Amenn voted no.

Mooring Property: Mayor Hawkins called Council’s attention to a confidential memo before them regarding the Mooring property, requesting a motion to authorize a formal appraisal of the property. Discussion followed. Councilmembers Hunt and Turner called for the question and the motion passed. Councilmember Amenn voted no. By motion of Councilmembers Hunt and Minder, Council authorized obtaining a formal appraisal of the Mooring Property. Councilmember Amenn voted no.

Recall Attorney Fees: Mayor Hawkins relinquished the gavel to Mayor Pro Tem Price and left the Chambers during the discussion of Recall Attorney Fees. Mayor Pro Tem Price called Council’s attention to a memo from Mayor Hawkins requesting additional payment of $5,000 towards attorney fees dealing with the recall effort. By motion of Councilmembers Hunt and Turner, Council approved up to an additional $5,000 for recall attorney fees. Councilmember Amenn abstained.

Public Works Director Light reported that the generator project has started and may be done by the week of the 19^th. He has contacted the County about fixing the May Creek Bridge approaches and the speed limit, but hasn’t received an answer yet.

City Clerk Gilleland reported she has to have a second back surgery and assured the Council that they will be getting the budget information for 2005 as soon as it can be made available. Mayor Hawkins requested Council to check their October calendars for work session dates and bring their potential available dates to the next meeting.

Deputy Upton reported he is working with the Public Works Director to strengthen the City’s hulk vehicle ordinance, particularly the number of vehicles allowed. They are working on some specific areas and parking limits citations have been issued.

Councilmember Amenn reported the Historical Society has a cookbook out and a newsletter; a game weekend was held at the VFW and it went well; another game night is planned for the 18^th and he encouraged people to participate; there may be a Halloween Party sponsored by the Historical Society and they are working on a basketball night. He then asked staff what was happening with the fence issue that was mentioned at the last meeting.

Councilmember Amenn then stated the Council has done a number of things he thinks are "crossing the border". If dialogue does not come between himself and Council when he raises a point at meetings, he will take his responsibility as a Councilperson and seek court injunction to stop the actions that he thinks are illegal or he thinks the City should not be doing. If Council continues to be reticent and resists the openness on his part, the only recourse he feels he has as a Councilperson is to make sure that the City does not do anything that he feels is illegal or unfair to the citizens. He further stated that this is his final offer to making an agreement between the Council and himself. Otherwise he will take rightful actions.

Councilmember Hunt asked Councilmember Amenn if his statement meant that he was going to sue the Council personally or the City as a whole. Councilmember Amenn replied he would do "what’s appropriate". Councilmember Hunt asked "and what’s appropriate?" Councilmember Amenn replied that he hasn’t decided yet.

Councilmember Turner reported that the rates for the correctional crew to perform contract labor tasks for the City have been decreased in order to get more convicts out working. Mayor Hawkins requested that Councilmember Turner obtain a list of these adjusted rates for the City’s records and future consideration. Councilmember Turner agreed to do so.

Mayor Hawkins explained that this is the first step in the process to surplus City property. She informed the audience that the Resolution includes the Administration Car, proceeds of which would go to the General Fund; the dump truck, proceeds to the Water Fund; and the Mooring property proceeds to the Park Impact Fund and any balance to the General Fund. City Clerk Gilleland gave a reading to the Resolution, by title only, being a Resolution declaring certain property as surplus and authorizing its sale. By motion of Councilmembers Minder and Hunt, Council approved the Resolution. Councilmember Amenn abstained.

Mayor Hawkins called Council’s attention to the blue book information provided for the Administration Car. Discussion followed. Consensus of Council established a minimum bid for the car of $4,500 and the dump truck at $500, as is. The snowplow will go with the truck as it is specifically adapted for that truck.

The item remained on the Table. Mayor Hawkins reported she is still in the process of reorganizing the document.

Al White stated that 1^st Street and 1^st Avenue West street names are confusing to 911 and emergency vehicles and requested Council consideration to change one of them. Some discussion by Council followed. By motion of Councilmembers Amenn and Price, Council directed staff to explore the possibility of changing street names and to report back to Council.

Ray Coleman objected to the sale of the Mooring property, stating the funds were provided by the Creekside development and should be used for a park by those properties.

Tracy Cotterill stated she was appalled at the Historical Society’s refusal to provide the financial information, that no additional work should be necessary for producing the requested reports because those records should have been prepared and kept all along.

Mayor Hawkins recessed the regular meeting at 7:55 PM to hold an Executive Session for approximately 10 minutes regarding contract negotiations. The City Clerk would be attending the session. 10 minutes later, Mayor Hawkins advised the audience that Council would remain in executive session for an additional 10 minutes. The meeting reconvened within the stated time frame.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by motion of Councilmembers Hunt and Amenn.

ATTEST: ______________________________

Colleen Hawkins, Mayor

_______________________________

Hester Gilleland, City Clerk-Treasurer