06.14.22 Council Minutes

THE STATE OF UTAH
COUNTY OF SEVIER
CITY OF RICHFIELD

At the City Council
In and For Said City
June 14, 2022

Minutes of the Richfield City Council meeting held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022,
at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Richfield City office building located at 75 East Center, Richfield, Utah. Mayor Bryan L. Burrows presiding.

1. OPENING REMARKS
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE YOUTH CITY COUNCIL
5. MINUTES
6. EXPENDITURES
7. PUBLIC HEARING CIB APPLICATION FOR THE SPRING AND CULINARY WATER SYSTEM
8. PUBLIC HEARING – TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023
9. PAUL DAVIS TO DISCUSS FUNDING FOR A SEWER LINE ON REDHILLS DRIVE
10. BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 OPENED AND AMENDED
11. RECESS
12. RECONVENE
13. CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN RAMP COMPANY FOR A PUMP TRACK RATIFIED
14. AGREEMENT WITH ZIONS PUBLIC FINANCE APPROVED
15. CHANGES TO THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL APPROVED
16. OTHER BUSINESS
17. MEETING ADJOURNED
18. OPENING REMARKS were offered by Councilmember Gleave.
19. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Councilmember Street.
20. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor Burrows (Not voting), Todd Gleave, Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Michele Jolley (Not voting), Tyson Hansen (Not voting). Excused: Kip Hansen, Brayden Gardner.
21. OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE YOUTH CITY COUNCIL. Erin Thompson introduced the new Youth City Council. Gabi Bruse is the Youth City Mayor this year. Ms. Bruse introduced the member of the Youth City Council for the 2022-23 year. The oath of office was administered to those members of the Youth City Council that were present.
22. MINUTES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the minutes of the special meetings held on May 17 and May 24, and the regular meeting held on May 24, 2022. Motion: Approve the minutes of the special meetings held May 17 and May 24 and the minutes of the regular meeting held May 24, 2022, Action: Approved, Moved by Todd Gleave, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.
23. EXPENDITURES APPROVED. The Council reviewed the warrants for May 2022. Councilmember Thompson asked if we have changed phone systems. Mr. Hansen stated that we have not switched yet because we need to have an electrical outlet by the fuel pumps at the Airport. Motion: Approve the warrants for May 2022, Action: Approved, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Todd Gleave. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.
24. PUBLIC HEARING CIB APPLICATION FOR THE SPRING AND CULINARY WATER SYSTEM. Mayor Burrows explained that we have an issue with the spring in and we are leaking water, about 800 gallons per minute, and we need to take care of this. The hearing opened at 7:10 p.m. to receive comments on an application to the CIB to fund the spring repair and the improvements needed to the culinary water system.

Mr. DeMille stated that the scope of the project is to remove the asphalt parking lot and chase the water to find out where the water is going. We need to redevelop the spring and find the headworks so we can recapture that water. We will have to do some bypass pumping so that the building that we estimate was built in the 1920s or 1930s can be rebuilt. We will also be installing new pumps and including an additional pump. He explained how it is necessary to switch 2 of the pumps from the high zone to the low zone every year to balance out the flow throughout the community. With this project and the installation of 4 pumps, we could have 2 pumps dedicated to each zone all of the time and make it easier to regulate the system.

We would also repave the parking lot, redo the fence, and relocate the boiler for the pool next to the pool building.

The other portion of the project is to replace several faulty lines throughout town that have been identified and are cast iron with lead joints. They leak all of the time and break all of the time. Mr. Mogan stated that this would include some 40+blocks of the lines that would be replaced. Mr. DeMille stated that the total cost of the project is estimated to be 4.993 million dollars. We are asking for a grant for 2.9 million dollars and a loan for 1.6 million dollars at 0% interest for 20 years. Mayor Burrows explained what the CIB is and how it works.

No comments were made by the public. Those present included Erin Thompson, Edward Nielson, Dylan Barclay, Gabi Bruse, Greg Jensen, Kylee McClure, Eric Larsen, Carson DeMille, Paul Davis, Whitney Jones, Hadley Terry, Brion Terry, Mandy Terry, Seth Jones, Spencer Thompson, Aleah Jorgensen, Frances Turner, Keith Mogan, Chief Trent Lloyd, and Deon Kelsey. Mayor Burrows closed the hearing closed at 7:18 p.m.

8. PUBLIC HEARING – TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023. Mayor Burrows opened a public hearing at 7:18 pm to receive comments on the tentative budget and the current budget. He asked Mr. Hansen what our total budget is for this year. Mr. Hansen stated that our general fund budget for this year was $8.6 million. The budget for next year is around $8.9 million. Mayor Burrows stated that it is pretty consistent, but he has seen it go up every year, and this year we have a lot of challenges with the cost of fuel because it is affecting everything. Our water meters, etc., have doubled and tripled in cost. We have adjusted the fuel for the police department 3 times already and it will still not be enough. Mayor Burrows expressed gratitude for our police and firemen and the services they provide.

Those present included Erin Thompson, Edward Nielson, Dylan Barclay, Gabi Bruse, Greg Jensen, Kylee McClure, Eric Larsen, Carson DeMille, Paul Davis, Whitney Jones, Hadley Terry, Brion Terry, Mandy Terry, Seth Jones, Spencer Thompson, Aleah Jorgensen, Frances Turner, Keith Mogan, Chief Trent Lloyd, and Deon Kelsey.

Mayor Burrows noted that we were able to give some pretty good raises this year for the employees and they were much needed. Unfortunately, that is probably the biggest raise the City has given and it still did not make up for what the inflation has been. He also expressed appreciation for all the employees because they go above and beyond and deal with a lot. He encouraged the public when they see the police and employees out in the community to thank them because they deal with some not great things in their jobs.

Councilmember Street stated that she knows Mr. Hansen has worked really hard on this budget.

Edward Nielson asked if the City has a way to pay for fuel if it keeps going up so that the emergency personnel would be able to respond. He wondered if there were other ways to get some of that funding. Mayor Burrows stated that we have money set aside for capital projects that we can transfer into the budget if needed.

The hearing closed at 7:22 pm.

9. PAUL DAVIS TO DISCUSS FUNDING FOR A SEWER LINE ON REDHILLS DRIVE. Paul Davis of Utah Beef Producers was present and explained that the building on 2200 Redhills Drive is under contract. They have run into some cost issues in retrofitting the building and putting in refrigeration. They can currently operate with the existing septic system, but they would only be able to harvest 60 animals a day and have 30 employees. They would be able to hire more employees and harvest more animals. The sewer is a critical point of their venture.

Mr. Davis asked the Council if there is infrastructure grant money that may be administered by the federal government as a pass-through to the City or the State or the County that they could use for infrastructure that they could use to complete their project. They are willing to help look for some of this grant funding. He wondered about the possibility of a PID and joining the new buyer of the land by them and maybe Mountain Land and Diamond K.

Mr. DeMille stated that he has looked at some estimates of a forced main versus a gravity main. The gravity main would cost approximately 1.2 million dollars which could benefit everyone on that line. A forced main would require them to pump and include a lift station at their building. He does not have a really good estimate on this but thought it would be between $600,000 to $700,000. The disadvantage to this is that it would not allow anyone else to hook on to this line unless they also had a lift station.

Mr. Davis believed that there is some grant money available that could be passed through and they are willing to work to get access to some of that if Richfield would be willing to disburse those funds. He noted that they would only be discharging a lot of water into the system 4 months out of the year with the wastewater could not be land applied. He indicated that for the other 8 months the farmers would come to get the water and use it for watering their crops. They would still be paying the sewer fee during the 8 months that they are not discharging to the lagoons.

Councilmember Thompson asked for clarification on the water coming out of the plant and how it would be disbursed to the farmers. Mr. Davis stated that they use all-natural cleaning solutions and the water is pumped into a pit. He said if tanker trucks will come and pick it up he will sell it. The farmers can put the water in their ponds next to their pivots or pump it right out of the tanker into a pit. He stated that every farmer in they have done this with, in 7 different locations, has seen a 30% increase in hay production and no cost on the fertilizer.

Again Mr. Davis is asking if there is a willingness to work with them to look at some of the grant money or special financing structure so if they come up with something would the Council be willing to look at it. He wanted to know if they come up with an idea, and would they be willing to take a look at it. They could get started without the sewer but after the first of the year when they start to ramp up, they will need to have the access to the sewer. Councilmember Thompson asked if Mr. Davis had talked with any of the other businesses about connecting to the sewer. He did say that there is a trucking company that is coming in up there and they will be building a shop there, but he does not know if they will need access to the sewer. Mr. Davis stated that if we can further this conversation, he will do the canvassing and see if they would have any interest in connecting to the sewer.

Mr. Davis stated that they can do more with some of the products. He believed that there is financing through the State that would go to the County, Part B on an annual basis of $800,000 and he understood that the County gets $200,000 a year, but they have not accessed that Part B. Enid Johnson in the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity stated that if the County applies for that funding, and passes it through to the City then the City could disburse those funds.

Councilmember Thompson stated that if the City could find the grant money and the right programs to help Mr. Davis make this happen, then it would make sense to him.

Mr. Davis just wants to know that the City is willing to work with them if they secure some funds. Councilmember Gleave said they new does not know why the Council would not take a look at anything if he brings them something that makes sense.

Councilmember Thompson wondered how real this is. He stated that we have a lot of plans come in and people want to have the zone changed and then it gets kicked down the road and we never hear anything more.

Mr. Davis stated that a lot of the funding for the year has happened. They do not want to push back, but now they know the Council’s willingness to work with them, they can move forward.

10. BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22 OPENED AND AMENDED. Mr. Hansen discussed the amendments that needed to be made to the budget. The general fund surplus for prior years was amended to $1,799,943. Professional and Technical for our attorney was amended to $10,000. City buildings and land expenditures were amended to $27,500. The police fuel for the police department was increased to $58,000. In highways and public improvements for equipment and office expenses for irrigation were increased to $12,000.

Class C road for new construction, that line item was increased to $500,000. The bulk of this is to cover 100 East between 1100 South and 1300 South, along with the 600 East drainage project and the 300 South traffic signal improvements. In the swimming pool, we need to amend the utility budget from $82,000 to $95,300 to get us through the year. In recreation, we need to amend the full-time salaries to $102,000 which is $12,000 more than first budgeted, and also the temporary wages from $39,000 to $51,500. Our recreation programs are growing and we have a lot more kids signing up for programs. Recreation revenue grew $46,000 year to date as of June 9, 2022.

We will be transferring $1,596,525 to the capital projects fund. In the capital projects fund, $75,000 will be added to airport improvements to cover the City’s share of the Airport Expansion project and $20,000 for the non-FAA airport improvements. For the mountain bike trails, we are increasing the budget to $441,453 which will complete all of the permitted trails this summer. We need to amend the capital outlay for the Mountain Bike Trial system to $41,807. In the water fund, the water impact fee needed to be increased to $444,000 to include the impact fee paid by Smith Apartments.

In operation expenses for the water, the capital outlay will be increased to $120,500 for the water line in the business park and a chlorinator for the business park well that the State required to be installed.

In the sewer fund, the bond grant proceeds were increased to $12,348,000 because we received the proceeds from the CIB for the sewer lagoon project. In refuse, the revenue needs to be amended to $373,172 because we have had some price fee increases due to the increased cost of fuel.

Mayor Burrows asked if we have a solid idea about the charges for refuse with the changes the County made. Mr. Hansen stated that it is still a guess because we have only had one month of data to go on. Motion: Open and amend the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 as discussed, Action: Approved, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.

11. RECESS. At 7:45 p.m., Motion: Recess to convene a Richfield Municipal Building Authority meeting, Action: Adjourn, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.
12. RECONVENE. At 7:47 p.m., the regular session reconvened.
13. CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN RAMP COMPANY FOR A PUMP TRACK RATIFIED. The Council reviewed the agreement and the language that our City attorney added to ensure the City would not be bound by the agreement if the funding did not materialize. Councilmember Thompson knows an individual who has been working with American Ramp Company to install a track in his community. He told Councilmember Thompson that they have been great to work with. At the Council’s last meeting, there was a consensus to sign an agreement so we did not lose our place with American Ramp Company as long as we were not tied to the project if the funding did not come through. Mr. Demille explained that we sent American Ramp an agreement so we are now on their schedule for August. Motion: Ratify the agreement with American Ramp Company for the installation of a pump track based on the City receiving the funding, Action: Approved, Moved by Todd Gleave, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.
14. AGREEMENT WITH ZIONS PUBLIC FINANCE APPROVED. Marcus Keller from Zions Public Finance has been working as a financial consultant for the City on our CIB application for the spring and the potential water purchase we have been working on to determine what the best debt structure for these loans would be given our current debt service in the water fund. Motion: Approve an agreement with Zions Public Finance for financial consulting services, Action: Approved, Moved by Elaine Street, Seconded by Todd Gleave. It was noted that they are charging us $10,000, but it will be paid with the CIB funds as part of the loan. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.
15. CHANGES TO THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL APPROVED. Mr. Hansen explained that most of the changes are just housekeeping because we changed how we track and submit time. We have gone to an electronic time-keeping system through our software program. We also changed when we pay from a semi-monthly to a biweekly which changed the date that we get paid. The wording in our policy needed to be changed to reflect what we are doing.

The wording for reimbursable expenses was changed to clarify reimbursement for traveling to and from conferences, training, etc., would be for drive-time during regular business hours and not after hours.

We provide life insurance for our volunteer firefighters, as well as our full-time employees, and we needed to clarify that and the amounts for the spouses and children that the City provides as a benefit.

The wording for accruing vacation and sick leave was changed to allow the use of vacation and sick once time has been accrued. Accrued vacation hours that can be carried over into the next calendar year are 120 hours. This has created a problem when we get to the end of the year with everyone trying to use their vacation so they do not lose it. We are proposing that we allow employees who have 140 hours or more as of December 1st would be able to cash in up to 20 of those hours before the end of the year.

Motion: Approve the changes to the policy and procedure manual as discussed, Action: Approved, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Elaine Street. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.

Mayor Burrows noted that we had previously amended the policy to include another holiday, Juneteenth, as a paid holiday.

16. OTHER BUSINESS. Councilmember Gleave had a conversation about the stop lights and the fact that when you are trying to cross the street, those stop lights do not chirp. There was an almost blind person trying to cross the street and was unable to do so because they did not know when they could go. He wondered if that would be a UDOT issue. Chief Lloyd stated that UDOT has been looking at some of the safety concerns of this corridor, so he will email that group and let them know of this problem.

Councilmember Street had a lady who wanted her to talk about the leash law and how people just let their dogs poop on other people’s lawns when should at least clean up after their dogs. She wondered about putting something in the paper to remind people about this. Chief Lloyd said that his officers deal with a lot of those calls.

Mayor Burrows stated that we will be getting the new skate park equipment and it should be installed by the end of the month. Mr. Hansen stated that the Council had discussed putting the old equipment up for auction. It is up for auction right now and it is currently at $360. The auction ends on Saturday. There have been 8 bids, but only about 3 bidders. His experience has been that all of the action happens on the last day, but you never know. Mayor Burrows stated that it will be good to get the new equipment there, and he knows there are a lot of people who are getting anxious about that. He added that it would have been nice to just donate the old equipment, but then we are showing partiality which tends to get us in trouble.

17. MEETING ADJOURNED. At 8:04 p.m., Motion: Adjourn, Action: Adjourned, Moved by Tanner Thompson, Seconded by Todd Gleave. Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 3). Yes: Elaine Street, Tanner Thompson, Todd Gleave. Excused: Brayden Gardner, Kip Hansen.

PASSED and APPROVED this 28th day of June 2022.