Present: Mayor Karl Wilson; Council-members:  Doug Beecher, Ray Justice, Hugh Howard, Phil Jensen and Scott Stratton; Staff:  Kyle Gubler, Katie Wilson, Chief Lloyd Watkins, Kevin Bennett, Troylinn Benson and Derek Imlay; Public:  Darren Richmond, Richard Hirschi, Warren Steed, Mike Spilker (Hinton Burdick), Blair Gubler and Gavin Atkinson (BSA)

A. Meeting Called to Order - Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance by Kevin Bennett

B. Consent Agenda: (Items on the consent agenda may not require discussion.  These items will be a single motion unless

removed at the request of the Mayor or City Council.)

1.      Declarations of conflict of interest

2.      Agenda

3.      Minutes:  September 21, 2011 regular meeting minutes

4.      Review Invoices and Checks:  $ 76,962.19

1.      Planning Commission - there has not been a meeting since last Council meeting

2.      Water Board - there has not been a meeting since last Council meeting

3.      Sewer Board - Blair Gubler reported

a.       Ash Creek SSD has put the bid out for the trunk line going to Sewer Lagoon.  Interstate Rock was awarded the bid and they will start construction next week.  Notices were placed on doors in La Verkin to let the public know of the clean-outs.  They still have ¼ of La Verkin to do and then they will be done here.

b.      A trunk line is the main sewer line from the communities to the lagoon.  It is 21 inches and made of concrete.  It is fractured and has deteriorated.  They will replace it with a 24 inch PVC line which will get a better flow.  Blair explained where the trunk line is located.

c.       The Sewer Board is working towards their long range goals by saving.  One of those goals is a new treatment plant.

4.      Fire District - Chief Kuhlmann was unable to attend.

Warren Steed explained the Council that the speed bumps on 140 South are still there and causing problems.  Kyle Gubler collected his information.

Mayor Wilson acknowledged Gavin Atkinson from Troop 355, who is working on his Citizenship in the Community for BSA.

Kevin Bennett explained that the contract did not give an exact price and other conflicts with the original contract.  It has since been fixed and that is what has been brought to the Council.  The contract is similar to what has been done in the past.  From a legal point of view, he recommends signing the contract.

Kyle Gubler explained the ordering process.  Chief Kuhlmann will pick the fireworks up and transport them to La Verkin.  Lantis provides fireworks for many cities in the state.  Council-member Jensen wanted to make sure La Verkin is getting the best deal available.  Ashley Averett and his daughter are certified in pyrotechnics and will be setting the fireworks for free for the city.

Mayor Wilson explained to the Council that $1700 is money that the committee raised and only $300 is from the La Verkin City budget.

Mike Spilker, Partner in Charge, Hinton Burdick Auditors, presented the audit they did on La Verkin City to the City Council.  He passed out a copy of the power point presentation and the audit to the Council-members before the meeting.  He then proceeded to explain the Audit Report.

(This copy is provided with the minutes)

Total net assets (equity) were $5,085,329 on June 30, 2011.

Capital assets are down $309,360.  Mike explained the reason for this.

General Fund Revenue in excess $67,390 and expenses were less than budgeted.

Council-member Beecher expressed his gratitude for everyone's effort and for Mike Spilker explaining the trends well.

1.      Leo Fehrenbacker is the new Assistant Sport's Director to Debi Swaner.

2.      La Verkin Elementary School would like to whitewash the "L".  Kyle and Council-member Beecher will be meeting with Steve Leavenworth tomorrow.

3.      Washington County School District (WCSD) meeting - Kyle met with Brad Last, Craig Hammer, Lonnie Schmutz and Nathan Merrill from UDOT to discuss busing students and safe routes.  Kyle felt that Brad Last is siding with WCSD.

4.      Business license procedure will be changing and he will bring those changes to Council for approval.

5.      Kevin Bennett gave a discrimination and sexual harassment training at staff meeting today.

6.      Zion Bank will have the animal control shelter check tomorrow.

7.      Springdale was given a tour of our filter station with Sunrise Engineering.

1.      Safe Walk to School was this morning.  He, Det. Travis Romney and the crossing guards met at the park with the elementary school children.  They explained how to walk and ride their bikes safely to school and home.  There was a safety assembly after school where Chief introduced the crossing guards.  There were 50-75 children in attendance this morning.

2.      Animal Control - Since Kelly King has come on there have been 114 incidents, 1 citation, 8 impounds and 20 new licensed animals.  The impounded animals were either fostered temporarily or given back to the owner.  Chief believes our animal control program will be the model.

3.      September stats are now online.  La Verkin City is down 2% from this time last year.  From Jan. - Sept we are down 15%.  Drug arrests are up.  A search warrant was served with a task force.

1.      Animal Shelter - Four foot of wall has been leveled and grouted and they are moving along rapidly.  He is still pushing for the 2^nd week of November for completion.

2.      The 2^nd phase of the meter replacement program will be the south side of 380 North in Stowells subdivision.  The 1^st phase was the north side of the same street.

3.      He met with the investors under contract with Sunset View Estates.  Bennett construction and Rosenberg engineering firm are working.  They will have to go through Planning Commission and City Council.  Derek hopes to continue the previous agreement to fix 400 North.

4.      There were 3 call-outs: 2 for irrigation and 1 for culinary.  There have been 3 additional culinary breaks but this is to be expected this time of year.

5.      With the help of a part-time worker, the fire hydrants have been exercised and 4 hydrants were found that were not working.  Doug Gubler and Ashley Averett are fixing those now.  The part-time worker has also been working the valves so they don't seize up.

Council-member Howard questioned Derek concerning the lights on the bridge between Hurricane and La Verkin.  The State (UDOT) is responsible for those lights.  Derek explained how some of the lights were broken.  He will write a letter to UDOT with their concerns.  Derek is also dealing with UDOT concerning the crosswalk.  Scott Snow has told Derek not to touch them unless La Verkin would like to take responsibility for them.  Council-member Beecher suggested someone attend the public UDOT meeting to state La Verkin's concerns.

1.      The audit is finished and complete.  Council-member Beecher looked through the financials given at the last meeting and stated they look good.

1.      HCAC - the meeting was held last week.  Mayor Wilson mentioned that Ivins is trying to put a trail in and hopefully it will not take 13 years to be approved through the layers of permission.

2.      Fire Board - met on September 27^th where they had a training of the Open Public Meetings Act.  The audit was good.  There was a discussion of the current budget and the grants for the fire engine.  There is currently a CIB with funds available and Kyle Gubler will call Chief Kuhlmann.

Mayor Wilson spoke of the Cooperative Agreement with Hurricane.  La Verkin received Hurricane's counter to the proposed cooperative agreement which is almost the same as the one before the District was made.  Mayor Wilson recommends moving on as a Fire District without Hurricane.  They cannot seem to come to an agreement.

Council-member Stratton stated that all the employees are employed by the Fire District so there will be lay-off notices and those people will have to apply to Hurricane's fire department.  This is a big issue.  The proposal with Hurricane is unacceptable and is not good for the district.

Council-member Beecher stated concern that Fire Chief Kuhlmann has not attended La Verkin's City Council in a while.  It was mentioned that there may be a conflict of schedules.  Beecher recommended sending an assistant instead to report.  Kevin Bennett reported that Chief Kuhlmann does attend every La Verkin City Development Meeting on Mondays.

There was further discussion on unacceptable items on Hurricane's counter proposal.  There are too many questions left open.

1.      Recycling - La Verkin is more proactive and they would like to do more with the schools.

2.      Bridge - He recommends someone from the Beautification Committee to attend a UDOT public meeting.  He feels strongly about the impression the bridge gives La Verkin.  People see the nice lights in Hurricane and then they see the bridge lights.

3.      Stated his gratitude to the city staff for responding to citizen concerns quickly.  Kyle stated that the public should call the emergency line.

4.      He thanked the Mayor, Council and Staff for their integrity.

1.      He attended the Walk to School this morning.  There were a lot of students there, a very good turn-out.  Many of those kids were from the west side that walks across the highway.  Amber Crouse and the officer's efforts were really good.

1.      Beautification - The Rotary made a donation.  The committee asked for $4000 and their final decision will be made tomorrow.  Dick Prince will talk to them.  Dumpster Days dates have been chosen for next year.

2.      Crescent Park -

Stratton: nothing more to add

Howard: nothing to add but he seconded Council-member Jensen on his gratitude to the City on their integrity.

Minutes were taken on behalf of the City Recorder by Katie Wilson.