MINUTES OF THE HELPER CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday, March 20, 2008

 6:00 p.m.

Helper Auditorium

 Council Chambers

19 South Main

Helper, Utah  84526

 

 

ATTENDANCE:                                                         City Staff

       Mayor Mike R. Dalpiaz                            

                            

Council Members:                                                City Recorder  Jona Skerl

           Dean Armstrong                                        Attorney Gene Strate  

           Larry Ganser                                             Public Works Orlando Ochoa (Absent)

           Phillip “PJ” Jensen                                    Acting Chief Trent Anderson

           John Jones                                              

           Kirk Mascaro

 

 

 

 

                           

Citizens: Neida Garcia, Lois Giordano, Mark Wickman, Ron Mutz, Sue Ann Martell, Darrin Teply, Sande Reggs, Marilyn Vogrinec, Malcolm Howard, Leslie Tallerico, Marci Tallerico, Ron Jewkes, Ben Clement, Mark & Sonja Stuckenschneider, Cynthia Rampa, Gaylene Kokal, Pat Kokal, Thomas Hatt, John Stephen, Darrin Cloward, Heather Bill, Delores Slavensky and Marie Davidson.

 

 

The regular meeting of the Helper City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Dalpiaz at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 6, 2008

 

Council Member Jones moved to approve the minutes of March 6, 2008. Council Member Jensen seconded the motion.  Motion Carried.  Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEN CLEMENT CARBON COUNTY GIS DEPARTMENT ON PROPOSED COUNTY ADDRESSING SYSTEM.

 

Ben Clement invited the council to join Carbon County in getting the latitude and longitude as a situs address.  Most computers understand a latitude and longitude address more so than the traditional address.  Emergency services will be able to locate a resident at anytime even on a cell phone.   Mr. Clement felt that this type of addressing will become permitted in the next decade.   Council Member Armstrong asked if there was a way to do both so we may retain the historic aspect.   Mayor Dalpiaz asked if there was another benefit for the change other than emergency service. Mr. Clement also stated that utility companies would be using this to locate customers.  Mr. Clement replied that the 911 data base is not being used and the equipment is there for this purpose, the technology is coming so we can get started now.   Mayor Dalpiaz asked Mr. Clement what he was asking of the council.   Mr. Clement explained he was there just to suggest this and hopefully get permission to update the 911 data base at no cost to the city.   Council Member Ganser was concerned if this change would cost the residents to change all their accounts, driver licenses, wills, etc.   Mayor Dalpiaz expressed concerned that dispatch would be raising the rate to the city for making this change.  Mr. Clement stated dispatch has the equipment already and all that he would have to do is input the geo coding at no cost to Helper City. 

  

Council Member Armstrong moved to support in the effort in latitude and longitude with maintaining the street designation with no cost to the city. Council Member Jones seconded the motion.  Motion Carried. Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes, Ganser voting no.

 

ANDREW LASSLO ON PURCHASING WATER FROM HELPER CITY.

 

Andrew Lasslo explained to the council that he had purchased property just outside the city limits off Highway 6.  Price River Water Improvement District could supply him with water, but he would have to tunnel under Highway 6 to obtain a connection.   Mr. Lasslo asked the council if they would consider selling water to him.  Mr. Lasslo would have to install and maintain the waterline from Industrial Road to his property at 1525 North Highway 6.

 

Council Member Jones moved to sell water to Mr. Lasslo, New Life Ministries at 1525 North Highway 6 as long as the lines were installed. Council Member Jensen seconded the motion.  Motion Carried. Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes,

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARK STUCKENSCHNEIDER ON GOSPEL MISSION ISSUES.

 

Mark Stuckenschneider, owner of the Balance Rock Eatery, informed the council of many issues regarding the residents at the Golden Rule Mission.   Mr. Stuckenschneider has two issues safety and doing business in an environment of business.  We have had threats against our employees, questions on where they keep the money, and I have concerns for the safety of our customers.  I have called the police department and they have always been there right away.  The last year has been more of a problem then in the past.  One incident, two gentlemen were drunk and my wife refused to serve them they told her that they would rape her on pool table.  Another time a fellow from the mission came in yelling and screaming at some customers as they were eating he urinated in his pants and then went to another table. Mr. Stuckenschneider asked the council if there is a way to regulate the amount of people staying at the Mission at one time. Customers have been afraid to park their cars out in front because of the large number of people standing on the corner smoking.  Council Member Jones stated that these kinds of problems will be changing with new management. Council Member Armstrong stated that a criminal background check will be done on everyone entering the mission, under the new management.  Mayor Dalpiaz replied, we don’t know the status on the mission right now, if the state still owns it or the new owners. Mayor Dalpiaz pointed out that smoker’s have civil rights just like everyone else.  Pat Kokal stated that the Helper Hotel residents are also a problem.  Marie Davidson stated that last June she had been afraid of the people across the street (Helper Hotel) but in the last few weeks the problems have been with people that live at the mission.   Customers are telling us that they are to scared to come to Helper.  Council Member Jones asked if the police walked the streets would this help and everyone thought that would be good idea.  Mayor Dalpiaz told the residents that Helper has housed the mission long enough and it was time someone else housed the mission.   Council Member Armstrong agreed with the Mayor, the burden of the mission to Helper the state or someone should compensate us for carrying this burden for the entire county and surrounding area.  Gaylene Kokal said they are like a gang going up and down the street, can we find out how many people are there and who is in charge.  Council Member Ganser felt the city could have some controls put on the business license.   Mayor Dalpiaz told the citizens that the police officers could not be security officers but please call whenever there is a problem. We are short an officer right now we need to know what is going on or we can’t fix it.  Malcolm Howard suggested zoning the mission out of business. Ron Mutz commended Chief Anderson on doing a good job, he had seen him go into the Mission for two hours and the smokers went to the back of the building. Mr. Mutz told the council that part of the problem is that they are drinking and staying at the mission.  Mark Wickman suggested that the business owner get an emergency alert necklace so the police will be alerted right away.  Marilyn Vogrinec from the Association of Governments stated that the new owner has not taken over yet but will be getting the mission any day.  The mission will no longer be a homeless shelter; it will be a transitional housing unit for low income people only. To her knowledge there will not be homeless shelters anymore, with the tax credit the new owner received it can not be a homeless shelter.  Delores Slavensky suggested having a meeting with the new owner and business owners and expressing their concerns and let everyone deal with this problem not just the council.  Mr. Stuckenschneider asked that the council put some controls on the business license so the mission is manageable.   Mayor Dalpiaz told the business owners that he and Chief Anderson will meet with the State and the new owners.  

 

NEIDA GARCIA AND LOIS GIORDANO BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE UPDATE.

 

Neida Garcia thanked the council and Claudette Langley from the Sun Advocate for their support in the beautification project.  Council Member Jones and Ganser offered to paint the light poles on Main Street.  Neida Garcia asked if she could have permission to hang pictures in the Rio Theater.  Chuck Buchanan from Lemar is donating two viewing pipes for Balance Rock and the Indian Head rock. Council Member Mascaro told her it was in the works already. 

 

 

DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL ON HERITAGE DAYS.  

 

Council Member Jensen had Sue Ann Martell make up a budget for Heritage Days in the amount of $1300.  However, if we get some big name celebratory names that number will change.  Sue Ann Martell, Museum Director, handed out a detailed budget and flyers on Heritage Days.   Ms. Martell explained some of the items on the 2007 budget that were donated by passed sponsors, right now we are close to the $400 mentioned in the budget.  Council Member Jensen told the council that if they do get some celebrities to come, raising the money will be easier.  Mayor Dalpiaz stated that we had a celebrity last year and he did not see an increase in attendance.  Ms. Martell told the council that in the handout there was an attendance count for that time showing an increase. Last year we did radio spots with the local radio station,  Darrin Teply posted interviews and radio spots on Destination Helper and the Salt Lake radio stations picked it up and played them in their entirety.  Destination Helper is a private website owned by Darrin Teply to promote tourism in Helper.  Council Member Jensen told the council that True West Magazine did not name Helper #1 western town because of the advertising.  Sue Ann Martell had to apply for it, so it was not obtained though the purchasing of the advertising.  Council Member Armstrong and Jones felt that we should look into other forms for advertising to get the most out of our dollar spent.

 

Council Member Mascaro moved to support heritage days with the acceptation that we look into some of the subscriptions next year. Council Member Armstrong seconded the motion.  Motion Carried.  Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL ON WALLY GORE PROPERTY.

 

Attorney Strate told the council that Wally Gore would like to have the city deed back the property for tax reasons.  Mr. Gore would deed it back to the city and more property would be included.  The council was uncomfortable about doing this without some guarantee that the city would get back the same right-a-way for the trail.

 

Council Member Armstrong moved to have Attorney Strate talk to Mr. Gore and bring back the information. Council Member Jones seconded the motion.  Motion Carried.  Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL ON ORDINANCE 2008-2 PROHIBITING DOGS IN CITY PARKS, CEMETERY AND PARKWAY.

 

Council Member Mascaro felt that there were problems with the dog mess and the beautification committee wants to plant flowers so the dogs need to be off the parkway.   Council Member Jensen pointed out that in the ordinance there was no reference to service dogs.  Delores Slavensky asked the council to consider that a lot of retired residents walk the parkway and have dogs.  Ms. Slavensky felt that it was unfair that Helper has these faculties and the residents can’t use them.  Ms. Slavensky stated that with the transient people on the parkway we can’t take our dogs for protection.  Mayor Dalpiaz explained that people did not clean up after their dogs and the dogs also will kill the new plants.  Ms. Slavensky had been in Salt Lake and to several parks and they all allow dogs, so why is Helper unique.   The council could not vote until the ordinance was corrected. 

 

Council Member Jensen moved to roll this item over until next meeting. Council Member Ganser seconded the motion.  Motion Carried. Roll Call vote Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL ON COLTON WATER PROJECT AND NORTH MAIN WATER AND SEWER PROJECT.

 

Council Member Jones asked that the council approve the supplemental agreement with Stanley Consults on the North Main Project.  U.D.O.T will be paying for this extra work.  Council Member Jones explained the Colton project issue with Circle K Construction.  Circle K wanted to start seven days earlier on the project, U.D.O.T did not have a problem with this.  Mayor Dalpiaz would not sign it until talking to the council.  Council Member Armstrong told the council that starting earlier does not change the agreement.  Council Member Jones felt that because the Mayor did not sign the notice to proceed, it may have created liabilities and liquidated damages for the city.   Council Armstrong asked that everyone be able to run their department and contracts as long as there is not money involved.

 

Council Member Jones moved to approve the supplemental agreement for Stanley Consultants. Council Member Jensen seconded the motion.  Motion Carried. Roll Call vote Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes.

 

 

DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL ON RECREATION COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.

 

Attorney Strate will check into an Ordinance for creating a Recreation Board. 

 

DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL ON HIRING SUMMER HELP FOR THE MUSEUM.

 

Council Member Mascaro asked the council to approve the hiring of seasonal help for the Museum.  Sue Martell stated that it was not seasonal and that the person would get 19 to 20 a week.   Council Member Mascaro told the council that it was part time to help with the summer hours. Ms. Martell was able to handle the winter hours by herself last year.

 

Council Member Armstrong moved to approve hiring part time help for the museum. Council Member Jensen seconded the motion.  Motion Carried. Roll Call vote Ganser, Jensen, Mascaro, Armstrong and Jones all voting yes.

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

(A) SOLAR LIGHT FOR BILLBOARD:

 

Nothing  new to report.

 

 

 

(B) CARPET FOR 69 SOUTH MAIN.

      

Nothing new to report

 

(C) BOYACK RIGHT-A-WAY.

 

Mayor Dalpiaz instructed Attorney Strate to get a letter to the Union Pacific Railroad on the lease issue and refund of rent on the Boyack right-a-way.

 

(D) DISABILITY ACT.

 

Attorney Strate told the council that he needed to get some pricing on the budget items for the State

  

 

 

(E) POWER FOR NORTH MAIN INTERCHANGE.

 

 Council Member Ganser and Utah Power will be working on this.

 

(F) COMBINING PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES WITH CARBON COUNTY.  

 

Council Member Armstrong is not going to pursue this issue.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

There being no further business Council Member Jensen moved to adjourn.  Council Member Mascaro seconded the motion.  Ganser, Jensen,Mascaro, Armstrong and  Jones voting yes. Meeting adjourned.

 

I here by certify that the foregoing represents a true, accurate and complete record of the Helper City Council meeting held on Thursday, March 20, 2008.

 

________________________________        ___________________________

Mike R. Dalpiaz                                              Jona M. Skerl

Mayor                                                             City Recorder

Approved on April 1, 2008