DUCHESNE CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
AUGUST 1, 2017

A specially scheduled meeting of the Duchesne City Council was held at 6:00 p.m., August 1, 2017, at the Duchesne City Office Building, 500 East Main, Duchesne, UT. Mayor RoJean Rowley conducted the meeting, and the City Recorder, Diane Miller, took minutes. City Council Members present were Danny Peatross, Jeannie Mecham, Dawnette Browning, Rodney Rowley and Bryce Hamilton. 

Others present were: Lane Genereaux, Kari Crum, Steve Rowley, Kristen Christenson, Justin and Jenny Parker, Adam and Angie Butler, Ryan Goodliffe, Bob Ketterer, Amy Branson, Allen Rydman, Susan Hamilton, Julie Hamilton, Carol Roberts, Kirsten Gines, and Kim Cowan. 

INVOCATION was offered by Council Member Rowley.

Mayor Rowley led the City Council and the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

MINUTES

MOTION by Council Member Hamilton, seconded by Council Member Peatross to approve the minutes from July 11, 2017.
 
Council Member Mecham - Aye
Council Member Hamilton - Aye     
Council Member Peatross - Aye
Council Member Rowley - Aye
Council Member Browning - Aye

Motion carried by unanimous vote.

BILLS

MOTION by Council Member Rowley, seconded by Council Member Hamilton to approve the bills.

Council Member Mecham - Aye
Council Member Hamilton - Aye     
Council Member Peatross - Aye
Council Member Rowley - Aye
Council Member Browning - Aye

Motion carried by unanimous vote.

BUSINESS LICENSE

MOTION by Council Member Rowley, seconded by Council Member Mecham to approve a business license for Lucky Bail Bonds. 

Council Member Mecham - Aye
Council Member Hamilton - Aye     
Council Member Peatross - Aye
Council Member Rowley - Aye
Council Member Browning - Aye

Motion carried by unanimous vote.

DAWNETTE BROWNING - Ball Fields

Council Member Browning stated that she meet with Ryan Goodliffe, Jerry Cowan, Wyatt Gines, and Council Member Rowley at DHS to address their concerns about the ballfields and what they would like to see done to them in order for teams from the surrounding towns to come and play in Duchesne.  DHS has committed to have a baseball team next spring, but with the way the fields look right now, they won't be able to play on them. She asked the Council to walk around the fields and she personally would not let her grandson play football on them. The City is in a tough spot and she is unsure of what to do to solve the issues. Mayor Rowley stated that the City had brought in 150 loads of dirt to fill in the slew gradually throughout the years to get the big field where it is today. She understands how everyone feels because she has had kids that played sports, but as a small community, the City does not have any more money to put toward the baseball fields. Lane Genereaux stated he has a person that comes every six weeks to treat the fields to get rid of the alkaline. He knows the fields are not at their best yet, but the City is continually working on them to improve them. There was a lengthy discussion about the sod, watering schedule, the ball field fence, the ball field lights, etc. Council Member Peatross stated that nobody objects to improvements, but it money is the main issue. Mayor Rowley stated that there is a lot that goes into the City's budget like roads, sewer, water, fire department, animal control, and parks. The ball fields are a small portion of the parks department and most of the improvements that have happened to the ball fields have been through donations from individuals, the County, and the City's Rap Tax fund. Council Member Mecham stated that if there are 60 players, maybe each family could come up with $1,000 to improve the fields or maybe get the businesses to donate because it will bring more business to their stores. The oilfield businesses will usually donate as well. Council Member Hamilton suggested that the group that wants these improvements to get organized and start raising some money. Mayor Rowley stated that she understands the passion for playing the different sports, but the ball field does not take priority over water, sewer or roads. Mayor Rowley stated that she will set a meeting up with Stan Young to see if the School District can help. Council Member Browning stated that she feels bad because when the fields were built, they were only made to play baseball on. There should have been a committee that knew the fields were going to be used for baseball, football and soccer. She proposed forming a parks board that she could be on, Lane could be on, a representative from the school could be on, and a representative from each of the different sports and get together once a month to talk about these issues. That way the fields will be ready for the kids to play on so the City doesn't get in this kind of situation again.     
 
RODNEY ROWLEY - Mowing Private Property

Council Member Rowley stated that he wanted to know if there is a policy about mowing private property with the City equipment. Mayor Rowley stated that she tells the crew when they are mowing to make sure they mow the weeds they can get to. There isn't any policy and no resident has asked to have their lawns mowed. Council Member Rowley named several places that he has seen the City equipment being used on. He stated that he not saying that it doesn't look better and the crew were not doing their job, he was just asking what the policy is. Mayor Rowley stated that she has told the crew to mow more than just a stripe if it possible just to help keep the weeds down. 

15 MINUTE OPEN SESSION

There was no discussion for this session.

BOOK OF COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS & COMMENTS

There were no new complaints.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL REVIEW OF OLD BUSINESS

Mayor Rowley stated that she spoke with Mike Carr about when he thought they were going to start installing the AWOS system at the airport. His tentative time was around the 14th of August.  She spoke with Larry Montoya about the yellow flashing lights. He told her that they were going to do a study when school started to get them changed to red ones.   

WORK SESSION

The Mayor and City Council started a work session at 7:30pm.

EXECUTIVE SESSION 

There was no executive session called. 

Motion to adjourn by Council Member Browning at 8:00pm.