Fort Jones Town Council
Regular Meeting Minutes
February 10, 2025
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING AGENDA
I, Cynthia Keno, Customer Service Clerk for the Town of Fort Jones, hereby certify that the agenda for the February 10, 2025 special meeting of the Town Council was posted at the Town Hall, near the door of the Town Council Chambers, Ace Hardware, on the front window of the Fort Jones Post Office and on the Town's website www.fortjonesca.org on February 7, 2025 by close of business.
I declare under the penalty of perjury that the forgoing is true and correct.
Cummin Keno
Cynthia Keno, Customer Service Clerk
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:
The regular meeting of the Fort Jones Town Council was called to order in person by Mayor Madeleine DeAndreis at 7:00 p.m. In addition to the mayor, councilmembers present were Michelle DeCausmaker, Mercedes Garcia, Paula Johnson, Alex LaRiviere.
Staff present: Jessie Monday- Town Clerk, Everett Hullquist - Public Works, and Chief Joseph Hess - Fort Jones Fire Department
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor DeAndreis
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Dee Jones: A non-resident of town, states that she would like to reduce the fees for non-profits.
She says that non-profits enrich the community. With the events that are put on it is impossible to come up with more money to pay for the facilities they practice and perform in after paying for advertisement and other expenses.
Clara Church- Resident of Fort Jones. One of the Locust trees pieces fell across Main Street and she wanted to voice that she loves the trees. She says that the sidewalks that are under those trees look the same as they did in the 60's because of the protection of the trees. She also read a article that says that roots are not the cause of sidewalks being destroyed. The reason is the soil under the sidewalks being inefficient and the roots look for weaknesses and will choose the path of least resistance.
Victor Kwasnikow- Resident of Fort Jones. Wanting to see more parks for children in the town.
Says that he will volunteer for anything that he can do that can make that happen. Everett from Public Works says currently the town is putting in a BBQ built by the Ag class from Etna High, reroofing and residing buildings, and putting in a drinking fountain to improve our parks.
Adam Filippone: Lives on Carrlock Street in the old hospital and he was having sewer issues.
Adam thanks Everett with Public Works for his help. He states that as soon as the USDA report was done that Everett was there and he really appreciated him being so quick to help.
DISCUSSION / REPORTS / CORRESPONDENCE: NON-ACTION ITEMS:
A. Police Department Monthly Report- No report. No presenter.
B. Fire Department Monthly Report- Report included. Chief Hess reports. Was not present for the last meeting due to being on the strike team for the LA fire. Chief Hess has completed his training for Force Leader so he can now lead up to 5 engines on strike teams. The fire department was awarded the Fuels Reduction Project Grant and we are about a year and a half into the five year grant. Mayor DeAndreis asks if the Town gets reimbursed for the fires that are listed on the provided report. Chief Hess explains that we are on an auto-aid agreement with Etna so the town does not get paid exactly but if anything were to happen in the Town that Etna would automatically come to help us as well. A citizens comments that her neighbor tried to burn down his own house and Chief Hess responded and was very professional and remained calm the whole time. Says he does a very good job.
C. Public Works Monthly Report- Report included. Public Works Hullquist presents. Says that he has been working on water meters, sewer, and grants. Mayor DeAndreis asks what an 811 is. PW Hullquist explains it is getting the power, water, sewer, and fiber optic lines marked so you don't hit them when digging. PW Hullquist states this is difficult because the Town maps are not detailed in showing where these lines are. Mayor DeAndreis asks if every time a line is found the map is updated. PW Hullquist confirms and says there is two maps that he updates at the yard. Mayor DeAndreis asks what CIP stands for. Capital Improvement Plan. PW Hullquist says the Town currently is not saving funds from the water bills in case of a water emergency so he is conducting a CIP to get competitive rates with other cities and save some of the income for the water improvements.
D. Administrator / Accounting Report- Report included. Mayor DeAndreis reads report for the public.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Items listed on the consent calendar are considered routine and may be enacted in one motion.
Any item may be removed for discussion at the request of the council or the public. a.) Approval of Minutes: Approved. Motion by LaRiviere, seconded by Garcia. All Ayes.
Regular Meeting January 13, 2025
b.) Ratification of Disbursements: January 01 through 31, 2025 c.) Review Budget vs Actual July 1, 2024 through January 31, 2025 DISCUSSION / REPORTS: ACTION ITEMS
2. Discuss and possibly take action to appoint Jessica Monday as the town clerk and give oath of office. Approved. Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded DeCosmaker. All Ayes.
3. Discuss and possibly take action to approve wages for Jessica Monday- Town Clerk. Pro Tem DeCausmaker says the Town Clerk has a lot of experience so the wage should be $27.50. Council member Garcia says that she suggests the Town Clerk should make $25.00 until after the probationary period, then council should revisit. Approved the wage of the Town Clerk at $25.00 until 90 day probationary period is over, then council will revisit. Motion made by Garcia, seconded by LaRiviere. All Ayes.
4. Review and discuss quotes to upgrade the monitoring system for the water tanks and well. Possible action to approve one of the quotes. Attorney Jared says he needs to speak with Administrator Stephen more about this item before council should proceed. Tabled.
Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded by Garcia. All Ayes.
5. Review and discuss quotes to have a Water Rate Study done. Possible action to approve one of the quotes. Public Works Hullquist recommends to take the quote from E&S Engineering and Surveying. They know the area and have done work for the Town before. Approved to accept the quote from E&S for $10,500. Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded by DeAndreis. All Ayes.
6. Review and discuss rental fees for non-profit groups/organizations from other cities in Siskiyou County and possibly take action to adjust the Town's rental fees for non-profits to rent the community and Scout Hall. Stated that non-profits give a lot to the community.
The Town has to pay for the water, heat, and electricity. Suggested that donations should be collected or make agreements for a yearly base rate for use of the space. Public Works Hullquist says it is sad to see these spaces not being used because people cant afford the fees. Council would like to do a study of the costs and fees. Adhoc is made including Deandreis and Johnson and all public that has constructive ideas. Tabled until Adhoc reports back.
7. Review, discuss, and possible action to amend the Job Certification and Continuing Education Policy. Public Works Hullquist says he feels that this agenda item is directed at him personally and is making it a hostile work environment. Council member Garcia explains that this is not pointing at anyone specifically and it has been an ongoing problem for years. Public Comment from Victor Kwasnikow saying if these certifications are required then the Town should absolutely pay for them. Council says the employee should make a list of the certifications they wish to get and get it approved by the Town Administrator. Attorney Jared suggests to add a sentence to the policy saying personnel can have additional training and a $1 raise if approved by town administrator or council.
Directed Attorney Jared to email the verbiage to Administrator Stephen and Clerk Monday to have the policy updated. Motion made by Garcia, seconded by DeCausmaker.
All Ayes.
8. Review, discuss, and take action to approve one of the proposals from E&S Engineering for the Cowan Street Sewer Improvement Project. There are two quotes worth considering. One quote is cheaper but puts the sewer lines through residential properties or they can put a new line in the middle of Cowen street where it should be located.
Council decides to chose the quote from E&S for $257,000 to put the sewer line in the middle of the street. Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded by De Causmaker. All Ayes.
9. Discuss and possibly take action to move the town's retirement from Stifel to CaPERS.
Attorney Jared suggests there be more research done for this item. We don't know the effect this will take on the Towns financials. Council would like an investigation on physical impacts and pros and cons to each retirement company. Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded by Johnson. All Ayes.
10. Discuss the options between a portable trailer-mounted generator vs a permanently {cement slab with containment) placed generator, for emergencies, at the main well.
Possible action to choose an option. Public Works Hullquist states that we already have a generator so it makes sense to get a trailer to put the generator on so it can be kept in the barn and then taken to the well if need be instead of buying a whole other generator and paying for all the work to have a pad engineered and poured for the generator to sit in the elements and have to change the oil and fill it with diesel right by the well. Which could spill and become a problem. Motion to give PW Hullquist permission to buy a trailer for the generator as long it is under $5000. Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded by DeCausmaker. All Ayes.
STAFF COMMENTS:
Public Works Hullquist says that if a fellow employee has something bad to say about him they should not do it at a public meeting. It should be discussed in a close session meeting. He feels that this is an attack on his character. Mayor DeAndreis says that the wording of that item was unfortunate and she will talk to the Town Administrator. PW Hullquist also voices that it is very frustrating that he takes the time to get quotes together and they don't make it on the agenda. He feels the control panel is very important for the sewer in the city and it was denied. Council member Garcia says that it was misunderstood that the attached invoice were for a different agenda item. Council would like to have a special meeting to discuss the control panel. Motion made by LaRiviere, seconded by Johnson. All Ayes.
Attorney Jared asks if the council would like him to put together CUPCCA agreement and a purchasing policy that he could have that ready for them by the next week. General consensus to direct Attorney Jared to proceed.
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
ADJOURNMENT: @ 9:52 PM
The next regular town council meeting is scheduled to be held on March 10th, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
Attest:
Approved:
Madeleine DeAndreis, Mayor