HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 05.04.2021MINUTES
CITY OF LAUREL
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
TUESDAY, MAY 04, 2021
A Council Workshop was held in Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Tom Nelson at 6:31
p.m. on May 4, 2021.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x Emelie Eaton
_x_ Heidi Sparks
x Bruce McGee
x Richard Herr
x Scot Stokes
Iry Wilke
x Richard Klose
Don Nelson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Karen Courtney, Building Official/Code Enforcement
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director
Matt Smith, KLJ
Ryan Welsh, KLJ
Public Input:
There were none.
General Items
Executive Review
Resolution No. R21- Awarding Weave Consulting the Contract for the City of Laurel's
Lion's Park Improvements Project and to Authorize the Mayor to Sign all Documents
Relating to the Project on the City's Behalf.
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director, stated this contract is for the Lions Park Improvements. The
Laurel Lions raised $95k towards the improvements on the park. Laurel Community Foundation took
in all donations for this project. They also have $62k from the DOJ from the Exxon money. The City
went out to bid and had three bidders on the project. Weave was the lowest responsible bidder.
Matt Smith, KLJ, stated this award would be for the new fishing dock with concrete access to the
dock and improve the trail around the pond. This does include adding riprap along the east side of the
pond. They are starting to lose it during windstorms and want to protect that bank as much as
possible. The Markegard family donated the concrete for the riprap; it just needs to be hauled and
placed. It was an additive alternative. The asphalt trail was bid at $65k; other bids were more
reasonable in cost. The total for this project is $149,708.69.
It was questioned why the resolution listed the total cost as $141k. It was clarified that the resolution
would be amended to include the riprap portion. It was decided that the City didn't want the wear and
tear on its vehicles to haul the riprap. In the end, it would have cost the City approximately the same
amount.
It was questioned if the funds raised by the Lions, the DOJ, and donations would be covered if all
costs were covered. It was clarified that the Lions are still working on additional donations should the
cost be more than what is raised. Rotary is looking at building more benches to go around the pond. It
is a great community asset.
It was questioned how wide the path is going to be around the pond. It was clarified it would be 8 feet
in width.
Matt Smith has chosen to donate his time to ensure this project moves forward and keep the project
under budget.
Council thanked the Markegard family, Matt Smith, and KLJ for their donations to make sure this
project moved forward. City crews also did a lot of the prep work for this project
2. Resolution No. R21- Awarding Hardrives Construction the Contract for the City of Laurel's
2021 Pavement Maintenance Project and to Authorize the Mayor to Sign all Documents
Relating to the project on the City's Behalf.
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director, stated each year, they do the pavement maintenance plan.
This is the Pavement Maintenance for 2021. Residents were assessed on their tax bills to be able to
do these projects.
Ryan Welsh, KLJ, stated that the City would be doing more crack and chip sealing this year. This
year we will be finishing up the streets identified as 7 to 8 on the Pacer study. The goal is to save the
existing asphalt. Three bids came in for this project. Two of the bids were within $300 of each other.
Wharton came in significantly under the other two. They asked to resubmit the bid. The
recommendation that the City release their bid and award to Hardrives for $329,329.50. The
engineer's estimate for this project was over $500k. When estimating this project the, he used last
year's numbers plus 30% and a 15% contingency. The numbers came in lower than last year.
The Public Works Director stated they would come back with a change order if additional funds were
available for street maintenance. They would add more streets at that time.
The crack sealing will be done around the end of May and will be given 30 days to let it cure. Chip
and fog sealing will be done by September 1st unless more streets are added.
The Public Works Director has asked that KLJ begin on the 2022 Street Maintenance. This past year
was unique as we had to wait to see what the tax revenues came in at. They need to have those
numbers figured out by August; they need to start now. Last year Council passed an ordinance that
will change how street maintenance is assessed.
Council noted that they had voted two years ago to raise the maintenance assessment. They noted that
this year it is lower than before. It was questioned if that assessment would increase as we move into
streets that are more deteriorated. It was clarified that is correct. Next will be structural overlays and,
finally, total replacement. Not sure what the assessments will look like in the future. Another option
is to have a Commercial Street District. For example, SE Ott' will need more maintenance than a
residential street. They cannot allow cracks to open up on those streets. Will have an estimate to
Council by August. There are three methods of revenue that can be used on the streets. Those are
street assessments, gas tax, and SIDS. The City can go out for a bond if needed. The last time a
general obligation bond was passed was in 1986.
3. Resolution - A Resolution of the City Council Approving a Task Order Between the City of
Laurel and KLJ Engineering Inc. to Authorize Service for the Lindy Lane Sewer Line
Replacement.
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director, stated this is a task order asking KLJ to redesign the main
sewer line under Laurel Frontage Road. The pipe was connected to in 2006. Atthe time, it was
unclear the condition of the pipe that ran under the interstate. To their surprise, the sewer line was
replaced in 1964 when the interstate went in and is in far better condition than expected. The
expected cost to replace the line under the interstate was about 1 million. There is a section that was
not replaced when they connected the line in 2006. It is a clay pipe, and it is starting to collapse. They
videoed the pipe and saw a 114 -foot crack. The section that needs to be replaced is just south of the
interstate to the manhole. Half of the City's sewer goes through this line. It is a 30 -inch line. It is one
of the largest sewer manholes we have in the City. This section is estimated to be from the 1930s.
Ryan Welsh, KLJ, stated that they saw a single long crack in this pipe when they videoed the line.
The pipe is made of clay title, so it grows and expands as the temperature changes. The joints are off
center as the pipe makes a bend. All homes east of Montana Avenue are connected to this line. The
City will have to bypass while this line is replaced. The City will need DEQ permits for the work. Via
the PER, it was expected to cost $68k in today's prices; they estimate $100k or more. Since January,
pipes have doubled in cost.
In 2008 they found the manhole that was put in 1964 that was never recorded on maps. The City
needs to start replacing clay lines throughout the City.
It was questioned what the timeframe is to complete this project. It was clarified that construction
should take approximately three weeks. It was further questioned how they reroute the sewer while
work is being done. It was clarified that they connect a pump and a bypass around the worksite. It
takes approximately a week to set up the bypass pump. However, the time the sewer is on bypass
should only be about a week to maybe a week and a half.
4. Resolution - Small Service Contract - Paving around Lions Park
Matt Smith, KLJ, stated when they opened bids for Lions Park, the cost for Weave was less than half
the cost. The Public Works Director decided to solicit bids for the asphalt work around the pond. It
was less than $50k. They got two quotes. Wharton Asphalt came in at $ l Ok. It worked better to
separate from the contract. Weave was going to have to subcontract this portion of the project out
anyways.
Kurt Markegard, Public Works Director, stated the Lions wanted accessibility for the pond. They
needed to either find a way to come up with the extra needed for the total project bids, let the project
die, or find another way to make things work. In hindsight, paving contractors done do fishing peers,
and general contractors don't do paving. These should have been separate from the beginning.
5. Ordinance No. 021-03: An Ordinance Amending Certain Chapters Of Title 15 Of The
Laurel Municipal Code Relating To The City's Miscellaneous Requirements For Homes,
Buildings And Construction. (2nd Reading)
Karen Courtney, Building Official/Code Enforcement, stated this ordinance is updating Title 15.
References have been updated, and any duplication has been removed. The portion on trailer parks
references the Department of Health and Human Services. Their definitions are listed in MCA.
Council Issues
Other Items
Review of Draft Council Agendas
6. Draft Council Agenda of May 11, 2021.
There were no suggested changes.
Attendance at Upcoming Council Meeting
Council Member Wilke stated he might be sent out of town for work. He is unsure if he will be at
next week's meeting.
Announcements
Mayor Nelson stated he would try bringing the chickens discussion back to the first Workshop in
June. Staff will work to answer Council's questions before then.
Mayor Nelson stated he asked the Public Works Director to see if the YMCA could open the pool
this year. However, the YMCA cannot staff all of their own pools as they cannot find any help. The
pool cannot be opened this year. There are requirements for individuals to be lifeguards, and those
requirements do take time.
There is an advertisement out for summer help. So far, no applications have been received. Many
local businesses are running into the issue of increasing demands with decreasing staff.
Cemetery Commission will have its next meeting on May 18, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. in Council
Chambers.
The council workshop adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
Respectfully -submitted,
Brittney Moorman �!
Administrative Assistant
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the
listed workshop agenda items.