HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 11.16.2021MINUTES
CITY OF LAUREL
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021
A Council Workshop was held in Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Eaton at 6:30
p.m. on November 16, 2021.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
x Heidi Sparks
_ Bruce McGee x Richard Herr
x Scot Stokes x Iry Wilke
x Richard Klose Don Nelson
OT I I E RS PRESENT:
Bethany Langve, Clerk/Treasurer
Public Input:
Steve Krum, 249 24`h Avenue W., I would just like to clarify something. We are trying to
understand how to do this properly when to talk when not to talk. We know that the vote is not
tonight; we know that this is just a working meeting and that we don't want to lose any
opportunity to reemphasize what we want to at the meeting. We came last night; my son-in-law
and I ... we spoke with Richard and Heidi after the meeting. That's why we came to run into a
Council Person and talk to them and clarify what you just read. Is it true tonight what we read on
a specific resolution we cant bring up again during the meeting next Tuesday? We were under
the understanding it was only applied to public on non -agenda items.
It was clarified that the public can come whenever there is a public comment, and they can say
whatever they want. You can say it as many times as you would want; you can say the same
things as many times as you want.
Mr. Kurm asked if they could speak again on the same topic if they want to add to it or
emphasize it something like that.
Correct.
Mr. Krum questioned if the public comment would be written down twice.
It was clarified that each public comment is recorded into the record.
Mr. Krum stated he was afraid if he spoke here, he wouldn't be able to speak then on the same
topic.
It was clarified that he would be able to speak at both.
General Items
1. LARC Update
Leif Welhaven, LW Consulting, briefly reviewed the attached PowerPoint.
Executive Review
2. Resolution - Resolution Of Intent To Annex Contiguous City -Owned Properties Into
The City Of Laurel, Yellowstone County.
Mayor Eaton stated a memo from the Planning Director was in Council's packet; see attached.
The list of properties has been updated. Some properties have been added.
3. Resolution - A Resolution Of The City Council To Adopt Criteria For Awarding
And/Or Approving Grants For The Laurel Urban Renewal Agency (LURA) Board And
City Council.
Mayor Eaton stated the resolution has suggestions taken from the PowerPoint by Janet Cornish
of allowable projects.
The Planning Director also wrote a memo in regards to this agenda item; see attached.
4. Resolution No. R21-109: A Resolution Approving Zone Changes For Property Owned
By Northwestern Corporation D/B/A Northwestern Energy Located Near Lindy Lane
Within The City Of Laurel's Zoning Jurisdiction.
The Planning Director also wrote a memo in regards to this agenda item; see attached.
Aaron Felder, 1434 McMullen Lane, I kind of think I owe this Council an apology and some
people here and the Mayor and the City people who work here on your fallen Mayor. So my
condolences to you and to the people here in this City and to the Council on your loss. There has
been some question raised; I know the last time we spoke about this about the decibels at 65. So I
wanted to, if I could please, play an engine running. And I have a meter here that will gauge the
65 decibels. Can I do that for you that way? You have an understanding of what 65 decibels
really sounds like.
Mayor Eaton granted permission to play an engine running. The sound made it to approximately
60 decibels.
Mr. Felder stated, so it's a constant noise 24/7, that's the point of this. And when sound hits the
water, it travels even further. I thank you for your time. I see NorthWestem Energy is not here
this evening. I don't know why, but I think you guys for your time. I appreciate each and every
one of you. It is, you got a lot on your plate, and you got to deal with a lot with the meetings
we've been coming to on other agenda. It's quite respectfulness of you to do what you're doing.
really do thank you all. Thank you.
Carol Blades, 1809 DeNittis Lane, read the attached letter into the record.
Carah Ronan, 1721 Nicholas Lane, read the attached letter into the record.
Greg Childs, Theil Road, I just have two points, both pretty brief. The first one, I fear I am
probably preaching to the Pope. I think Council Members understand that the purpose, one of the
purposes of zoning laws, is to protect property values. And obviously, that plant going in across
the river is going to be very detrimental to property values. So keep that in mind. The other one
is that I read in the paper today by some professor of environmental studies with one of those
credentials that's four lines long. I've learned to kind of skip through that and kind of get right
down to the meat of it. He says that methane leak, now this is not emissions from the stack, this
is a methane leak. And we know that pipelines leak. Is 86 times more harmful per ton than is
produced by coal, 86x if that pipeline should, or a valve simply leaks. In your votes on the
various zoning laws and permits, please keep those two items in mind. Thank you.
Steve Krum, 249 24`h Avenue W., I don't really have anything written up, but I did want to start
by asking the Council to consider having the Mayor appoint a special committee to actually truly
dig in deep to this issue before taking a vote next week. Postponing that vote at the very least. I'd
rather you vote no because I am an opponent against the plant. But at the very least, have the
Mayor appoint a special committee with a Council Member or two, whoever wants to be on it.
People from the neighborhood. People from the surround area and the community. The different
wards who are also interested in this plant. And do some research on this, because what I found
when I keep going through the paperwork. And many of the folks who have spoke already is a
key thing in the City codes, which are our laws; they are our laws. Is that the health and welfare
of the community is always first. Always comes first. And when you go through the DEQ report,
which I spent a day doing that. It seemed very odd that a lot of the information was somewhat
misleading. And I don't know if it was intentional, but it was somewhat misleading. Some of the
facts were that they said the City of Laurel is 2 miles from the plant location. When in fact, it is a
little over half a mile. Because if you drive on a road, I don't even think it is 2 miles. So your not
a whole lot farther than what this neighborhood is that's sitting right next to it on the river. They
reference the CHS refinery, saying we're no noisier than they are. I've working in the refinery.
I've been around it most of my working life. And yes, they are noisy, but they're also spread out.
They are not a concentrated source in a small area like this plant is going to be. This plant is
going to have a lot of horsepower there. It's going to have a lot of stacks; it's going to have a lot
of emissions; it's going to have a lot of intake air noise, exhaust air noise. It's going to have
turbines making noise. It's going to have fans making noise. And when you look at the report,
and one of the people already brought it up, this is an estimate that they are going to have as far
as decibels as far as going out into the City, go out to these guys, going north, south, east and
west. And so as you get through the report, you find there's more and more issues like that. But
when you look at the permitting process that the City of Laurel should go through. Like I said,
they speak to the health and welfare of the people of this community, but they also speak for the
health and welfare of the environment. And in the DEQ report, they are not evening going to
mention the Yellowstone River as being down there and the ecosystem which is there. Which is
our pride and joy, right. That's what we're here for. We're at the confluence of the Clark's Fork
and the Yellowstone. This is a special place. And we really want that there? I mean, think about
it. This noise is going to be constant and in the report. Which is one true thing it's going to run 24
hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. And it's not going to be just a constant noise;
it's going to be noise going up; it's going to be noise going down. As they load and unload these,
so that makes getting used to it if it's not changing, but it's not going to do that either. So along
with the Yellowstone River, you don't even see in the DEQ report, I have a whole bunch of notes
in here about it, but I just figured I don't have time to go over all of it. But you also see in the
DEQ report they don't even mention this neighborhood till the end. Oh yeah, and there's a
neighborhood about 2,300 feet to the south. Those are the people they should have been talking
about at the very beginning of this report. And the thing about the DEQ report, Where'd they get
their information from? NorthWestem Energy. And it says right in there that's who provided the
DEQ with the information that this permit was authorized... permitted by was the information
they got provided from NorthWestem Energy. The information was skewed, somewhat
misleading. And really didn't address the issue like it should be. So that's why I'm asking that, at
the very least, put together a committee to review this thing like it should be because normally,
you guys rely heavily on the City/County Planning Board, right. They were mislead, too; if you
compare their notes to the notes in the DEQ there not the same either. They did not say there's
going to be 65 decibels this way, this way, this way, this way, that way. In the City/County
Planning Board meeting, they said, oh, it's going to be quiet; we are going to take and focus all
the noise at the refinery. You don't do that; they're not going to do that; they never were going to
do that. So I think even the City/County Planning Board misled a bit as well as well as City
Officials that's been dealing with them. So I think it would be truly right for the community for
our best chance at doing this right for 30 years to at least put together a committee and really sit
down and get all the facts because a constant noise in Riverside is going to be even more for
these people because even Riverside is further away. Comparing it to CHS refinery on the
southeast corner, that's a quiet part of the refinery. They're not noisy down there. That humdrum
that they are talking about is going to be new in Riverside too. I mean, sure, you get an
occasional noise there, but not like that. Best yet, because of the pollution, that is a fact that
unburnt natural gas methane is way worse than burnt natural gas methane. If you look at all the
reports, it is a huge multiplication exponentially worse when it doesn't burn and escapes to the
atmosphere. I worked at a plant, again valves leak, gaskets leak, its very comment so you do
your best to keep them tight but there always going to leak some. Everything is always going to
leak some. I mean, they work at it and work at it, so but I ask that you vote no because of the
pollution aspect of it as well. Because I think I don't have the expertise to read that part of it, but
that's probably being tweaked a bit to what's really going to be happening there. These people
live very close to 18 stacks concentrated in one area, and one breeze in the wrong direction can
lay that pollution right on top of them. They're that close to that, so. Please vote no, or at the very
least, Mayor, please create a committee. Just don't pass this resolution. Thank you.
Melanie Tripp, 1519 McMullen Lane, my face is new here, so I'll keep it very brief. I am not a
scientist, I don't know anything about a methane gas plant, but I would say that this issue is
incredibly new to me. I have just recently found out about it on our street, and I am extremely
concerned. I feel like I have a lot of questions and that I feel like I wasn't asked or given the
information that I should have been given. My entire family lives on McMullen Lane; it's a
beautiful place. You'll hear a lot of people in here talk about it passionately because it is an
incredible, incredible place. I would invite you and welcome you to come down to the river. To
where my family and I take photographs every year right in front of the place, the skyline right
where the methane gas plant is proposed to be. I don't suppose that it will be the same kind of
photograph if they build that. I live there with my husband, my three daughters, my son-in-law,
and my two grandkids. My first thought, of course, was I don't want this in my backyard. And I
have a pretty good feeling that you all would say the same. My home isn't in City limits, I know
that, but when I vote, when I vote for mill levy's it's for the Laurel School District. And all three
of my kids have and do go to Laurel School District. My daughter is a teacher, so I fully support
how we need to get money for schools and roads and things like that. However, I don't think that
NorthWestem Energy and their power plant is the answer for that. And I don't believe that they
have our best interest or anybody in this room's best interest at heart. I am not bought out that
easily by NorthWestem Energy. I understand that they are the business, and they try to run things
the best that they can and have rules that they must follow, but all I'm hearing from all of this is
that it's going to be a lot of pollution and a lot of noise. And I truly hope somebody can convince
me otherwise, but I think that the consequences of building this gas power plant, they are
probably not worthwhile. The information I'm getting just gets me, makes me want to think I
have more questions. And I wonder, just like Steve I wonder is there any way we can put
together something that's a little bit more comprehensive so that some of us can understand the
real tradeoffs of putting the power plant with 18 77 -foot stacks in the middle of our beautiful
City. Where you got the alternative, things like the LARC that are going to provide a legacy for
our future, just like Leif had said. I guess when all is said and done; if we do build it, we have to
remember that's it; there's no take -backs. This is what's going to be there and left for us, for our
families, and for our kid's futures. So, I really do ask you to please deeply consider whether or
not the zoning is appropriate for the methane gas plant. Thank you.
Kasey Felder, 1434 McMullen Lane, read the attached statement. She had her daughter read a
portion of her statement.
Steven Lance, I live on Lance Lane, off of Theil Road across from the proposed site. Just
thinking about the noises around our place. I don't know if you have ever listened to the river
when it's flooding. It's a deafening sound if you're fairly close. You add that this whatever it's
going to be to the environment that we have around here now. And I believe none of us are going
to want to live here. And I am only the second -generation person who has live on Lance Lane. I
have a grandson who live there also. So I'm just going to tell ya, please vote no. Thank you.
Terry Krum, 1311 E. Railroad, and as I've said before, I have lived in Laurel all my life in and
out of town. One question I'll ask, and I'll keep this real short, why would we work in this
community as hard as we have for as many years on both side of the issue with industry to try to
reduce the emissions. Then we turn around and bring it right back in. We give up all the gains
that we took many, many years to get. So I would ask you to consider very carefully what we are
putting back into our air. Thank you.
John Wyant, 2208 Theil Road, I live with all these people, probably the furthest away. Every day
I know when it's noon because you can hear the refinery noon whistle go off. Every morning you
can see the flair going to the south, and then it changes and goes to the east, and it goes over us. I
can also hear the highway, the interstate, and that's further away that what this methane power
plant is supposed to be. We can also hear the railroad trains leaving, coming, switching. All I
have to say is, please vote it down. Thank you.
Mayor Eaton read the attached letter from Jeffrey Smith of 350 Montana into the record.
Mayor Eaton read the attached letter from Calvin Lance of 1422 Lance Lane into the record.
Mayor Eaton read the attached letter from Gregory Childs of Laurel into the record.
Mayor Eaton read the attached letter from Carol Blades of 1809 DeNittis Lane into the record.
Mayor Eaton read the attached letter from Joan Marrin of Billings into the record.
Mayor Eaton stated she does have the power to appoint a temporary special committee. She
asked if there were any Council Members interested in servicing on this committee.
Council Member Sparks stated I've done my own research outside of this chamber; I had last
week off, not last week. I had a day off last week and spent the majority of the day researching
this on my own. I feel like I am personally educated enough on this, and there's been enough
opposition. I will say right now I will be voting against this as well. We represent the citizens.
The citizens have continued to come into the chamber and speak against this plant. So for that, I
will be voting against it, personally. But if you do appoint a committee, I would be very
interested in serving on that as well.
Council Member Wilke stated he would like to be a part of this committee. He would like to
educate himself so he can make an intelligent decision. He is on the fence, and he is kind of
leaning one way more than the other after all public comments.
Council Member Stokes would like to be on this committee as well
It was questioned if it would be Council's preference to put off the vote and study this issue
further. Council agreed with that statement. The public hearing will not be occurring in leu of a
fact-finding committee that has been formed. The Mayor asked if there were any members of the
public interested in serving on this committee. Those present who would like to serve on this
committee were asked to write their names and contact information down on a piece of paper.
Council asked if they would need to vote to table this item pending the findings of the special
committee. It was clarified that it was simply being pulled from the agenda. It is within the
Mayor's purview to create a committee like this. However, the Mayor will need time to contact
all these people and set up this committee.
Carol Blades, 1809 DeNittis Lane, I want to give you an example of what it's like to live out
here. In April or May, most of us are outside; we're farmers, gardeners, horse people. We can't
wait till spring gets here and we are all outside. All the men get on their tractors and drive
around; that's kind of the spring ritual. But what touches my heart the most is I am outside in
April or May, and I hear the sandhill cranes. I hear them coming. If you have ever heard a
sandhill crane. And it touches my heart, and I am on my cellphone. Darrin there here, they're
back; it's spring. That's what living out there is about. We are not a bunch of grumpy people. We
love nature and the beauty there. Thank you.
Steve Krum asked to show Mayor Eaton something. He showed her LMC 2.8.250.
Greg Childs, does not the Council need to determine if they are going to delay this vote?
It was clarified that they can leave it on the agenda and allow Council to table the item.
Aaron Felder, thank you for listening. That's all, thank you.
Kasey Felder, I just want to mention this because it goes along with what Ms. Carol said. I was
outside the middle of the week last week. My dog is... needs to go to the bathroom a lot. So I
was out in the middle of the night, and we're talking 12:30, and it is quiet, and I can hear owls
like at least three bouncing off the tree echoing around. So again, that is where we live. That is
the kind of neighborhood that we are dealing with and what we don't want to lose. So again,
thank you for tabling this future... further consideration. Thank you.
Mayor Eaton had been asked to thank Mr. Felder for his kind words about the Mayor. Staff is
still very upset about this, and it is an emotional/hot button issue. While Staff does try to remain
with a professional appearance, it is touching to still hear comments like that. Thank you.
5. Motion To Allow Council Member KloseTo Be Absent From The City Of Laurel For
More Than Ten Days. (LMC 2.12.060)
Council Member Klose stated he would be in and out of town taking care of a cousin who is
blind and unable to drive. He just wanted to make sure should he surpass ten days away from the
City, he had permission to do so.
Council Issues
6. Discussion On Changing The Ordinance Regarding Attendance By Council. (LMC
2.12.060)
Mayor Eaton stated that there had been a Council Member that has been two more weeks than he
has been in attendance. There have been many comments by various Council Members of this
person's absence. That Council Member is still receiving pay for filling that seat. Council
referred to 2.12.060; see attached.
Council noted that if they are unable to attend a meeting, they should call in before the meeting
with a valid reason not to be in attendance. Council noted that as of late, there had been very
close votes that Council Members need to be present for. This Ward is not being served properly.
Council also noted that they knew what they were signing up for when they ran for Council. It is
not fair to the citizens or the City at large to not participate.
Mayor Eaton stated, based on the comments from various Council Members, that a formal
notification will be made to the Council Member in question regarding their attendance at
Council. Once that seat is vacant, they will post publicly and appoint someone to the position.
The appointed person will serve until the next open election.
Other Items
Review of Draft Council Agendas
7. Draft Council Agenda for November 23, 2021.
Attendance at Upcoming Council Meeting
Announcements
KLJ will be holding a public meeting on the S. 4`h Street project Thursday, November 18, 2021,
at 6:00 p.m. at the Senior Center.
A Council Member stated they recently had gone to breakfast and spoken with someone
regarding the next refinery turnaround. This Council Member was told that there would be a
turnaround in 2023, and they planned on bringing in 6000 workers in for 43 days.
Council thanked the Mayor for appointing a special committee to help clear up questions
regarding the power plant.
A Council Member noted that Saturday, a long-time resident and great community member Don
Hedges passed away. He was a fireman for 30 years. His funeral will be Thursday, November
18, 2021, at the Methodist Church.
The council workshop adjourned at 8:02 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.
Laurel Activities Recreation Complex
Phase One Coming to Laurel
172 W
Laurel Swimming Pool
• End of life, 60 plus years old
Riverside Hall
• Needs repair & updates *in work
Old Middle School Gym
• In need of major repairs
How & Why
We
Got Started
GOALS ACCOMPLISHED THUS FAR
• Community Awareness
• Grass Roots Fundraising
• Create Non -Profit Corporation
• Feasibility Study
• Site Selection
• Site Layout Drawings
• Change Name &Branding
RE -BRAND & RE -FRESH BEGINS NOW
• New Logo
• New Ideas
• New & Existing Leadership
• New Focus
• Looking for your Input
• Looking for your Participation
• Looking for your Investment . .
RECENT LOGO CONTEST ENTRIES
k
e �
u7,■
�... i A
The Winning Entry
Holly Schwarm - Woods Power Grip
The Winner
Holly Schwarm - Woods Power Grip
MAI' "MILINUI1 l�
e
INOWJ "- -4
LARC
Hour Hce"e"
m
q �
Future Home of LARC
• Land Donated by Woods Power Grip
• 10 Acres
• Some Utilities Located Across the Street
• City working on TIF to bring more Utilities in
• LARC Facility
• 8 Acre Footprint
• Site Signs coming plus Yard Signs
s4" o
FUTURE
HOME
OF
LARC
Future Home of LARC
• Land Donated by Woods Power Grip
• 10 Acres
• Some Utilities Located Across the Street
• City working on TIF to bring more Utilities in
• LARC Facility
- 8 Acre Footprint
• Site Signs coming plus Yard Signs
N
OLD I-90 ON-RAMP
Laurel Community Pride
• All things Laurel
• Laurel Activities
• Laurel Recreation
• Laurel Complex
• Laurel
Pride
• Laurel
Owned
• Laurel
Operated
• Laurel's
Future
Laurel Activities
• Community Activities
• Craft Fairs
• Farmers Market
• Event Center
• Wedding & Reception Venue
• Class & Family Reunions
• Meeting Space
• Concession Area
• Etc.
M P
Recreation In the Gymnasium
• Gymnasium/Multi-Use Facility
• Indoor Soccer (Futsal)
• Basketball
• Martial Arts
• Baseball Training & Batting Cages
• Fitness Classes
• Weight Facility
• Dance Classes
• Wrestling
• Tournament Venue
• Team Practice & Game Facility
• Climbing Wall
• Future Aquatic Center
• Etc.
A
Laurel Complex
• This will be a Local, County, Regional Complex
• How do we get Funding & Participation for this Project
• Donations
• Sponsors
• Grants
• Fundraisers
• Board Members
• Committee Members
• Volunteers
• Wall of Contributors (Gold, Silver, Bronze Levels)"AL 742D
FUTURE ON-SITE EVENTS & IDEAS
• Trunk or Treat
• Fall Fest
• Halloween Events
• Summer Carnivals
• Food Truck Battles
• Walk a Thon's
• Run for LARC
• Fourth of July Float and Activities
• Etc. , "A72 0
How can you get Involved?
• Invite us to Speak at your Event or Business
• Come to a Board Meeting
• 2nd Monday of Month @ 6:30 pm @ Laurel Main St. Perk
• LARC Information
• Website: https://www.laurelarc.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurelarcmontana
• Contact Information
• Gabe Bush - Board President 406.208.1945
• Leif Welhaven - LARC Consultant 406.855.6595
� 0
r
June
Recreation Complex
West of
Wood's
Powr-Grip
Along West Main Street, by the
old highway on-ramp
Looking For
Food Vendors
Craft Vendors
F3 Sponsors
Mail you contact info to
P.O. Box 1086, Laurel, MT 59044
or
Message our Facebook Page: Laurel Food Fest
or
Email: Wave@LaurelARC.org
Phase 1
GYMNASIUM
The first phase of our building will be
the gymnasium. It is thought that this is the
most urgent need to the community.
LARC will have 2-3 full-size basketball
courts. This will allow for tournaments to
be hosted in Laurel as well as room for oth-
er activities like craft fairs and trade shows.
Seating will be movable seating to allow
adjustable audience numbers and multi
event nights.
There will also be a running track and
fitness area on the second floor overlooking
the courts.
1
Phase 2
COMMUNITY
CENTER
LARC will be able to host a wide verity of
community events. We will be build a large
capacity event room that will be dividable.
There will be a full-service kitchen available
for event catering
For small groups including non -profits,
we will have several meeting room avail-
able. These rooms will include everything
a organization will need to host a meeting
including after -hour access.
Phase 3
ATHLETIC POOL
Our main goal is to build a competition
style pool. But that is not all that we will
build.
The main pool will be a 6 lane competi-
tion pool. This will be for all the schools in
the surrounding area. This would allow our
schools to offer swimming as a after-school
activity.
Along side the main pool will be wellness
and fun pools with a Party Room. This will
bring in more usage to the aquatic part of
the building and allow the pools to be used
every day of the week.
OLD 1-90 ON-RAMP
LARC's original mission is to bring
a competition level aquatic pool to the
Laurel area. Providing services and
fulfilling the need for aquatic sports. It
would be open for the public and school
nearby school systems to use.
It has now grown to include a multi-
use gymnasium and community center.
Encompassing all athletic and community
needs.
We are currently looking for more board
members. We meet every Second Monday
at Main Street Perks, 111 E Main St.,
Laurel. Our meetings are open to the
public to attend.
Find us on Facebook.
facebook.com/laurelarcmontana
Laurel Activities Recreation Complex
Laurel Activities Recreation Complex
More information available at:
www.laurelarc.org
Questions or comments?
Email: wave@laurelarc.org
Laurel Activities Recreation Complex
CITY HALL
PLANNING 628-4796 City Of Laurel
WATER OFC.: 628-7431 P.O. Box 10
COURT: 628-1964
FAX 628-2241 Laurel, Montana 59044
November 16, 2021
Once of the Cit) Planner
Regarding the Resolution of Intent for the Annexation of Contiguous Government Land
Mayor and City Council,
I am unable to attend the meeting this evening due to illness, but this letter will provide some detail on the
accompanying legal descriptions that were provided with the resolution detailing the annexation of
government land contiguous to the Municipal City Limits of Laurel.
The list of legal descriptions includes the city -owned property contiguous with, and immediately adjacent
to the city limits of Laurel. The Annexation of these properties not only clears up the jurisdiction in which
city property falls under, but also allows for the City to expand its zoning jurisdiction outwards. Extra-
territorial zoning extends 1 -mile outside the municipal city limits. This is important for long range
planning activities as well as planned provision of public services and basic land -use management.
Please let me know if there are any questions or comments about the properties in question or the process
that this will take. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Regards,
Nicholas Altonaga, CFM
Planning Director
CITY HALL
115 W. IST
Ci
Of Laurel
PLANNING::6 628-4796
WATER OFC.: 628-7431
COURT: 628.1964
P.O. Box 10
FAX 628-2241
Laurel, Montana 59044
November 16, 2021
Office of the City Planner
Regarding the Resolution containing Criteria for the Approval of Grants through the Laurel Urban
Renewal Agency (LURA)
Mayor and City Council,
I have reviewed the Resolution that adopts criteria for the awarding of grants through the LURA Board. I
have some comments on the matter that I would like to be considered by the Council prior to the adoption
of any criteria. I suggest the following updated criteria and verbiage should be used in place of that
presented on the current draft of the resolution.
"NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, that the
LURA Board and City Council shall apply the following criteria when reviewing LURA grants to
applicants under the previously established grant programs and shall award a grant if it:
1. Supports blight removal projects and programs.
2. Stabilizes or renovates public historic buildings.
3. Constructs or connects public infrastructure.
4. Improves area streetscapes and/or green spaces.
5. Mitigates unsafe decay.
6. Improves accessibility to public infrastructure.
7. Funds a study, plan, or promotes something for the public benefit."
I also suggest that a grant application should be awarded if it is found to comply with at least two (2) of
the criteria above. As a note, I removed the items regarding retiring public debt and establishing a loan
program as it would not be the purview of an applicant to do either of those actions.
I need to stress that resolutions such as this should be discussed with the LURA Board in order to have all
the parties who review and manage the grant program and TIF District are adequately engaged in
updating and amending the governing rules. Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Regards,
Nicholas Altonaga, CFM
Planning Director
CITY HALL
115 W. In ST.
PLANNING: 628-4796
WATER OFC.: 628-7431
COURT: 628-1964
FAX 628-2241
November 16, 2021
City Of Laurel
P.O. Box 10
Laurel, Montana 59044
Office of the Citc Planner
Regarding the Zone Change Request for Northwestern Energy Parcels legally described as: Parcel 1, COS
1239 and Parcel 2, COS 1677.
Mayor and City Council,
I am unable to attend the meeting this evening due to illness, but I have prepared this letter to provide a
summary of the review process for the Zone Change Request made by Northwestern Energy for their
property legally described as Parcel 1, COS 1239 and Parcel 2, COS 1677. This letter summarizes the
process as well as the details contained in the staff report dated September 29, 2021, that accompanies the
agenda item.
Northwestern Energy (the applicant) seeks to change the zoning designation of the parcels legally
described above to be fully within the Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district. Approval of the zone change
request would add the Heavy Industrial designation to those two parcels as well as amend the Laurel City -
County Zoning Jurisdiction map.
Summary of review Timeline:
• May 18, 2021 — Zone Change Application and information on required documents provided to
Applicant's engineers for the preparation of an application.
• August 16, 2021 — Zone Change Application received by Planning Department.
• September 15, 2021 — Laurel City -County Planning held a public hearing on the Zone Change
Request and subsequently voted to recommend the approval of the zone change request with the
notes made by City Staff.
• October 12, 2021 — Zone Change request tabled in front of Laurel City Council
• November 23, 2021 — Zone Change Request to be presented at a public hearing in front of Laurel
City Council.
Staff Findings:
1. The application submitted on August 16, 2021, contained all the necessary items to move forward
in the review process
2. The applicant is requesting a zone change to Heavy Industrial (HI).
3. The Applicant has stated their goal of installing a power generation station that will generate 175
megawatts from natural gas in order to reinforce the current power system.
4. The Parcels in question are already partially zoned as Heavy Industrial (HI)
5. The surrounding area to the immediate West in zoned Heavy Industrial (HI) and is used for those
purposes by CHS Inc. as a petroleum refinery and by the City of Laurel as a Sewer Treatment
Facility and Water Treatment Facility.
6. The Current use of Parcel 1 as a public utility service installation is allowable within the Heavy
Industrial (HI) zoning classification.
7. The proposed use of Parcel 2 as a public utility service installation is allowable within the Heavy
Industrial (HI) zoning classification.
Recommendations (Made by Planning Board on September 15, 2021):
The Laurel Yellowstone County City -County Planning Board recommends the approval of the zone
change request and grant action on the application not to exceed thirty (30) days for:
• Parcel 1 COS 1239, and
• Parcel 2, COS 1677
Along with this zone change it should be noted that:
1. The Parcels in question shall be fully included with the Laurel Zoning Jurisdiction upon
amendment of the Zoning District Map
2. The parcels in question shall have their zoning classifications changed to be fully within the
Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district.
3. The Parcels in questions hall have no use on them which are deemed not allowable within the
Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning district.
4. Any future change of zoning for said parcels shall follow the same process as this approval.
This zone change request has created conversations about the jurisdiction and governing body applicable
to this request. It is the opinion of the Planning Director that if it the request is deemed to require further
review and public comment by the Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners, the
documentation and notes applicable to this request should be forwarded to their offices immediately. The
public process should continue quickly in order to allow a satisfactory decision to be made. Please contact
my office if there are any questions or comments about the details of this letter or the supplementary
materials.
Regards,
Nicholas Altonaga, CFM
Planning Director
My name is Carol Blades
My address is 1809 DeNittis Lane
The entire controversy over the NWE methane gas plant proposal at
this point boils down to one thing- money. Everyone knows there are
numerous other sites where this plant could be built that would not be
adjacent to vibrant communities of people. Council members need to
ask themselves, am I personally willing to sacrifice 30 plus families,
their property values, their homes that have been in place for years?
Am I personally willing to destroy the natural sound of the
environment, and the beautiful skyline? Am I personally willing to
dump tones of methane gas into the air? Am I personally willing to live
next to this facility?
Councilwoman Sparks and Councilman Stokes have had the courage to
say No to these questions. I suspect using both their intellect and their
moral compass, they have demonstrated their commitment to
taxpayers and citizens lives, over fattening the City Councils budget.
NWE is attempting to manipulate you. November 9th they went so far
as to offer $15,000 to you at the City Council meeting, if you would pass
their proposal immediately. There is more to governing than money,
much more.
The council asked for public input. Please take time to think thru the
facts. The noise level emitted by this plant will not be like us politely
talking in this room as NWE rep claimed last week. The Montana
Department of Environmental Quality estimated that the noise level
would be 65 A -weighted decibels 600 feet north and south of the
facility and would cause steady noise audible from Riverside Park.
Council members, stand up for what is right. There is far more to a
healthy city than a fat budget.
November 16, 2021
My name is Carah Ronan and I live at 1721 Nicholas Lane.
The abundance of natural resources creates an extreamly fertile environment for Montana's
largest industry- Agriculture. Montana is the national leader in the production of certified
organic wheat, dry peas, lentils and flax and ranks no. 2 in the U.S. for its honey and pollination
industry. Altogether, the agriculture industry brings an average of $5.2 billion to the economy
annually. If you ask a Montanan, you may here that our best export is our children. Why is it
that we are loosing such a valuable resourse, our children the future of Montana and the up
and coming generation. In large part it is due to big business being put first and montanas
farmers being left behind. There has been a push to change this. Senetor Jon Tester is the U.S.
Senates only working farmer and knows that agriculture is the backbone of Montana's
Economy. Gov. Greg Gianforte has spoken on one of his signature economic polices, house bill
303, that quote, "Small Business is the backbone of Montana's economy". Note that neither
Tester or Gianforte mention big business being the backbone of montana's economy. On
October 27, 2021, the Economic Transformation, Stabilization and workforce Development
ARPA (American rescue plan act) commission voted unanimously to allocate $7.5 million in
ARPA funds to strengthen and diversify Montana's industry through targeted investments in
value added agriculture projects across the state. Locally, Yellowstone Valley Electric Coop
returns profits to the ag community. la I--l�- Ala T- C o�—t ti,N A-1 0&-/
I'd like to take a minute to get back to the bees, so that this group may have information on
how the rezoning of this valuable land by building a plant may effect the no. 2 agricultural i
export herein montana. Bee's are already in trouble and adding a methane power plant would T%40
only add to their demisAt has been found that transient exposure to EMF reduces a bee's fl't�ltiRrv�
ability to learn, reduces their memory retention, affects flight and foraging behavior all of which ft x
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could potentially reduce their ability to pollinate. Pollination is key to all Montana crops. In lee T -
layman's terms, no bee's, no pollination, no pollination, no crops. No crops, no money. No V (U'Y
money, well I think we all know what it means when there is no money. Why is Laurel wanting P R),X-i
to rezone our most valuable resourse, our agricultural land for heavy industry? I urge you to OF UCY« S
vek-ne-orvdhe rezoning. Thank you�vP'y� �5�� �
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KT H
Thank you for your service to the City of Laurel and the opportunity to offer testimony tonight.
Today I ask you to listen to your local residents tonight and think long and hard about this
zoning change. When it is time to vote I would ask you to defer or deny NorthWestern Energy's
zoning change request for the methane gas power plant.
I grew up in Laurel. I've been here for most of my life. My family and I moved south of the river
in 2011 so our child could play in the dirt with a country upbringing like my own. After
personally going door to door to many of the houses along Thiel Road, I was surprised many of tai
my neighbors were unaware that this plant is still going forward. We have generations of family VV
history on this land, too much to convey here in 3 minutes. But this proposed plant would
destroy what we have -what we consider a slice of paradise. There is a huge lack of information
being shared, and what is shared has been very deceiving. This process has been too convenient
for NorthWestern Energy, and at the expense of our community.
Another concern is for the Yellowstone River. Why build so close to the river? 2021 was an
outstanding year for boat launches for Riverside Park, which is great for our local community
and economy. Please tell me: Who is going to want to camp at Riverside Park with the power
plant for a neighbor?
The river is a major corridor for wildlife. We have moose, black bears, mountain lion, deer,
beaver, fox, coyotes, birds of all kinds including nesting bald eagles. We have the Sundance
Lodge Recreation Area nearby that is owned by the Bureau of Land Management, with the goal
"to protect and preserve the remarkable scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife,
historic, cultural, and other values along the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48."
Noise and light pollution also must be considered. NorthWestern believes residents will have
secondary impacts. I am almost front row to the proposed plant, I am not a secondary
impact. There will be direct negative impacts to my property and family. We've been operating a
grape vineyard since 2014, and are on the path to start a winery here with the goal of listing our
vineyard with the state of Montana's tourism office. Most days, we are fortunate to not smell
the wastewater treatment plant or the CHS Refinery - when we do, it's not pleasant. Our
proximity to NorthWestern's proposed methane pollution is alarming, and we won't be able to
avoid it. It will impact us.
I hope you will consider and prioritize the needs of those of us who already live near the river -
some of us have been here for generations. There is a lot at stake for us - and all of us
downwind, now and long into the future. Your decision on November 231" will have a profound
effect not only on our local area, but our community and this valley.
Thank you again for your time and valuable consideration to defer or deny the zoning change
request sought by Northwestern Energy that you will vote on next week.
Brittney Moorman
From: Laurel City Planner
Sent: Friday, November 12, 20218:10 AM
To: Bethany Langve
Cc: Brittney Moorman
Subject: FW: Comment for the Public Hearing on NorthWestern's Easement
Attachments: Why is NorthWestern Energy Going in the Wrong Direction.docx; Montana-Grid-Lab-
Executive-Summary(5).pdf
Hi Bethany,
Forwarded below is an email containing public comment regarding the NW Energy Easement and NW Energy Zone
Change. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.
Regards,
Nick Altonaga, CFM
Planning Director
City of Laurel
PO Box 10
115 W. V Street
Laurel, MT 59044
(406) 628-4796 ext. 5302
(406) 628-2241 (fax)
From: Jeffrey J. Smith <yswolfhowl@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 20214:58 PM
To: Laurel City Planner <naltonaga@laurel.mt.gov>
Subject; Comment for the Public Hearing on NorthWestern's Easement
Dear Laurel City Council,
We understand that you have established a public hearing on November 23, 2021, to consider NorthWestern Energy's
easement.
350 Montana urges you to reject the NorthWestern's zoning change and the plant itself.
Attached please find our public comment on NorthWestern's methane pipeline and gas peaker plant. Also attached is an
executive summary of a study we commissioned earlier this year, "Affordable and Reliable Decarbonization Pathways for
Montana."
Let me know that you received these documents and entered them in the public record.
Jeff Smith, co-chair
350 Montana
P.O. Box 7006
Missoula, MT 59807
www.350montana.org
November 10, 2021
Laurel City Council
c/o Planning Department Office
115 West 1st Street
Laurel, MT 59044
Dear City Councilors,
350 Montana would like to offer a few comments on NorthWestern Energy's application for an
easement through Riverside Park for a pipeline to carry methane to the power generating plant
the company has proposed to build on the north side of the Yellowstone River. We are a
statewide affiliate of the international organization, 350.org, and our mission is to reduce the
greenhouse gases like methane that are heating our planet.
It's clear that we are in a climate emergency, an all -hands -on -deck moment. It is a moment when
every decision to choose a greenhouse gas producing technology instead of a clean energy
technology will contribute devastating impacts on the world we leave for our children and
grandchildren.
We urge you to vote against this easement for the following reasons.
350 Montana opposes NorthWestern's plan in Laurel because it will accelerate the increasingly
damaging, me gam we're seeing in Montana, it will accelerate the steep collapse of our Cold-
water fisheries we are witnessing, and severely impact our number one industry, agriculture. And
to top it off, fewer jobs are created and sustained by building the gas plant rather than pivoting to
building new clean, renewable energy projects now (wind, solar, battery).
NorthWestem's executives know this. During his under -oath deposition last month in a 350
Montana's lawsuit, NorthWestern Energy's vice-president John Hines admitted that humans are
causing global warming and that, for the first time last year, NorthWestem's hydro -dams
"performed less than planned because of the drought."
Also:
• He admitted that NorthWestern's share of Colstrip-3 and -4 produces 1.5 million metric
tons of CO2 a year,
• He admitted that the "Big Four" owners of Colstrip's want to shutter the plant by 2025
because of global warming concerns, but NorthWestern wants to keep the plant emitting
carbon at that level until at least 2042,
• He admitted that methane is warming our climate, but NorthWestern hasn't bothered to
calculate how much methane the Laurel generator will spew, and
• He admitted that his company's current procurement plan doesn't even mention climate
change, much less evaluate the climate impacts of its policies.
For the record, methane is more than 80 times more powerful than CO2 in trapping greenhouse
gases. The UN's Climate Panel reported last summer that the world's number one priority should
be eliminating, methane pollution.
Independent studies have shown that Montana can generate all the electricity it needs using
clean, renewable energy. Building a clean energy infrastructure will allow Montana communities
to take advantage of some $60 -billion -a -year in new federal Ilmding to transition the grid to
clean energy. This transition will provide rural communities a new and stable source of tax
revenue, save ratepayers money, bring Montana thousands of new, good -paying jobs, and
comply with the Northwest Power Planning Council's 2021 plan (for Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, and Montana), a forward-looking plan that concluded the region can meet all of its power
needs through 2030 through conservation and energy efficiency.
The cost of natural gas has doubled this year and will continue to rise. At the same time, the
costs of solar technologies have declined by over 89 percent in the last 10 years, and wind costs
have declined 70 percent. This is the future.
It sure seems NWE, by building this gas plant (and proposing others in Montana), is benefitting
only themselves while putting Laurel residents, workers, and all ratepayers at risk. By building
the plant they can advance bonuses for their executives, increase stockholder's payouts, and slow
the eventual transition to clean renewables.
You and I and our children and grandchildren will bear ALL the burdens and the costs.
Congress is implementing new federal policy that would make the United States' electrical grid
90 percent carbon -free by 2035. That means expensive generators like the Laurel gas plant will
become stranded assets. In other words, NorthWestem's ratepayers will be paying for this plant
even after it is idled by less expensive wind and solar.
NorthWestem is rushing this plant not because of supply chain issues but because federal policy
will soon close the door on outmoded technologies like this gas peaker plant. The recent
infrastructure bill passed by Congress and the impending Build Back Better Act will make more
than a half -trillion -dollar investment in mitigating climate change. Gas plants won't make the
cut.
The Edison Electric Institute, a trade group that NorthWestem follows, is praising federal
funding for the transition, saying it will make "significant investments in the critical energy
infrastructure and new carbon -free technologies our industry needs to deliver a 100 -percent clean
energy future."
NorthWestern is an outlier. Representatives of the world's governments are meeting in Scotland
right now to agree to a world-wide plan to keep our planet's temperatures within a livable range.
Every new fossil fuel generator like the one NorthWestern wants to build tallies on the wrong
side of the score card.
It's time for this company to stop treating our climate as a public relations problem and start
investing its ratepayers' money to help solve the biggest existential crisis we have ever faced. As
members of the Laurel City Council, you can make a big difference.
Please oppose this easement. Thank you.
We've attached the executive summary of a modeling study we commissioned earlier this year,
"Affordable and Reliable Decarbonization Pathways for Montana."
Sincerely,
The 350 Montana Leadership Team:
Carla Abrams, Patty Ames, Bill Geer, Dave Harmon, Marta Meengs, Craig Menteer, Jim Parker,
Jeff Smith, Brad Stacey, Laxmi Von Hoffman, Beth Taylor Wilson, and John Woodland
THIS IS THE YEAR
MONTANA DECIDES
HOW TO REPLACE COAL
Few decisions weigh as heavily on the minds of
Montana's consumers and policymakers than
decisions about how we will generate electricity.
After nearly 40 years of service, Montana's coal
plants at the mouth of southeastern coal mines
are increasingly costly, polluting, and unreliable.
As Montana prepares to retire these mammoth
thermal generators, there is little consensus on
what comes next.
This decision comes only once in a generation,
and the steps we take today will have profound
impacts on Montana's economy, people, and
environment. These decisions will affect how
much Montanans pay for electricity each month,
the technology and transportation we use every
day, the technology we use to power our homes
and vehicles, job growth and employment
prospects, and whether we hold onto our
burgeoning business as an energy powerhouse.
Our decision must also take into account whether
Montana is doing its part to meet the world's
expectations to reduce greenhouse gases.
CLEAN ENERGY PATHWAYS
FOR MONTANA
Montana's electricity generation is controlled
by the state's major investor-owned utility,
NorthWestern Energy, and regulated by an
elected Public Service Commission. Both have
been slow to embrace the rapidly falling cost of
clean energy resources and the potential to save
consumers money through decarbonization.
In order to evaluate the benefits and tradeoffs
of Montana's energy transition, 350 Montana
retained Vibrant Clean Energy, a national leader
in power systems modeling.
■
The new study, "Affordable and Reliable
Decarbonization Pathways for Montana," shows
that Montana can retire its Colstrip coal plants.
never build another natural gas plant, and still
meet people's energy needs through clean,
renewable energy, while reducing consumer
electricity bills and boosting the state's
economy. The study shows that:
• Electricity Costs Would Go Down: If Montana
retires its existing coal generation by 2030
and replaces it with low-cost renewable
energy while electrifying the rest of its
economy, electricity rates would decrease
by approximately 40 percent by 2050, and
Montana would save $32.7 billion across its
economy compared with keeping the coal
plants.
• Clean Energy Jobs Would Double: Jobs in
the clean energy sector would nearly double.
driven mainly by both the distributed (rooftop)
solar (DPV) and the utility -solar (UPV)
industries, while the energy storage industry
and the wind industry make up the next largest
contributions.
• Cleaner and Healthier Communities:
Decarbonizing Montana's energy sector would
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 180
million metric tons over business -as -usual.
Clean Transportation and Buildings Provide
Significant Savings: If electrification of
buildings, transportation, and industry are
pursued In combination with a clean electricity
grid, the report shows residential customers
would reduce household spending on
electricity and transportation costs by nearly
50% by 2050.
INCREASINGLY UNECONOMIC COAL
Montana elected officials and regulators
are willfully blind to coal's full costs. Many
existing analyses claim that coal is increasingly
uncompetitive, such as a recent report from
Energy Innovation that suggests that 80% of
the nation's coal fleet is uneconomic when
compared to local wind and solar plants. Right
now, according to the Montana Consumer
Counsel, coal is the most expensive electricity in
Montana ratepayers' monthly bills (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Selected NorthWestern electricity average unit prices
2016-2017
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Meanwhile, Montana runs the risk of losing
domestic energy prowess in the transition
to clean energy. While Montana's neighbors
once relied on the state for its abundant coal
resources, those neighbors are increasingly
embracing cheap, clean, and reliable renewable
energy. Our report suggests Montana can remain
a net -energy exporter, providing increased
investment and keeping bills low, through a
dramatic expansion in in-state renewable energy
generation.
More broadly, the United States has committed
to building a clean electricity system by 2035.
To get there, the United States will need to
build 750 gigawatts of solar and wind power
and spend some $60 billion a year for the next
15 years, mostly in rural communities like those
in Montana where the wind and solar resources
proliferate.' Montana is poised for increasing
investments in local land leases, construction,
manufacturing, local tax revenues, and jobs for
operation and maintenance of solar, wind, and
battery storage projects.
IS BUSINESS -AS -USUAL WORKING?
350 Montana asked Vibrant Clean Energy to
compare the costs of five clean energy pathways
for Montana:
1. Business -as -Usual: Assumes current state and
federal policy, as well as modest load growth
commensurate with historical assumptions.
2. Keep Coal: In-state coal generation remains
online through 2040.
3. 100% by 2035 (RPS100): Requires that
Montana achieve 100% clean electricity
generation by 2035 while the rest of the
Western United States maintains business -as -
usual operations.
4. 100% by 2035 Exporter (RPS100Export):
Requires that Montana achieve 100% clean
electricity generation by 2035 and continues
1 The National Renewable Energy Laboratory says Montana's wind
potential ranks in the top five states. According to a report "Seeds of
Opportunityby the Rocky Mountain Institute. wind and solar are the
new cash crops in rural America and will double capacity by 2030.
Local manufacturing of wind components Is particularly promising
because turbines and towers are difficult to transport.
to export more electricity than it uses for in-
state demand.
5. Deep Decarbonization (RPS100Elec):
Requires that Montana achieve 100% clean
electricity generation by 2035 while the
building, transportation, and industrial sectors
electrify.
The results are startling. Because Montana
is blessed with world-class hydroelectric
generation, plus exceptional wind and solar
resources, Montana can meet all its future needs,
including peak loads in summer and winter,
with clean energy. This transition can expand
employment and increase energy exports to fill
an almost insatiable regional energy demand via
surplus clean energy,
As our region retires fossil fuel plants and
replaces them with variable renewable energy
(VRE) generation, it will save billions of dollars.
If we keep Colstrip going, on the other hand,
it will cost Montana ratepayers more than a $1
billion by 2040. Our report states that "coal
generation is the main impediment to achieving
lower system costs and retail rates for customers
in Montana."2
In short, Montana's unending reliance on coal
is costing ratepayers in the form of expensive
monthly energy bills, dirty air, dwindling
economic competitiveness, and disappearing
employment prospects. If Montana continues to
burn coal or switches to expensive natural gas,
Montana ratepayers will pay higher systemwide
electricity costs and thus higher monthly bills.
Montanans will not capture the employment
opportunities of a booming clean energy
economy, while neighboring states continue
to invest in wind and solar. And the effects of
climate change, from disastrous forest fires to
punishing droughts, will continue to impact our
states farms, rivers, and beautiful public lands,
decimating farmer, tourism, and recreation
income.
2 Even with massive market manipulations, our "Keep Coal"
scenario retires coal in 2040, resulting in an immediate drop in costs
from $2.12 billion in 2040 to S13 billion in 2045 (Report, R28).
THIS 15 THE YEAR MONTANA DECIDES HOW TO REPLACE COAL .S
ACCELERATING MONTANA'S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
Montana can achieve a carbon -free electricity system by 2035 and
create a thriving clean electricity export market that lowers ratepayer
bills.
Montanans can achieve the greatest savings through one scenario,
Deep Decarbonization, that not only achieves 100% clean electricity
by 2035, but that transitions the state's building, transportation, and
industrial sectors to efficient, zero -carbon systems by 2050. The Deep
Decarbonization scenario decreases household electricity spending
by 40 percent. Cumulatively, Montana stands to save more than $30
billion by 2050 across its economy as compared to keeping its coal-
fired generators. This pathway also creates the most jobs.
The business -as -usual and keep coal scenarios show limited prospects
for creating new jobs, while the three carbon -free scenarios result
in increasing employment opportunities as the grid expands to
accommodate more wind, solar, and battery storage. The Deep
Decarbonization scenario, which moves Montana's entire economy to
carbon -free technologies, more than doubles jobs in the wind, rooftop
solar, utility -scale solar, and storage industries (Figure 2).
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■ Download the full report
at www.350montana.org
Brittney Moorman
From: Calvin Lance <callancel4@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2021 10:10 AM
To: Brittney Moorman; bobbegerogel @hotmail.com
Subject: NWE Gas Plant
Dear Council Members,
My name is Calvin Lance and I live at 1422 Lance Lane, south of
Laurel.
My brother Stephen, who lives at 1442 Lance Lane and I attended
the City Council meeting held on Wednesday November 10th in
chambers.
Although we did not stand up and comment, we are compelled to
express ourselves now, in the wake of a meeting filled with
dissension and protest.
First of all, we are pleased the council could not come to
quorum Resolution No. R21-121. That result will allow more of us to
be heard and express our concerns.
We have seen a lot of progress over the years living South of
Laurel. As far back as a new bridge over Hwy 212, new overpass
south of us and most recently the expanse of Cenex Refinery
adding a substation to the east of their plant. Progress that, as
residents have had nothing to say about it. They just kind of
happened.
Over the past few months we have witnessed the excavation for
and laying of pipelines under Thiel Road to Riverside Park. No one
even had time to object to this "progress". In fact, even though we
share a zip code with Laurel residents, South of 1-90 we have no
I
representation. That is one reason why we are standing up against
building the methane plant. No one ever asked for our opinion or to
voice our concerns. Evidenced by the way NWE has pushed this
through all the way to Riverside Park before we stood up and said
"Hold Your Horses", lends to certainty, that once they build the
plant, what's going to keep them from industrial creep and deciding
in a few short years that 18 engines is not enough and build
another 18 for the demand. Who's to say? And once again, we will
have nothing to say about it.
No one knows better than those of us who spend our time 24/7,
south of the proposed location, how the wind turbulence is blowing
from the West down the Yellowstone River. We live in a vortex. The
wind blows in circles. This might seem insignificant, but what it
means is the emission from the stacks will not dissipate and rise
into the atmosphere, it is going to stay low and circle around to our
homes and in the air we breathe.
I am also concerned about Acid Rain. I realize burning methane is
supposed to be 50% cleaner and more efficient. But, that still
leaves emissions that will settle in the fields. My neighbors to the
east, the Felders, have invested a personal fortune in time and
money in a cutting edge vineyard growing weather resistant grapes
for wine. It is an attractive operation I see each day when I leave
my house. I am concerned for them, because even 50% less
emission still means there is 50% more than there was before.
Their buyers could lose interest when they see smoke coming from
the stacks so close to the product. People are finicky that way.
NWE has invested time and money for this venture. But, relatively
speaking, so have the residents south of the river long before NWE
did the same. We were here first and have spent lifetimes worth of
money and effort to make this place on Lane & McMullen Lanes
and Thiel Road our future, sans power plants.
z
We are residents and farmers. Young and old. Friends and family.
Taxpayers. A close knit group who does not want this plant moving
in so close we could throw a rock at it. And we will, throw a rock at
it.
Sincerely,
Calvin Lance
Calvin Lance
1422 Lance Lane
Laurel, MT 59044
406-698-1114, cell
7
GREGORY CHILDS
LAUREL MT
(Letter to Editor)
Much has been written about the proposed Power Plant along the Yellowstone
River south of Laurel. Indeed the impact for all residences along Thiel Road will
be significant.
I wish to address another important repercussion the plant's development will
produce and that is; The degradation of air quality and global warming we are all
aware of. The pollutants a methane plant can produce is astonishing. A methane
leak is twenty times more harmful to our air and warming than even coal burning.
That affects far more people than the residences along the river.
Many are aware of the watered-down results of the Glasgow COP -26 two week
Climate Summit. Shameful. Hopefully small towns like Laurel can minutely
compensate for COP -26's stumble and deny the zoning requests necessary to
build this polluting, noisy plant.
Please attend the City Council Chambers (Nov 23 6:30PM) and encourage the
Council Members to protect the Residents and do something for our
environment.
Greg Childs
Laurel
Nov 15 2021
Brittney Moorman
From: Carol Blades <cblades4l@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2021 10:02 AM
To: Ward 3B; Ward 1A
Cc: Brittney Moorman
Subject: True service to The PEOPLE
Dear Councilman Stokes and Councilwoman Sparks:
It appears to me that NWE has targeted the Laurel City Council as a highly vulnerable governing group to their
manipulation. You two, at this point, appear to be the only two members that are not so easily exploited. It is a fad, if
not common sense, that there are numerous sites where this plant could be placed that would not impact so profoundly
a long standing middle class community of 30 families, the home owners, directly on the South side of the Yellowstone
River. NWE has somehow convinced multiple members of the council to believe that the fate of Montana citizens and
the rare possibility of an energy crisis lies in their hands. That is absurd and profoundly naive for council members to
believe. NWE did their homework when they targeted this council to do their bidding. Gullible would be a defining
description for most of them.
There is only one other possible reason for the these Councilman to support this bidding of NWE and that is greed, they
want the tax dollars so badly they have created a 'sacrifice zone,' all 30 families so heavily impacted in order to fatten
their budget.
Thank you for voting no on the easement and please continue to hold your ground, voting no on the annexation. In the
long run you will be proven very wise and to be true servants to the people.
Carol Blades
Laurel, Mt.
"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop
which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over."
Brittney Moorman
From: joan marrin <joanmarrin@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 6:18 PM
To: Brittney Moorman
Subject: I am sending my message to the Laurel City Council members
Hello Britteny,
I would like to ask you to email my message to each of the eight City Council members, and also read it directly into the
record. Here is my message:
I am a resident in the city of Billings, and I want to express my thoughts regarding the
proposed methane gas plant. I have spoken with a number of friends and neighbors about
this issue, and it is of grave concern to us. The idea of putting one more pipeline under the
Yellowstone River is unthinkable, since this source of our freshwater is already vulnerable
to other oil or gas leaks.
Please think beyond the immediate desire to raise revenue. Think about the long run and
how this plant will not be a permanent source of revenue. The proposed gas plant can be
quite harmful to the health of the citizens. It is hard to trust the motives of Northwestern
Energy since they have not reached out to communicate with the residents. Trying to rush
a vote of approval right before the Thanksgiving holiday strikes me as an underhanded
way to push through a plan that does not have popular support. I am grateful that Heidi
Sparks and Scott Stokes stood strong for the people of Laurel in not approving the
proposed gas plant.
Sincerely,
Joan Marrin Smith, Billings, MT
2.12.060 Vacancy of office—Cause.
An office becomes vacant on the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term
of the incumbent:
A. The death of the incumbent;
B. A determination pursuant to Title 53, Chapter 21, Part 1, that he is mentally ill;
C. His resignation;
D. His removal from office;
E. His absence from the city continuously for ten days without the consent of the council;
F. His open neglect or refusal to discharge his duties;
G. His ceasing to be a resident of the city, or in the case of an alderman, his ceasing to be a resident of his
ward;
H. His ceasing to discharge the duty of his office for a period of three consecutive months, except when
prevented by illness or when absent from the city by permission of the governing body;
I. His conviction of a felony or of any offense involving moral turpitude or a violation of his official duties;
J. His refusal or neglect to file his official bond within the time prescribed;
K. The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void his election or appointment.
(Prior code § 2.04.050)
(Supp. No. 17)
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