Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04.16.1963Minutes of the City Council of Laurel April lb~ 1963 A regular meeting of the City Couneil of the City of Laurel,, Montana was held in the Council Chambers and was called to order by Mayor John Beslan- witch at 7;30 o°cZock, P. M., on Tuesdays April 16~ 1963. L'pan taking roll calls the following aldermen answered present: Jacob Ruff Harold Wilson Cecil Nave Ger~.7.d Gass Steve Romee Henry Kaiser The Min~.tes of the previous regular meting were read. Motion was anade by Kaiser and second~;d by Romee that the minutes be approved as read. Motion carried. Letter was read from Frances ~'enton~ Librarian, as follows: Board of the L~ur°el Public Library Laurel, Montana Mrs. Bertha Gehrett, Chairman Dear Nis. Gehrett and D~embers: It is n~±eessary for m~ to ask for a leave o~ absence of si:~ty days, at the end of which time I trust I shall be ably to work my regular hours. With thanks to each member of the Board for your msriy l~indn~sses ~a me. Sincerely, (signed. ~ Frances Fento?~ Zn this same connection, letter rasa read from the library Board, .as full oars Laurels Montana April 15, 1963 To Mayor John Beslanwiteh and the M~mber~ of the Laurel City Council: The Library Board agrees to the enclosed request for a leave of ab~enc~ of sixty days for Frances Fenton. This request was received bar the board on Sat- urday~: April 13th, ho~rever~ her sick leave expired April 8th, as sae have been in- formed and presume her leave of absence would begin .April 9th. Mrs. Brvhaugh has ecnsented to assume the duties as librarian until June 2ltth. This p~;riod of time includes the scatty days leave of absence plus two week annual uacation which she has coming. This request will become effective i~ the M~.~or and. Eity Council approve of our action. Yours truly, {Signed ) Laurel Public Library Board ~y Elsie Johnston, Secy. Motion was"_-:anade by Ruff and seconded by Gays that the recommendation of the I~i.brary Board be accepted. Motion carried. J. G. Flag Day contract way read. Motion was i~ad~ by Kaiser and seconded by Edwards that the City renew this contract for another year. Motion carried. Letter From Dick Finned Assoc~.ates~ rega~~lin~ application for vacation of certain property was read. After much discussion' it wa.s suggested by the City At- torney that the company be asked to pay for the expense of the publications. Motion was finally made by Ruff and. seconded by Kaiser that the resolution of intention to vacate be approved, provided that the Company wild pay the expenses in this connec- tion, and sub3ect, a1so~ ~o the Cit~r ~ngineeres report on whet~.er or not our water line is involved. ~dotion carried. RES(~I.~UTION N0. 1231 B~TNG A RESOLUTION OF IN2'LNTION TO AB.AIvTDON AND VACATE THAT PORTION OF ALLEY IN BLACK T~II~TEEN (13)~ ~i~ TWENTY (20 OF HAGEMAN SUBDIVISION, THIRD FIT,ING, TO THE CITY OF LAUREL, YELLOWSTONE COUNTY, MONTANA was presented. I I Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Motion was made by Ruff and seconded by Nave that this resolution be adopted. Upon taking ro11 call va~t~, all ~.lderm~n present voted "Aye°t, and said resolution was de- clared~ pas~~d and adopted. Civil Defense Chairman John Lackman had sent a form to be signed by the City, l~,bel~d ~~Fallout Shelter License or Frivilege'~ asking that the Water Plant be designated as a shelter in case of fallout. Motion was made by Ruff and seconded by Nave that permission be liven. Motion carried. In this connections the Mayor stated that he had been asked to appoint a committee from the various party of the City for work on the Civil Defense Program.. H~ stated that he would like to appoint R. Malcolm to represent the Chamber of Commerce, Roy Edwards to represent the Cit~r, Bi11 Palm t4 represent the Railroad, and Melvin Williams to represent the Refinery. Motion was made by Nave and gaconde~ by Kamer that this committee ~e approved. Motion carried. A copy of a letter addressed to the School Board, with copy to the City Clerk, in regard to the Italian Ditch Company was read. City Attorney Mated that he waulci suggest that a letter be written to the Attorney's stating that after check of the City's .records i~ would indicate that the City did not participate in the matters the Ditch Company is referring toy and consequently will deny any re- sponsi~ility. The Ditch and eulver-~s are ent3rely on school property. Motion was then made by Ruff and seconded lay Nacre that the City Clerk write a letter to this effect. Motion carried. Letter was read from Clinton Anderson as follows: April 16, 1963 Members of the Council City of Laurel Genelemen: The Variance Committee has asked that we present written statements from property owners across the street from the site to be before the zoning committee next Tuesday. This is the site of lots 8,9,1€x, Block 20, which are seeking to use f'or building purposes. 2`hese ~ta~ements are to the affect that such property owners, the pity of Laurel' and the L~.urel School Boards would not object to the operation of a business on the proposed site, in the event this property is zoned for such a. purpose. If there is no objection an the part of the City Council to the operation of such a business, may we have a writ-~en statement to that effect? Thank you for your cons3~deration of this request. (signed ) Clinton Anderson City Attorney recammended that the City stay neutral in this matter, being neither for nor against this application. Mot3_on was made by Nave and seconded by F~dwards that a litter be written, by the City Clerks to +his effect. Motion carried. O~INA~~ N0. bbl BEING AN (~?,DINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN P~?.OVTSIOIVS OF THE REVIS~uD ORDINANCES OF THE ~'ITY OF I~AUREZ OF 1961, BY A CHANGE OF SALARY SCHEDULES AS PROVIDID THEREIN AT_~ID DE~c?RING AN EMERGENCY THEREFOR ~ was presented. Ruff stated that this Qrdin~.nae before it was passed should con~~ain some port of provision for the Treasurer°s salary. He recommended that the Ordinance contain the f~gUr~s as follocas for Treasurer's in the future: $150.00 from General Fund and ~+100.~0 from Water Fund f'or first thxee months; ~i5o.~0 from General Fund and ~15~.~U from Wader Fund .for second ~'hre~ months; X150.00 froze General Fundy and ~1~5.~0 from ti~Tater Fund' ~.d X55.00 from S. D. Plant after another three months, and ~l'~0.00 from General, ~a ~155.~0 from Water Fund and ~7~".00 from Serer to the end of the term. As Chairman of the four man investigating committee an salary increase for tY.~P Treasurer, Ruff stated that the committee had spent a lot of time on this matters and had met with the Treasurer end had offerr~d hip inar~ase of ,~30.On per month. HP stated ~h~.t the offer had. been turned dawn, and th~.~ it-was the recommendation of the Committee that the salary remain at ~3~0.00. He stated that the Treasurer had asked for X65.00 per month incrca~e. City Attorney stated that X50.00 per month would be accepted, and that i~t way .:.p~adtti~al].y ~nposs~.ble for a man to support a family on less than ~~.OO.~JQ a month. Motion way made by Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Kamer that the CouraeiZ go along with the ~50.Q0 per month, providing that the budget can handle it, and to be effective July l~ 1963. There was no second to the motion. The Mayor asked again for a second. There b~:ing no second to the mation~ Navy stated that he would b~ wa~ill~n~ to go along depending on the state of the budget. Wdwards was of the same gpinion. After considerable discussion, motion was again made by Kaiser and seennd~d by Edwards th~.t the X50.00 increase be granted, effective July 1, 1963, and depending upon the buri~et. This, though to be incorporated into the Ordinance. Ruff stated that in the fut°~zre, the committee felt that there Taould b~ no need far a coanmittee of this kind. He said tha-G the four m~mbe~rs of the comma.ttee had spent a good dea3 of time and thought over the past two months, anct if. the Council would not accept their recommendation, he mould like to resign from this committee. A Mrs. Lawson appeared before the Council to request that the City have maps printed up of the City, the maps to be of letter sizE to go along with the other literature to be given to new residents in the eoirununity. She requested that this be dons at the cost ~o the City only. Mayor appointed the finance committee to investigate this matter. Mr. Alex Dank appeared before the Council representing the Italian Ditch Company regarding the overflow and flooding of Bernh~rdt's property. He stated that the Ditch Company did not feel it was their responsibility. The property owners claimed no respons3.bility. A.f-ter much discussion, the committee that had been app- ointed to work on phis matter recommended that the City not be obligated to clean and widen this ditch. Motion was then made by Nava and seconded by R.omee that the ~`ity assume no obligation. Motion carried. A~ayor asked for a report on the irrigation problem of the School. Gas s reported that they would dike to have more time on this. Mayor asked for a report from the committee appointed to investigate the chaff from the Occident Elevator. Edwards reported that there was a remodeling program planned, and that when this project was completed, the Elevator Compaaiy felt -~ha~t th~.s p~ob? em would then be solved. Romee stated that the Council was being blamed a~ a whole by residents of the Third and Fourth lrtards, and friends of Pete Thomson, for the proposed name change some time ago regarding Athletic Field being ca11Ed Parker Field. He stated that for the record he wanted, it clar3.fied that the proposal did not comp from the Council and ghat the Council did not go alorb with this. The Mayor then Mated that when the resolution was turn~:d down that he had appointed a committee to come back to the' Council with a recommendation, but that, the committee had not reported, and so he had let it go. He st~a,ted that he alone would take the blame if there was blame to be placed. He felt that there were many people involved in building the field and that one man and one alone should not be only one to get the credit. Wilson stated that he felt the same way as Mr. Romee, and the people on the whole felt that the Council was 100 to blame. Thy ~'fa.yor stated that h~ and h~ along was the person who brought the propo~ai to the Council, Nave stated that Qur Saviour's Lutheran Church would like to have angle parking. After mucky discussion, it was the opion of the council that the Police Committee inform the pol3.ae that permission would be granted, but that no Ordinance would be drawn up. Nave stated that he was very will pleased with the si~n~ put up at the old. Garbage dump and the new land fill. Ruff stated that the City was not getting full benefit from our Industrial Accident Insurance. City Attorney suggested checking Frith tie 'City of Billings on this matter. Certain reports of the City of Laurel wire presented for approval, as follows: Treasurer's report, Cash report, budget report, revenue report, clerk°s trial b tines. Motion was made by Romer and seconded by Ruff that these reports b~ approved. Motion carried. Ruff reported holey in alleys and st~~ets. Also complained about the Gas Company not putting the stxeets back in good order. City Engineer took excep- tion to this and stated that he felt the Gas Company was doing a good job. Ruff asked whet'~~r or not the City of fillings had an Ord3.nance re~ard- in~; t:ne closing of bars on election days. City Clerk reported that the closing of the bars was City C~dinance, and that the only time they had to be closed according to legislature was for a Stag or General election. Ruff stated that this C7rdinance should be amended, and the Mayor stated that the City would not have another election for tT,ao year, and there was plenty of time to think about it. There ~~ing no further business to come before the ~auncil at this time, motifln was duly made and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel o~othy F x~y, City C rk Passed by the City Council of the City of T~aurel,, Montana anri approved by the Mayor this _~'~th day of Mad= 1963. e. J hn Besl nwitch, ayor ATTEST: d` .G~~~.. `,ryorothy un Y, City irk i~