HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.28.20231
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL
March 28, 2023
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council
Chambers and called to order by Mayor Dave Waggoner at 6:30 p.m. on March 28, 2023.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
Emelie Eaton
Heidi Sparks
Michelle Mize
Richard Herr
Casey Wheeler
Iry Wilke
Richard Klose
Jodi Mackay
None
Michele, Braukmann, Civil City Attorney
Brittney Moorman, Administrative Assistant
JW Hopper, Interim Fire Chief
Henry Fox, Firefighter
Mayor Waggoner led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
MINUTES:
Motion by Council Member Wilke to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 28,
2023, as presented, seconded by Council Member Sparks. There was no public comment or Council
discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight Council Members present voted aye. Motion
carried 8-0.
CORRESPONDENCE: None.
COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Claims entered through March 24, 2023.
A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk/Treasurer's Office.
• Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 3/19/2023 totaling $215,140.37.
The Mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none.
Motion by Council Member Klose to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by
Council Member Wilke. There was no public comment or Council discussion. A vote was taken on
the motion. All eight Council Members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None.
REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
• Budget/Finance Committee Minutes of March 14, 2023.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None.
SCHEDULED MATTERS:
• Appoint JW Hopper as Interim Fire Chief.
Motion by Council Member Sparks to approve the Mayor's appointment of JW Hopper as
Interim Fire Chief, seconded by Council Member Mize.
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Council Minutes of March 28, 2023
JW Hopper stated he looks forward to filling the interim Fire Chief position.
There was no Council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight Council Members
present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Appointment of Bridger Harkins and Seth King to the Laurel Volunteer Fire
Department.
Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the Mayor's appointment of Bridger Harkins
and Seth King to the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, seconded by Council Member Wilke. There
was no public comment or Council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight Council
Members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Resolution No. R23-19: A Resolution Adopting Amended And Revised Personnel Policy
Manual For The City Of Laurel.
Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R23-19, seconded by Council
Member Wilke.
Henry Fox, 4345 Yard Office Road, stated past practice has been that the Fire Department has
chosen the Fire Chief. He questioned when that process changed and what dictates how that process
works.
It was clarified that the Mayor did offer the Interim Fire Chief position to the whole Fire
Department, and one person stepped up to fill the position. It was further clarified that the appointment
of the Fire Chief is made by the Mayor and approved by Council and how the recommendation to the
Mayor has not been formalized and is not contained in LMC or MCA.
Mr. Fox requested that there be a discussion before Council formalizing this process.
There was no Council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight Council Members
present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Resolution No. R23-20: A Resolution Of The City Council Authorizing The Mayor To
Execute A Small Services Contract With Play Space Designs.
Motion by Council Member Mize to approve Resolution No. R23-20, seconded by Council
Member Wilke. There was no public comment or Council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion.
All eight Council Members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE -MINUTE LIMIT):
March 291h is the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. A ceremony at the Yellowstone National
Cemetery will recognize all Vietnam Veterans. There are hat pins to pass out.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
Last week was the MT Rural Water Convention in Great Falls. This year's emphasis was focused on
operation specialists. They had keychains available, and the Council Member who attended got enough
keychains to be handed out at the plants.
The Council Member who attended also attended a class on funding. There are ways to get funding
for smaller things. The Council Member got the name of someone who may be willing to assist the
City in finding and applying for various grants.
MAYOR UPDATES:
The splash park construction will be starting very soon. The newest donation was from SEG in the
amount of $1,000. Hair on Main is also doing a raffle for the splash park as a fundraiser, and tickets
are $5 each or $ 5 for $20. Many baskets are on display at Hair on Main; stop in to drop your raffle
tickets in your basket of choice.
UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
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Council Minutes of March 28, 2023
Motion by Council Member Mackay to adjourn the Council meeting, seconded by Council
Member Eaton. There was no public comment or Council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion.
All eight Council Members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at
6:50 p.m.
Brittney oorm , dministrative Assistant
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this l lt" day
of April 2023. r\ / *N
Attest:
Y Str r, Clerk/Treasurer
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