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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity/County Planning Board Minutes 09.14.198916 LAUREL-YELLOWSTONE CITY-COUNTY PLANNING BOARD LAUREL, MONTANA 59044 September 14, 1989 The Public Hearing was brought to order at 7:00 p.m., September 14, 1989 with the following people in attendance: Joe Bradley, Acting Chairman, Planning Board Roy Johnson, County Rep. Donna Kilpatrick, City Rep. Cheryll Lund, Secretary Cal Cumin, City Planner Diana & Duane Swecker, 1035 9th Ave. Krayton Kerns, 1631 Downy Road Kay Paurus, 1118 10th Ave. Geneva wills, 1107 9th Ave. Joanne Taylor, 1107 9th Ave. Joyce Krueger, 1108 9th Ave. Jeri Krueger, 1108 9th Ave. Jay Edwards, 1101 9th Ave. Chuck Hagan, 1114 9th Ave. Louise Goss, 1113 9th Ave. Terence Goss, 1113 9th Ave. Linda Boyer, 1024 10th Ave. • Sandy Roberts, 1029 9th Ave. Jean Dantic, 1030 10th Ave. Tricia Bies, 1017 11th Ave. Joe told the audience that the Planning Board didn't have a quorom, so that no decision would be made at tonight's meeting. But, we will still have the Public Hearing, and the Board members will listen to the tape, and decide at the next meeting. Kerns- File 89-05-Application for limited kennel. Dr. Kerns spoke on his application for a limited kennel located at 801 E. Main Street. Dr. Kerns is requesting permission to build a 30' X 40' structure with approximately 15 indoor runs. It will be an enclosed structure with 2 X 6 insulated walls. All noise will remain inside. There will be an occasional dog who will be taken outside to deficate and urinate. But he feels that this will be a rare occasion. Dr. Kerns has talked to his neighbors and inquired as to their feelings on this kennel. Their main-concern is noise and odor, all of which will be inside and controlled. Joe Bradley inquires as to how the dog feces will be disposed of. Dr. Kerns says they use a disposal and send it directly down the sewer. ?0' Dr. Kerns feels that there is a need for this kennel and that it would be an asset to the community. The closest kennel facility • is 3 miles out of Laurel City limits. He has had quite a few inquiries from time to time for boarding facilities. Opponents No opponents present. No protests received. Joe Bradley read the list of considerations for a special review. Public Hearing for Kerns application was closed. Swecker- File #89-06- Application for Group Home. Diana & Duane Swecker are asking permission to run a group home for foster children. They are licensed foster parents and have had foster children in their home for the past 13 years. Mrs. Sweckers states that since the application they have had 1 neighbor contact them concerning this. The neighbor didn't express disapproval, just concern that the kids would be well watched and not cuss. The Swecker's have 6 foster kids now, 2 from Laurel, 1 from Columbus, 1 from Absarokee and 2 from Billings. These kids are placed by Social Services and Court Services. They range in age from 12-18 years. The Swecker's can take up to 12 kids as foster parents, but only 6-8 in group home care. They would like to take no more than 6 kids. They will be approved through the state for the group home. They are in the process of licensing now. Their home has 5 bedrooms, and 4 levels. They have no plans to add on to their home. None of the foster kids have their own vehicles. Their backyard is fenced. Opponents: Jay Edwards, 1101 9th Ave., is totally opposed to this, for various reasons. He doesn't want the value of his home to go down. He'also doesn't want his own children around the foster kids. The foster kids do alot of smoking, cussing, and generally have no respect for authority. He hasn't had any major problems, he is just concerned about the well being of his own kids. He has 5 kids of his own ranging in ages 1 to 15. He has never had to call the police on the foster Aids, but has had apples taken from his trees and thrown into his yard. Page 2 Planning Board Public Hearing of September 14, 1989 Louise Goss, 1113 9th Ave., is opposed to the group home. These foster kids are kids that have been physicall, mentally and sexually abused. They present special problems, and she doesn't want to expose her children, or the neighborhood children, to these kinds of problems. Especially the teenagers. She feels that when you get this many teenagers together, they are uncontrolable. She feels that a person would have to have special training to deal adequately with these children. They have had problems with foster kids coming onto their property and doing damage, and they do not want to have to deal with it. They moved to Laurel because they wanted a quiet existence. With these kids around they feel they cannot have that. Linda Boyer, 1024 10th Ave., has a couple of questions for the Sweckers. She is inquiring about the Swecker's change in classification from foster"..home to group home. She is also concerned that these kids won't be supervised after school. She has a 3rd grader that comes home and stays alone until 5:00 p.m. every day. She feels that she doesn't know these boys well enough to trust them being there by themselves with her young kids being just across the street alone. Sandy Roberts, 1029 9th Ave., lives right next door. She has . never had any problems and is not really opposed, just concerned. She states that she would hate to see something happen to one of the neighborhood kids, such as sexual abuse, because it would only take one incident to affect them for life. She is wondering what these 6 boys are teaching each other's Bad habits? She is not really opposed, just concerned for the neighborhood kids. Trisha Bies, 1017 11th Ave., is wondering how much these boys are supervised. Are they supervised to and from school? Joe Bradley states that Mrs. Swecker will get a chance to comment on that in a short time. Mrs. Swecker states that according to state law an adult has to be there at all times. She will be there when the boys are home, and Duane (Mr. Swecker) will be there when she can't be. If they plan to go out, they will have someone watch the boys. She states that her kids are working in the community, and some of them are even from Laurel. So, if they weren't living with the Swecker's they would still be living in the community. She realizes that these boys have troubles, and is not trying to minimize this. The boys wouldn't be in foster care if they hadn't been in trouble at one time. Joe inquires about the average length of stay for the boys. . Mrs. Swecker states that they have had kids up to 13 years, some 6 months, some more, some less. Each one is an individual case. Joe inquires about having to hire someone to watch the boys when the Sweckers go out. Mrs. Swecker states that it is like hiring a babysitter. She also states that the rules that they abide by in their house is a set of rules that they obtained from the new Transitional Center in Billings. The kids have a curfew- and the Sweckers insist on no drugs or alcohol. If the kids violate the rules they get into trouble. The Sweckers give them so many chances,'and when they use up all their chances they are in bigger trouble. The State is liable for any damage that the boys do. Mts:-Swecker is home with the boys all the time, and when she isn't. there her husband, Duane, is there. Trisha Bies, 1017 11th Ave., again questions how the-kids are supervised to and from school. Mrs. Swecker states that she did not walk her own kids to and from school and doesn't feel she needs to do that to her foster kids. A question is raised on the difference between foster homes'ahd group homes. Do group homes take more difficult children? The Swecker's both state that they will take the same kind of kids they have taken for 13 years. Joe Bradley states that he will find out the difference for the next meeting. Sandy Roberts, 1029 9th Ave., wants to know what kinds of problems these kids have, what types of crimes they have committed'-and what, if any, crimes have been committed against them. Mrs. Swrecker states that they have had all types of kids. Kids that have committed sex crimes, some that have had sex crimes committed against them. They have had every kind of kid with every kind of problem. Louise Goss, 1113 9th Ave., states that she has heard many bad stories about the kids that live with the Sweckers. Her concern is that you get 6 kids together and they group up together and feed upon one another. They become another personality. She doesn't want to deal with this kind of a situation at this time of her life. Something might not ever happen, but it could and she just doesn't want to have to deal with it. Joe inquires as to whether the Swecker's had to go through a Public Hearing process to be licensed foster parents. Mrs. Swecker states No. They could be foster parents for up to 12 kids without checking with anyone. They wanted to do this the right way. Page 3 Planning Board Public Hearing of September 14, 1989 An inquiry is made as to whether the Swecker's would ever take girls, because they have 6 boys? Mrs. Swecker states that she wouldn't take girls, that they have just boys. Joe Bradley inquires as to why an 18 year old is living with them when he is considered a legal adult? Mrs. Swecker states that he is still in school. He is a junior in high school. Jeri Krueger, 1108 9th Ave., states that the Sweckers have taken girls and gives two names (not understandale) of the girls. MrSwecker states that they did take girls but they don't have any now. Mrs. Swecker states that they don't take girls now because they have 6 boys. When their own girls were home they did take a couple of girls, but now they wouldn't take girls. Joe Bradley inquires as to whether this was the Swecker's choice or the states? Mrs. Swecker states that they could take girls but they wouldn't do that to any girls or boys. The state has called and asked them to take girls but they always refuse them. Jay Edwards, 1101 9th Ave., says that he has nothing against Diana & Duane Swecker, they are good people. But he feels that they can't keep track of all 6 of these boys. They smoke, throw the cigarette butts where they want, and cuss. He has 5 kids of his own and they are at an impressionable age. He doesn't want them raised around an atmosphere like this. He doesn't think the Swecker's can handle it. These kids have some wild idea's and they get a little carried away and have no respect for authority. His wife, kids and himself are nervous about having them next door. The reason he moved into the neighborhood was because it was quiet, with kids for his kids to play with. He wants it to stay that way. The Planning Board received a formal letter of protest from Georgia Kline of 1109 10th-Ave. There have been 3 phone inquiries with no response either for or against. A question is raised as to what kind of kids the Sweckers will take. Will they be any worse offender's because it will be considered a group home? Mrs: - Sweckers states that they will take the same kind of boys that they have for 13 years. • Jay Edwards, 1101 9th Ave., is wondering how the Swecker's watch the sex offenders? There are alot of little kids in the neighborhood. Do they watch the sex offender's more? Mr: Swecker states that they have never had any problems, that their own 3 grandchildren visit them often. Linda Boyer, 1024 10th Ave., asks that the Planning Board inquire about the difference between group homes and foster homes. She feels that in a foster home you can build a relationship with the kids. In a group home she feels this will not be possible because of the short stays of the kids who come and go. She is also asking that the Board member's go up 9th and 10th Ave. on a week day between 3-3:30 and see just how many small children there are in the neighborhood. Joe Bradley inquires of the neighbor's whether they make any effort to get to know these children? Mrs. Dantic, says yes, she has take one child of the Swecker's home from cross country more than one time. She is concerned about the number of kids they have at one time. She has a 12 and 15 year old and she doesn't want them to grow up seeing the boys smoking and carrying on. She would also like to be contacted on the difference between foster homes and group homes. Mrs. Swecker states that Joe Bradley could contact Richard Kerstein at Social Services for questions. Sandy Roberts,-1029 9th Ave., said that alot of the neighbors couldn't attend the meeting tonight because of a meeting about busing. She feels that about 70% of the kids that attend West School live up in that area. She worries about them walking to and from school with these 6 boys around. Mrs. Swecker states that they have been foster parents for 13 years. They have never had a neighbor come knock on their door with a problem one of their kids has created. As for the cussing, she feels that this is something that all kids do. Her grandaughter came home from lst grade saying some bad cuss words. It's something that happens no matter where the kids come from. Louis Goss, 1113 9th Ave., said that the Swecker's 6 foster kids have been on their property many times. She can give dates and times. Mrs. Swecker states that there was one problem and she called the police herself, on her own foster kids, to try to solve the problem. A, Page 4 Planning Board Public Hearing of September 14, 1989 Louise Goss, 1113 9th Ave., states that she has seen the Swecker's kids spit on some neighborhood black kids and call them niggers. Mrs. Swecker states that her daughter has two black foster children and her kids are friends 6iith-them. She says they have never had any problems with her foster kids calling them names. Joe Bradley asks Mrs. Swecker that if the neighbor's ever have problems with their kids -can they call them? Mrs. Sweckers says yes, they encourage that. They cannot do anything about some of the problems if they don't know that they are happening. They can call anytime, day or night. Mrs. Roberts, of 1029 9th Ave., states that they have never had any problems since living next door. If she has concerns she takes it to the Sweckers. And she feels that the other neighbor's should do the same thing. The-Swecker's need the neighbor's support because what they are doing is wonderful. Cal inquires of Mrs. Swecker who is watching her kids right now? Mrs. Swecker states that her kids are either at the trails or her daughters house. A question is raised as to how many group homes could come into the area if the Board approves it. Joe Bradley states that every application is looked at seperately and if this one is approved it doesn't mean that the next one will be automatically approved.. Linda Boyer, 1024 10th Ave., wonders if they can complain directly to Social Services about their concerns? Mrs. Swecker states yes. Joe Bradley states that he will call Mr.-Kerstein and ask him about that. Mr.. Swecker states that he would like Joe Bradley to call the Police and find out just how many times they have been called to come to the Swecker's and by whom? Mr. Swecker states that they call the Police on occasion if they have a boy who is giving them trouble. Jay Edwards, 1101 9th Ave., states that it doesn't matter who . calls the police. If the police are called then there is a problem. He thinks it is totally irrelevant as to who calls. Joyce Krueger, 1108 9th Ave., states that her kids go to school • with some of the Swecker's foster kids. They are afraid to be left alone when their parent's go out because of the bad rumors they have heard at school. Mrs. Swecker states that the-Group Home is something they have been wanting to do. She will devote herself to it, which includes quitting her job. Mr. Swecker is-:also going to be home full time. She would also like to state that there is a State law that prohibits anyone from leaving their kids at home alone. They can be turned in to the Police. Mrs. Swecker states that they are trying to be nice about this and give the neighbor's a chance to voice their opinion:, Public Hearing is closed at 8:00 p.m. Joe Bradley states that the next meeting of the Planning Board may be September 21st, but Cheryll will call and confirm that with everyone that puts their name and phone number on the "Sign In" list. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, • Cheryll Lund, Secretary .•