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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 02.01.1994- Y • MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FEBRUARY 1, 1994 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS • MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman - Chuck Rodgers Ron Marshall Chuck Dickerson Albert Ehrlick Gay Easton Donna Kilpatrick John Minch Bob Graham Lonnie Kellogg OTHERS PRESENT: Mike Atkinson D.L. McGillen Dave Michael Vicki Metzger Cal Cumin Don Hackmann The Mayor gave a report and highlighted the projects he had outlined in July 1993. Regarding the dog waste problem in our parks, we have received the signs but they have not been put.up yet. At the FAP, the handicapped areas and the on and off ramps are being addressed. The sprinkling systems are in place in three small parks and will be operational this spring. In regard to the swimming pool, we have to take some action on it, a band-aid type approach, in order to get it running this year. Then we need to address the long range plans for the pool and after the season we will have six or seven months in which to do something. The city has been hauling dirt to Highpoint Park in order to try and level it and we have installed signs. The log cabin in Firemen's park needs repairs. The crew has been trimming trees on the streets throughout town. Regarding the project on South 5th, we should know more about it within the next two weeks. In the area of East South 5th, Chuck said it is bad and we need to get out of the area and see if we can't redo it and get a sound base. The second entrance to Spruce Grove is open and we have to finish off the barricades. We now have the "No U-Turn" signs for East South 4th Street and the holes have been marked, with the signs to be placed shortly. North of Montana Avenue to 12th Street, we have a ditch that needs to be filled. The test wells at the landfill have been drilled and we are in the closure plan. The seeding of grass will be done in early spring. At the container site, we are trying to do some grading work so we can put in a permanent area for concrete walls to house the containers. We asked our previous engineer to submit an application for a Class III site but nothing seems to have been done on that. We wanted to address the drying beds for jet rodder use and this was suppose to be worked in with the Class III application, if at all possible. The city purchased a building several years ago and we were going to try and reconstruct it at the transfer site. This has not been done, but hopefully we can still do it. The digesters at the sewer plant have been repaired. Two of the drying beds have been finished but we still have three more to go and there is dirt at the plant that needs to be moved. The fire hydrants throughout the city have all been tested, but the valves still need to be done. In regard to the ISTEA funds, it looks like the Chief Joseph project may be the one to receive the funds. The city has considered trying to help pave the parking lot at the Senior Citizens center which would make the center more accessible to the handicapped people who use canes, walkers and wheelchairs. We have addressed the selling of the city lots and have received an appraisal for the 16 lots in Cherry Hills. In regard to the single improved lot, we have bids on that for the council tonight. The remodeling at city hall is almost done. We still have some windows and cleaning up on the outside to address and some concrete needs to be poured in back. We are still looking at demolition of the old buildings on William's property. Chuck said we do have a compliance schedule and the council should have a copy of it tonight. He advised the council to take a good look at it as it has to do with the clear wells and where we are headed with it. There is a Governor's conference to be held in Billings on February 16, 17, and 18, 1994. It will be on emergency management and if anyone is interested in attending, let Chuck know. We received a letter from the Department of Transportation regarding ISTEA fund and they are still allocating $ 31,000.00. We have to have a project submitted for the first three years use by June 1994. Chuck Dickerson questioned if there is any information on the culvert situation on Alder Avenue by Laurel Co-op. It was stated that the Street and Alley Committee will discuss this at their next meeting. I. Donna reported that there was a Waste Management meeting held at the County Commissioners office last night but she was not able to attend. She did receive information on recycling and a man from the audience had some blocks that are made out of recycled plastics. He showed a 2x6 and a 4x4 and said that these can be made any color by adding color when grinding up the plastics. This man had pictures from the plant where they are manufactured in Virginia. They make such things as picnic tables and benches along with other things. The plastic is ground so fine that it comes out in liquid form without applying any heat and it is poured into forms. It can be sawed, drilled and planed off, just like regular wood. The cost is a little higher than wood, but you never have to worry about it again. Donna said she will call and get a report on the meeting that was held in Billings and report on it. Darrell McGillen distributed copies of the Fire Incident Statistical Summary and reviewed the fire department's activities for 1993. Mike reported that there was a grass fire on the south side of town last Saturday and all three railroad crossings were blocked off. The fire trucks were not able to respond to the scene. The dispatcher called the railroad and her response was that she would take it up with her supervisor. Darrell said this has been a problem for years and at one time the police officers cited the engineer of a train for blocking the tracks. Luckily, the south bound train was a short one last Saturday and the emergency was a minor one. There is always the possibility that the emergency would be life threatening. The railroad was notified and we don't know if it would do any good to go to the Missoula or Dallas offices, but we can continue to monitor it. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 8th regarding bonding of contractors. Don Hackmann stated that he has made copies of information regarding the public hearing scheduled for tonight from the Planning Board file. Don passed out applications for the Elected Officials Workshop in Bozeman. If anyone is interested in going, check with Don and fill out a travel voucher and he will send in the registration money. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Don Hackmann City Clerk