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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 12.06.1994MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DECEMBER 6, 1994 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman- Chuck Rodgers Ron Marshall Chuck Dickerson (late) Albert Ehrlick Gay Easton John Minch Donna Kilpatrick Bob Graham Lonnie Kellogg OTHERS PRESENT: V. Joe Leckie Jim Flisrand Mike Atkinson Don Hackmann Dave Michael Lonnie asked if we have another auditor since Steve Cosner is no longer auditing the City's books. It was mentioned that this will be discussed at the Council meeting under committee reports. Ron informed the Council that he met last week with Mike Atkinson and Joe Leckie regarding the house at 506 Birch Avenue. Plywood has been put on the windows and that is about all we can do at this time. • Discussion regarding the letter from William Bernhardt's attorney regarding the ditches in the recently annexed area east of town. Albert said that no one can do anything with the ditches. If they cover them, they have to maintain them. Joe Leckie said that the City has no obligation to examine any of that at all. Donna received an inquiry about the building in Firemen's Park. The Brownie's would like to use it as a meeting place once a week. The city has a lease with Montana Rail Link to use the building as a tourist information booth, however, there are card players using it right now. The Chamber of Commerce would like to move back into it, but the building needs a lot of work. The park committee will discuss this further on Thursday. Bob reported that he just received a call from a lady that came up the street in front of the Laurel Care Center and she reported that there is a large container blocking the view at an intersection. Bob said he will check with the manager of the Care Center and see if it can be moved back a ways. Mike reiterated what Ron said about the house at 506 Birch Avenue. He also passed around pictures of inside the house. Along with the mess, the smell is absolutely terrible. • Dave reported that he and Mike attended a management seminar put on by Dick Larsen, which was excellent and very worth while. Jim distributed and reviewed a public works update, dated 12-6-94. ?w. Jim also reported on correspondence he received from the' City of Billings regarding the PSC regulating waste disposal facilities. They are proposing to treat landfills the same as other public utilities, such as water and sewer. Jim will give this more study and report to the garbage committee. Jim mentioned that Montana Rail Link intends to have a class II solid waste treatment facility east of Laurel. This is a facility to treat petroleum contaminated soil. It will only accept MRL contaminated soil. Jim will report more on this to the garbage committee. Chuck Dickerson has had a couple of people approach him regarding the timing of the traffic light at Main Street and First Avenue. They were asking if we could approach the State of Montana and get the time extended for the traffic going north, so more people could turn left or install a light with a left hand turn arrow. Mike Atkinson said he talked with Donna and Gay about this problem and they came up with some ideas, but it all has to be approved by the state. Chuck Rodgers said that the garbage can on the sidewalk in Firemen's Park needs to be addressed. There is a problem when picking it up and there has been complaints with kids having to run around it on their bicycles. The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 1--?- Don Hackmann City Clerk FROM: Jim Flisrand, Director of Public Works TO: Mayor and City Council DATE: December 6, 1994 SUBJECT: Public Works- UPDATE STREET & ALLEY 1. Continued pothole patching 2. Applied 2" asphalt mat with joint sealer to the recently constructed jet rodder sludge ponds. One pond will be used exclusively for sumps and two for jet-rodder waste during normal operation. Appropriate testing will be completed prior to disposal. 3. Alley cleanup program is completed with approximately 6 compacted loads of waste, equivalent to 46 tons. 4. Sanding operation is being reviewed with sanding concerns being addressed as necessary. The State is not sanding the underpass in accordance with traffic needs, the City is responding when required. Existing problem areas and concerns will be addressed by the Street & Alley Committee. PARKS & RECREATION 1. Sprinkler system in Firemen's Park is completed with all sprinkler heads measured and recorded for generation of as- built drawings. 2. Upgrading of the playground areas in Thomson Park with the installation of 8 inches of sand under and adjacent to all play equipment has been completed. Depending on weather the remaining parks will be scheduled to receive the same upgrading. 3. Ice skating pond has been filled. The park crew will continue to add additional lifts of water as we progress through the winter months. 3. Snow removal of public sidewalks adjacent to parks and public buildings has been necessary on several occasions. WATER & SEWER 1. The water crew has repaired 27 water leaks throughout this past calendar year. 2. Continuing meter testing program. 3. Plants proceeding with normal treatment and maintenance activities. 4. Steering committee for the Water Plant renovation met November 30, 1994 to finalize submittal to the Council on December 6, 1994. Presentations will be given by Morrison Maierle/CSSA and Double Tree. SOLID WASTE 1. Proceeding with collection and container site operation as required. 2. The City of Laurel has not received any response from the Solid Waste Bureau on the landfill concerns. The City submitted two letters dated September 17, 1994 and November 10, 1994, indicating the State's mandate of requiring monitoring and corrective action is not appropriate. Consultant recommends the City continue to question the State's intent at the landfill and encourage communication to resolve the problem. ADMINISTRATION 1. Building activity continuing with plan review of commercial buildings and misc. inspections on existing permits. 2. Continuing to work with all departments in developing realistic work schedules, maintenance procedures, and establish reasonable goals. 3. Reviewing the recent Montana Public Service Commission's proposal that all disposal facilities (landfills) should be .regulated as public utilities. I will submit a detailed report to the Garbage Committee.