Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05.19.1992Minutes of the City Council of Laurel May 19, 1992 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 Chuck Rodgers at 7:00 p.m., on May 19, 1992. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Norman Orr Albert Ehrlick L.D. Collins Gay Easton Lonnie Kellogg Bob Graham Ron Marshall COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Donna Kilpatrick INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Reverend Gorman. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Marshall to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 5, 1992, as presented, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. CORRESPONDENCE: Received a letter from the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Solid and Hazardous Waste Bureau regarding the interim transfer station license expiration, Landfill Requirements - Groundwater Monitoring Notification. Received a letter from Colette Decker, Midwest Software, Inc., requesting to have parking ordinances foe the City of Laurel reconsidered. This was referred to the Parking Committee. Received the April minutes and activity report from the Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control Board. Received information about the Big Sky Dividend program and the Treasure State Endowment program for infrastructure financing. Received notification that the City's gas tax allocation for fiscal 1993 will be $ 105,904.00, down from last year by $ 751.00. CITY CLERK & CITY TREASURER'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The City Clerk and City Treasurer's financial statements for the month of April were presented. Motion by Alderman Orr that the City Clerk and City Treasurer's financial statements for the month of April, 1992, be approved~ seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 7--0. BUD JOHNSON - FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION: Bud Johnson spoke to the Council on behalf of the Firemen's Relief Association. He stated there have been changes in their association, much like what the City is experiencing. The taxable valuation in Laurel has gone down while the membership of the Fire Department }las gone up. Bud said the State is apparently recognizing this because they raised the taxable amount from 2% to 4% a few years ago. Two years ago the Firemen's Relief Association had an evaluation done of the fund and found that it was right on track according to liability and assets. Some questions have arisen regarding whether they should continue to be funded. Bud said the only method to determine where the fund stands is to have an actuarial accounting of it. They have contacted the only health and life actuarial in the State of Montana and have entered a contract with him to do this. The Association is looking for some acceptable standard of evaluating how their liability and assets compare along with giving them an idea of what funding requirements are going to be needed to maintain this fund. The fund provides for the partial or full retirement benefits of the volunteers who have served the organization. Bud said it is his hope that the City would fund the' Relief Association this year, as they have done in the past. By the end of Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 2 Council Meeting of May 19~ 1992 the next year the accounting procedure will be done and there will be figures that would be relative to both the City and the Association. In response to Joe Bradley's question~ Bud said they run on a fiscal year and the accounting procedure will be done with information from year end reports along with a number of other information sources. The actual procedure will take approximately 30 days. Joe explained that the Firemen's Relief Association is a private organization, administered by their own Board of Trustees. The City has the power to levy a special tax to help finance this fund but it is turned over to the Association and they administer it according to their own rules and regulations. Joe said the City is required to administer a special tax, whenever the fund falls below the 4% taxable valuation of the City. Joe said the statutes are unclear whether the City can levy the tax when the fund is over the 4%. The fund also receives money from the State Auditor, paid out of insurance premium taxes on insurance risks, equivalent to one and one half mills. (Pursuant to MCA 19-11-612) Ron Marshall stated that our Fire Department has a large number of members that have twenty years or more of service and are entitled to pension benefits. Questions have come up addressing the issue of whether there is enough money in the fund to adequately insure that they receive their pension if a substantial number of them would retire at the same time. Bud said it is very difficult to determine where the association does stand in regard to pension payouts and such, and they feel fortunate having contracted with the only firm in the State which can answer these questions. Darrell McGillen stated that a death or injury to a fireman could also put a hardship on the fund. By State codes~ the fund has to be solvent enough to cover any benefit and pension payouts that may occur. If it is not, the City then must levy enough mills, whatever it would take, to cover the fund. In light of this, it is best to keep a solvent working fund. It was clarified that the pension payout amount is calculated on the number of years of service and not on the amount of money in the fund. The Budget/Finance Committee will look into the Firemen's Relief budget for the next fiscal year. DECLARING STRAY ANIMALS TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE: ORDINANCE NO. 1036 (second reading) AMENDING SECTION 6.16.030, OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, TO DECLARE STRAY ANIMALS TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE Public Hearing: No comments. Motion by Alderman Marshall to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 7--0. Motion by Alderman Kellogg that Ordinance No. 1036 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Orr. A roll call vote was taken and all aldermen present voted "YES". Motion carried 7--0. ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE LEVIED: ORDINANCE NO. 1037 first reading) AMENDING SECTION 12.36.080 OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE LEVIED Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 3 Council Meeting of May 19, 1992 Motion by Alderman Marshall that Ordinance No. 1037 (first reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Graham. A roll call vote was taken and all aldermen present voted~ "YES". Motion carried 7--0. REVOLVING FUND - SID ASSESSMENTS: ORDINANCE NO. 1038 (first reading) ADDING SECTION 12.36.090 TO THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, REVOLVING FUND Motion by Alderman Kellogg that Ordinance No. 1038 ( first reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Orr. A roll call vote was taken and all aldermen present voted, "YES". Motion carried 7--0. COMMITTEE REPORTS: --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 6, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Marshall to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 5, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 11, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Graham to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 11, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 12, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Graham to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 12, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 13, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Graham to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of May 13, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --Building and Parking Committee minutes of May 12, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Kellogg to allow Jim to go out for bids to remove the buildings on the Williams property, seconded by Alderman Ehrlick. Motion carried 7--0. Motion by Alderman Kellogg to enter the Building and Parking Committee minutes of May 12, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of May 5, 1992 were presented. Motion by Alderman Marshall to enter the City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of May 5, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Graham. Motion carried 7--0. --Department Head Meeting minutes of May 12, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Orr to enter the Department Head Meeting minutes of May 12, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Kellogg. Motion carried 7--0. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 4 Council Meeting of May 19, 1992 --Garbage Committee minutes of May 18, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Easton to enter the Garbage Committee of May lg, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Motion carried 7--0. minutes Ehrlick. --Parks Committee minutes of May 14, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Kellogg to enter the Parks Committee minutes of May 14, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Marshall. Motion carried 7--0. --Police Committee minutes of May 8, 1992 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Marshall to enter the Police Committee minutes of May 8, 1992, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. The issue regarding the mobile home, owned by Frank Voeller, was discussed at the City Council meeting of April 21st. It is now being referred to the City-County Planning Board for a recommendation. --Public Utilities Committee minutes of May 11, 1992 were presented and reviewed. CITY SERVICES - MATHIS SUBDIVISION A request was made at the committee meeting for water service in Mathis Subdivision. The lots are located outside the city limits but would be annexed if city services were connected. The water main is easily assessable to the property but the sewer main would need to be extended, at the property owners expense. The committee recommended the water hookups. Discussion followed and it was stated that potential buyers of one lot in this area are waiting to see if the City will approve the hookups. They found the cost of installing sewer prohibitive on their own but they are willing to participate in the cost of installing it with their portion not to exceed $ 4,500.00. Letters were received from the two parties who are interested in purchasing lots and they are willing to be annexed if the sewer hookups can be done. Joe stated it has been a long time since the City has annexed property and he will need to research what actually needs to be done and' the steps that need to be taken. The parties that are interested can pick up an application for annexation and talk to Joe or Cal Cumin. SANDERS SUBDIVISION Jim Worthington stated there was a request for consideration regarding the splitting of the lots located on West 4th Street. One lot now has a duplex on the south half of the lot and they are wondering if it is possible to amend the plat so they would be able to put a duplex on the north half also. Jim said this was brought before the committee just for information, no action was requested at this time. Motion by Alderman Collins to enter the Public Utilities Committee minutes of May 11, 1992, into the record~ seconded by Alderman Ehrlick. Motion carried 7--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: A representative from the church located on 14th Street in Mathis Subdivision, was interested in obtaining City services also. It was stated that this property cannot be annexed into the City because it is not adjacent to City property. Our ordinances prohibit flagpole annexations. It was stated that the property owner to the west of the church is adjacent to City property and if he could get them to agree to annexation, then he could be. There is a water line that runs on Valley Drive and the church could be connected to this. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 5 Council Meeting of May 19, 1992 A request was received some time ago from a person requesting to lease the park in Badger Square. Jim Worthington reported that the County Commissioners denied this request. Many property owners in the area spoke against allowing this park to be leased so the commission voted in favor of keeping it as a park in its natural state. Cai Cumin clarified that this issue never got as far as the commissioners~ but rather the Planning Board was responsible for not issuing a lease. Gal stated that the property owners in the area apparently take care of the park. Cal stated that even though the park is in the County, it is administered by the City of Laurel through the planning jurisdictional area. The City has the right to make decisions regarding the parks that fall within this jurisdictional area. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:67 p.m. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 2nd day of June, 1992. ~}~uck godgersC'~r ATTEST: Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk