HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial City Council Minutes 03.28.1988Minutes of the City Council of Laurel
March 28, 1988
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel,
Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by
President of the Council, Chuck Dickerson, at 7:00 p.m., on March
28, 1988, for the purpose of discussing the Laurel Urban Fire Service
area.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ervin Wood
Bob Graham
Chuck Rodgers
L.D. Collins
Chuck Dickerson
Donna Kilpatrick
Bruce Teeters
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Norman Orr
Joe presented a resolution approving and authorizing execution of a
memorandum of understanding with the County. He stated this is the
same contract that the City of Billings has entered into with the
County. The interim period is set to run from April 1st to September
30th, and hopefully the County will have the fire service area processed
by then. Also, the term of the contract will be five (5) years.
Joe went on to explain the memorandum. He said Laurel'is willing to
respond to any fires in this area while proceedings are taking place.
The fire department will then bill the property owners at the standard
rates which are set forth in Exhibit A of the memorandum. This is a
contract with the County, not the property owners, and Joe doesn't
know if this is binding as far as getting the property owners to pay.
Joe and Darrell stated that if they have alot of problems collecting
money for fires fought, it could definately effect the signing of the
final contract.
Discussion followed concerning range and grassland fires and Jim Kraft,
Director of Disaster and Emergency Services for Yellowstone County,
stated the County is under no obligation to provide fire protection
for structure fires, only range fires. Darrell stated Laurel will
respond to structure, range and grassland fires and this is addressed
in item #3 in the memorandum.
In answer to a question, it was stated that county residents are
required to have a burning permit and once this Fire Service Area goes
into effect the people would still be required to obtain a permit from
the Air Pollution Control Board. The Board then requires the
individual to notify the fire department when they do controlled burning.
In response to another question, Darrell stated that once the County
comes up with the resolution of intent, a public hearing is held and
it would take a protest ~ of 50% of the people within the boundaries
to defeat it. If it does pass, all people within the boundary auto-
matically fall within the fire service area.
Darrell stated that the City of Laurel has priority over any other
area on a fire call. Next, would be the fire districts and finally,
the fire service areas. In the extent that the fire department would
be tied up on a city fire, they would have to rely on Mutual Aid
Agreements that they have with Cenex, Park City, The Boys Ranch and
the City of Billings to respond to other fires. In this way no one
would be left without protection.
Discussion followed on how the people would be charged. Darrell
stated he will give a total cost figure for protection to the County
and it will be up to them to assess the money on an individual basis.
Jim Kraft said this could be done by charging a flat fee per structure
or by assessing a rate based on a taxable valuation of the structure,
which is how Billings does it.
page 2 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel
Council meeting of March 28, 1988
Darrell and Jim agreed Ghat the breakdown should be done before the
public hearing is held so the people will know what their cost will
be.
RESOLUTION NO. 2328
A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION
OF UNDERSTANDING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:
Motion by Alderman Collins that Resolution No. 2328 be passed
and adopted, seconded by Alderman Graham. Motion carried 6--1 with
Alderman Teeters voting "No."
The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of
Laurel, Montana, this 5th day of April, 1988.
Gauthier, Mayor
ATTEST:
Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk