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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.17.1987Minutes of the City Council of Laurel March 17, 1987 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 Bob Gauthier at 7:00 p.m., on March 17, 1987. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Donna Kilpatrick Mel Krug L. D. Collins COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Ervin Wood Chuck Dickerson Donald Meyers Rob Harris Norman Orr INVOCATION: Invocation given by Reverend Holt. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 3, 1987, as presented, seconded by Alderman Orr. Carried. Mayor Bob Gauthier announced that there will be a reception for Mel Krug immediately after the Council meeting tonight. CORRESPONDENCE: Received a thank you card from Valley Hegel for flowers sent to him during his recent hospitalization. Received a letter of resignation from Alderman Mel Krug. He had given verbal notice on February 3rd, effective March 31, 1987. Received a letter from Peggy Arnold, Librarian, requesting that the week of April 5--11 be proclaimed Laurel Library Week. The Mayor proclaimed April 5--11 as Laurel Library Week. Received a letter from James L. Kraft, Chairman of the City-County Communi- cations Advisory Board regarding the planning of countywide integrated public safety communications. Received a copy of a letter to Roy Volk from HKM Associates dated 2/25/87 regarding punch list items at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Received a copy of a letter to Volk Construction from HKM Associates dated 3/13/87 regarding punch list and warranty items at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Received a copy of a letter to Volk Construction from HKM Associates dated 3/12/87 regarding the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Received a copy of a letter to HKM Associates from Volk Construction dated 3/12/87 regarding punch list and warranty items at the Laurel Wastewater Treatment Plant. Received a copy of a letter to HKM Associates from Volk Constrn~tion dated 3/10/87 regarding the Laurel Wastewater Treatment Plant. Received a letter from Agnes Crow, Director of the Senior Helping Hands program, requesting $2,000 for fiscal year 1987--88. Received a letter from the Department of Health & Environmental Sciences, Water Quality Bureau, regarding Change Order No. 8 at the Wastewater Treat- ment Plant. Received a letter from the Department of Health & Environmental Sciences, Water Quality Bureau, regarding a possible upcoming water shortage problem. Received the February minutes and activity report from the Air Pollution Control Board. Received the ,update" and agenda from the Northwest Power Planning Council. CITY CLERK & CITY TREASURER'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The City Clerk and City Treasurer's Financial Statement for the month of February, 1987, was presented. Motion by Alderman Harris to approve the City Clerk and City Treasurer's Financial Statement as presented for the month of February, 1987, seconded by Alderman Collins. Motion carried 7--0. SUNHAVEN MOBILE HOME PARK: Cal Cumin commented he has not received any response to the 30-day notice due to expire April 2, 1987. WARD 3 ALDERMAN VACANCY: An election was held to appoint a replacement for Alderman Mel Krug effec- tive April 1, 1987. Motion by Alderman Meyers to use a paper ballot and the two candidates with the highest number of votes would be voted on a second time, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. Alderman Kruq stated he would, abstain from voting. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel First vote was carried by Charles Rodgers and Annette Hart. Second vote was a 3--3 tie between Rodgers and Hart. Joe Bradley stated a motion needs to be made to seat a new winner. Motion by Alderman Orr to appoint Charles Rodgers as the new alderman to Ward 3, seconded by Alderman Meyers. Upon taking a roll call vote, all aldermen present voted, "YES," except Alderman Krug who abstained. Motion carried 6--0, 1 abstention. ORDINANCE NO. 904 (second reading) AMENDING SECTION 2.04.020, ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE OFFICES, OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Ordinance No. 904 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Meyers. Joe Bradley said this ordinance needs the Attorney General's opinion and suggested tabling it. Motion withdrawn by Alderman Dickerson, and Alderman Meyers withdrew his second. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to table Ordinance No. 904 (second reading) until a later date, seconded by Alderman Harris. Motion carried 7--0. ORDINANCE NO. 906 (second reading) AMENDING SECTION 18.20.020(B) and SECTION 18.28.020(A) CORRECTING CLERICAL ERRORS. Motion by Alderman Meyers that Ordinance No. 906 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Upon taking a roll call vote, all aldermen present voted, "YES." Motion carried 7--0. ORDINANCE NO. 907 (AMENDED) (first reading) AMENDING SECTION 18.32.020, FINAL PLAT APPLICATION, TO PROVIDE THAT FINAL PLATS SHALL BE REVIEWED BY PLANNING BOARD, CITY ENGINEER, AND EXAMINING LAND SURVEYOR. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to table Ordinance No. 907 Amended until the April 7th Council meeting, seconded by Alderman Krug. Motion carried 7--0. Joe Bradley said it would be better to table Section 18.32.020 now and wait until Section 18.32.020 and 18.32.030 could be passed at the same time so they go into effect together. ORDINANCE NO. 908 ADDING SECTION 18.32.045, FEES FOR EXAMINING LAND SURVEYOR, TO THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE. Joe Bradley explained we have a problem in our existing ordinance. The way it's worded indicates that we have to check these plats for errors and omissions, but the problem is that under State law Jim, our City Engineer, can't do that. He's not a registered engineer and he's not an examining land surveyor. So the Council expressed its intent that they wanted to require that it be checked for errors and omissions. For complicated plats, have somebody run the numbers, make sure that all the distances and angles and all are accurate. For example, Cherry Hills. We've designed ordinances to give the City the option, to make them get the certificate that the plat is free of errors and omissions. The first ordinance I drew up, that you considered last meeting, said that we would collect a fee for that and pay the examining land surveyor out of the fees we collect. Cal Cumin pointed out that that might be unworkable, so the new ordinances say that we will, just as part of the plat conditions, just tell them they have got to go get an examining land surveyor's certificate saying that this plat is free of errors and omissions. Then it is just up to them, and it's one of the requirements they'll have to fulfill to submit a final plat bid. They have to pay for it, but they have to do it on their own, and we don't worry about it. That way we don't have to find an examining land surveyor, we don't have to worry about what he's going to charge. No motion was made on Ordinance No. 908. ORDINANCE NO. 909 (second reading) AMENDING SECTION 11.04.015', PAYMENT OF INSPECTION FEES AND POSTING OF BONDS REQUIRED, OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Ordinance No. 909 (second reading) page 3 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Krug. Upon taking a roll call vote, Aldermen Harris, Krug, Dickerson, Orr and Meyers voted, "YES." Alder- woman K±lpatrick and Alderman Collins voted, "NO." Motion carried 5--2. TOWN PUMP PETITION FOR VACATION AND ABANDONMENT OF A PORTION OF A STREET: An informational presentation was given by Jim Worthington, consulting engineer, representing Town Pump. No action was taken due to legal decisions that have yet to be made. Discussion followed. COMMITTEE REPORTS: --Cemetery Committee minutes of March 9, 1987, were presented and reviewed. A discussion was held about the need to lock the cemetery at night due to vandalism. Joe Bradley stated that by a City ordinance, the cemetery hours are from sunset to 7:00 a.m. The Smith family volunteered to lock the cemetery at night. Joe Bradley will check with the Knights of Columbus to see if they can work out a schedule to open the gates. Don Hackmann needs to check on the insurance and see how they would be covered under liability and workman's comp. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to follow up on the possibility of locking the cemetery gates from sunset to 7:00 a.m., seconded by Alderman Krug. Motion carried 7--0. Discussion about the need for a new backhoe at the cemetery. It was referred to the Budget/Finance Committee. Discussion concerning the purchase of more land for cemetery use if Ike Schessler is willing to sell. Motion by Alderman Orr to enter the minutes of March 9, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 7--0. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of March 3, 1987, were presented. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to enter the City Council Committee of the Whole minutes into the record, seconded by Alderman Krug. Motion carried 7--0. --City-County Planninq Board minutes of March 12, 1987, were presented. Motion by Alderman Meyers to enter the City-County Planning Board minutes of March 12, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 7--0. Peg Arnold, on behalf of the library, spoke their concern about the possibility of someone else being able to use the land at 3rd Street and 8th Avenue if the library does not get their grant. Joe Bradley advised the Council to keep control of the land to protect their options and if the library grant is awarded, the Council can, at that time, deed it to the Library Board within a time period of two weeks if needed. Cal Cumin also recommended the City keep control of the land and look into a Capital Facility Plan to see what the City needs now and in the long range future. Then, when something specific comes up, they can be flexible enough to apply it and not be stuck with a previous committment. Motion by Alderman Kruq to allow the Library Board to apply for a grant and if the grant comes through the Council will deed the property located at the corner of 3rd Street and 8th Avenue aka L. 11--16, B. 9, Youngs 2nd Subd. to them, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 7--0. Discussion followed concerning the City-County Planning Board's review of Light Industrial and Highway Commercial zoning, which will be done in the near future. Motion by Alderman Collins to table and postpone the Schessler public hearing and consideration of zoning application by the Council indefinitely, seconded by Alderman D±ckerson. Motion carried 7--0. --Police Committee minutes of March 5, 1987, were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to allow the Police Chief, Alan Crowe, to purchase a suitable unmarked police car for $2,500.00 or less, seconded by Alderman Meyers. Motion carried 7--0. Discussion concerning police radios. This item was referred back to the Police Committee. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to enter the Police Committee minutes of page 4 Minutes of the City Council of Laurel March 5, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --Public Utilities minutes of March 9, 1987, were presented and reviewed. Ken Miller Motion by Alderman Meyers to accept the committee's recommendation of using the actual meter reading and to allow Ken Miller an adjustment of $7.85 on his utility bill, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. Shirley Hill Motion by Alderman Meyers to accept the committee's recommendation to n~t put curb box repair expense at 505 E. 5th on Shirley Hill's taxes, seconded by Alderman Krug. All aldermen voted, "YES," except Alderman Collins and Alderwoman Kilpatrick, who voted, "NO." Motion carried 5--2. Mark Winkler Motion by Alderman Meyers to accept the committee's recommendation to adjust the December and January sewer bill for Mark Winkler, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 7--0. Motion by Alderman Meyers to enter the Public Utilities minutes of March 9, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. --Street & Alley Committee minutes of March 12, 1987, were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Kruq to accept Merle Cherry's bid in the amount of $17,630.00 for concrete replacement for the City, seconded by Alderman Dicker- son. Motion carried 7--0. Discussion on houses that are not properly numbered, with main concern being those in Village Subdivision. Jim Flisrand said he sends the owners a letter requiring numbers within 30 days. If they do not comply he continues to send additional letters with no other action being taken. Joe Bradley was asked to write an ordinance requiring house numbers which will be presented at next Council meeting. Motion by Alderman Krug to enter the Street & Alley Committee minutes of March 12, 1987, into the record, seconded by Alderman Orr. Motion carried 7--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Barbara Smith, representing Friends of the Library, asked permission to use the parking lot south of City Hall for a "Trash for Cash" money making drive. Motion by Alderman Meyers to allow the Friends of the Library a "Trash for Cash" money drive to be held each Saturday in April in the parking lot south of City Hall, seconded by Alderman Krug. Motion carried 7--0. MAYOR'S COMMENTS: Bob Gauthier asked the Council to confirm the hiring of Cathy Gabrian. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to confirm the hiring of Cathy Gabrian, seconded by Alderman Meyers. Motion carried 7--0. Alderman Collins was appointed chairman of the Street & Alley Committee by the Mayor. The Mayor will appoint another person to the Police Committee at the next Council meeting. Alderman Dickerson was appointed chairman of the Public Buildings & Parking Committee. Jim Flisrand commented that the City limit on Village Subdivision does run the length of Milwalkee and East Maryland to the north boundary line of the highway. Jim was asked to inform the police officers of this boundary so they can, in turn, inform the 18-wheeled vehicle owners that park on Lacka- wanna Drive, that they are in the City limits and can be ticketed. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.~ ~ / Donald L. H~ckmann, City Clerk Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 7th day of April, 1987. ~/ob Gauthi~r, Mayo~