HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 11.17.2009MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
NOVEMBER 17, 2009 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Bill Sheridan
Sam Painter
Mary Embleton
Kurt Markegard
Nancy Schmidt
Rick Musson
Derek Yeager
James Caniglia
Council Agenda - November 17, 2009
Scheduled Matters:
• Ordinance No. 009-11: Ordinance amending Section 2.68.100 of the Laurel Municipal Code,
amending the procedure to modify the City Judge's salary. First reading.
• Resolution No. R09-127: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an amendment to the
City's agreement with the State of Montana Department of Transportation for the City's Laurel
Northeast Community Transportation Enhancement Program "CTEP".
Mary explained that the original CTEP Agreement was for $67,000 for the South First Street sidewalk
project. The amendment reduces the amount to the final figure and also recognizes that the city paid for
the preliminary engineering.
• Resolution No. R09-128: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with the
Municipal Code Corporation for a legal review of the Laurel Municipal Code.
Draft Council Worksho Agenda - November 24, 2009
General items
There were none.
Clerk/Treasurer:
• Resolution - Engagement Letter with Dorsey & Whitney for Sewer System Revenue Bonds
Mary stated that Dorsey & Whitney is preparing to issue bonds for the city's sewer project. The charge
will be about $10,000 for this complex funding project.
* Resolution - Sewer Project Phase 2A1 bond resolution
Mary stated that the bonds are for the sewer project.
Public Works Department:
• Proposal for bulk water sales rate and usage
Bill stated that staff discussed this issue with Great West Engineering on Monday. A proposal needs to
be prepared for presentation at next Tuesday's council workshop. There was a lengthy discussion
regarding the need for rationale for the charges, the definition of a bulk water retailer, and whether to
include the charge in the Schedule of Fees and Charges or require a user agreement. Kurt and Sam will
work on this, and a meeting is scheduled on Friday, November 20d, at 11:00 a.m.
Chief Administrative Officer:
* Resolution- Lease Agreement with the Laurel Jaycees
Department Head Meeting Minutes of November 17, 2009
Bill will contact Brad Wetch, the president of the Laurel Jaycees. Mary mentioned that Brad reviewed
the agreement and did not sign it because of conflicting language regarding repairs of the building.
Executive Review:
• Appointments:
o BSEDA Nominating Committee - Chuck Rodgers
The appointment is for the BSEDA Nominating Committee.
• Council Issues:
o Generator in Murray Park (Chuck Dickerson)
Chuck Dickerson wants an update regarding installation of the generator. Kurt stated that this is part of
the water system project, which is ongoing and the contract is not up yet.
Other items
There were no other items discussed.
Department Reports:
Clerk/Treasurer
Mary is working on year-end business and needs no interruptions. Norm Klein will assist her on
Thursday. There is also a meeting with the attorney regarding the Evans case on Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Fire /Ambulance
• Preparations for new fire station
Derek has communicated with Ken Miller and Hazel Klein to work out a deal to put a building between
the existing properties on Main Street. CTA is working on scenarios for the new fire station. Since
each apparatus bay costs about $142,000, eliminating some bays would lower the cost. Derek stated
that someone submitted an offer for the buildings with the towers and the repeater site, and Derek will
meet with Hazel on Friday at 2:00 p.m. for further discussion. MRL is willing to assist with removal of
some of the buildings. Ken Miller is not excited about using parking lot space for a building.
• Status of Fire Department grants
Derek stated that there was no new information.
Li_.brary
Nancy met with the adjuster, who informed her that the library roof would be replaced. Nancy and Bill
will contact the roofing companies regarding submitting quotes, which will then be submitted to Mark
at MMIA.
• Status of City of Laurel's website
Nancy stated that progress is being made on the city's website.
Police Department
• Status of hiring process
Rick stated that nine individuals took the B-Pad testing last week. The scoring was completed on
Monday and five people passed. Interviews are scheduled on Monday, November 30th, a name will be
submitted on December I" and presented at the council workshop on December $th, and the
appointment will be on the December 1Sth council agenda. The new employee is scheduled to start
training at the Police Academy on January 3rd 2
Department Head Meeting Minutes of November 17, 2009
City Planner
• Various grants for "Laurel Dump Cleanup"
James has been reviewing available grants. He will attend a webinar for state grants for schools on
Thursday. The grants could help with curb, gutter, sidewalk, and crosswalk issues by the high school
and Graff School.
James stated that he and Sam discussed issues regarding SID's Place. Randy Peers requested a waiver
of liability because his county neighbors will not have sidewalks and he thinks that could be a liability.
Three property owners east of his property are interested in annexation. There was discussion regarding
granting a waiver vs. a significant bond, the possibility of an SID, and the need for sidewalks on Main
Street out to Village Subdivision. Kurt stated that, if the property was annexed, sidewalks could not be
required by the cabins on Yard Office Road because there is no storm drain there. Mary questioned the
definition of a sidewalk. Kurt stated that a sidewalk is a non-porous pavement of asphalt or concrete.
There was discussion regarding future annexations in this area and the inability of the city to force
county landowners to install curb, gutter and sidewalk.
Public Works Doartment
• Construction of a storage building
Kurt stated that a storage building is needed and will be reviewed.
• Status of water distribution upgrade
Kurt stated that the water lines are installed and the street cleanup is being done. The pumps will be
installed in December or January. He does not know the status of the generator pad in Murray Park.
• Alder Avenue
Kurt stated that work is being done on Alder Avenue.
• Status of Main Street from l st to 8th Avenues
Kurt is working with Chad on this project, which should be presented at a council workshop in
December.
• SE 4th Street
There was no new information.
• Report on progress with South Laurel Business SID
Kurt stated that Tractor Supply tied in to the storm drain, and other businesses are interested in doing so,
too.
• Status of Wastewater Plant upgrade
Kurt stated that ESI has not been given the Notice to Proceed because ESI did not want to name MMIA
as a secondary insured. There was discussion. Stephanie Seymanski should have a report on the
situation later today.
• Ditch mitigation ARRA grant project - 7th Street
Kurt has reviewed the plan prepared by Great West Engineering. There was a waterline break in this
area last night, and completion of this project should fix these issues. The city will go out to bid on the
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of November 17, 2009
project soon, and the project should be done in February or March. The property is located in city right-
of-way.
Kurt dealt with a city resident today that was unhappy because his water was shut off and the city crew
was not available to turn it back on after 3:00 p.m. There was discussion regarding authorizing two
hours of overtime on shutoff day, which would total 24 hours overtime each year, in order to provide
the service until 5:00 p.m. Bill asked Kurt to prepare a memo regarding this issue.
City Attorney
There was no discussion.
Mayor Olson
There was no discussion.
Chief Administrative Officer
• Schedule of Fees and Charges
Bill asked department heads to write down requests regarding changes or additions to the Schedule of
Fees and Charges. Rick wants to keep the $25 impound fee and $10 boarding fee so it is the same as
the City of Billings. Kurt stated that a charge of $3.00/foot is needed for cleaning lines.
• Moratorium on water resale rates and other water rates
Bill stated that work is being done on this issue.
• Impact Fees
Bill is working on the impact fees.
• City's lease of railroad property on Main Street for various uses
There was no further discussion.
• Bus Transit System
James stated that the buses should be available late in December or early in January.
Other
Mary mentioned that the health screening meetings are scheduled on Wednesday at 10:30 am., 1:00
p.m, and 7:00 p.m. for the police department. Employees need to sign up individually for the
screenings.
The meeting adjourned at 4:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
?d,? atle_o?
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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