HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 03.02.2010MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
MARCH 2, 2010 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor Ken Olson Mary Embleton Rick Musson
Bill Sheridan Nancy Schmidt Derek Yeager
Sam Painter
Council Asenda - March 2. 2010
Unscheduled Matters:
• Appointments:
There are no appointments on tonight's agenda.
• Resolution No. R10-24: A resolution of the City Council accepting a right-of-way easement
from Timothy J. and Terrie A. Casey for the West Main Street Project.
The resolution/easement agreement will finish the right-of-way for the West Main project.
• Resolution No. R10-25: A resolution approving Change Order No. 5 for Phase II of the Laurel
Water System Improvements Project for the replacement of wiring and valves at the Water
Treatment Plant and authorizing the Mayor to execute the attached Change Order No. 5 on the
City's behalf.
Kurt will try to get pictures to show the council tonight.
• Resolution No. R10-26: A resolution approving the attached Task Order No. 17 authorizing
Great West Engineering to evaluate potential sites and configurations for a bulk water station
and to develop a cost estimate for construction based upon the findings and recommendations of
the evaluation.
The council has been asking for this and it is finally getting done.
• Ordinance No. 010-01: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana,
imposing a temporary moratorium on the opening, operation, and licensing of any
establishments that grow, sell, or distribute medical marijuana, and directing the study of new
proposed ordinances to regulate such establishments. First reading.
Sam will provide an explanation to the council. The public hearing must be held first, as this is
different from the ordinary ordinance process. The public hearing will be set for March 16th, and a
presentation by Officer Long will be scheduled on March 23`d. An interim zoning ordinance stops
everything to provide time to promulgate information. There was discussion regarding the difference
between the public hearing on March 16th and the public forum (symposium) on March 23`d. Bill will
call the school district to reserve the auditorium on March 23`d. The city needs to hold all applications
until the ordinance is passed.
• Approve/Disapprove of Health Insurance Committee recommendation.
There were no comments.
Unscheduled Matters:
• Resolution for tree trimming
Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2010
The resolution will be item g. under scheduled matters.
Draft Council Workshop Agenda - March 9. 2010
General items:
There are none.
Public Works Department:
a Resolution- Award 2010 Seventh Street Drainage Improvements Project bid
Bids will be opened on March 15th for the council's decision/award on March 16th. The project will be
done with ARRA funding.
a Resolution - Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 16 - Wastewater System Improvements
Amendment No. 1 is for $20,000 for Great West Engineering to do the Preliminary and Final Design
Phases for the Wastewater System Improvements project. Last week's meeting was very productive.
Bill asked why it is taking so long. DEQ and SRF are pleased as they are having cash flow issues.
Chief Administrative Officer:
a Resolution - Schedule of Fees and Charges
The fee process is continuing.
Department Reports:
Clerk/Treasurer
Mayor Olson has been reviewing the auditor's draft comments and work needs to be done on this. Kurt
is getting the asset values for Elena and Iron Horse Station Subdivisions from Sanderson Stewart.
Fire /Ambulance
a Preparations for new fire station
Work is being done on the fire district consolidation plan. Derek has sample agreements from other
communities. Bringing the five entities together will take six months or more. The Laurel Outlook will
publish an article regarding this issue.
Police Department
The E-911 system will be tested on Thursday morning at 5:00 a.m. Rick asked for help if anyone wants
to dial in. Phase 1, which is the current phase, determines which tower is being accessed by a cell
phone. With Phase 2, it will be possible to incorporate the GIS and pinpoint the location of a cell
phone.
City Planner
e Various grants
Bill stated that James was not at the meeting as he was finishing up something that Bill told him to do.
The results of the Energy Grant should be available after March 31 st
a Historic Register / Facade improvements
Emelie Eaton, Shirley McDermott, Bill and Mayor Olson met to discuss working together for the fagade
improvements.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2010
Bill stated that the city is trying to find dispatch services and drivers for the bus transit service. They
asked to work with the Laurel Senior Center and keep them informed, but they have no funding.
Bill stated that the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency wants water and sewer across West Main. LURA has
$30,000 to invest, which is not enough, so it may be cost prohibitive. The city needs to get a cost
estimate from Great West.
Derek talked to Ken and Peggy Miller, who were disappointed that LightNex took the lease. They
wanted the old buildings gone.
Riley Cook purchased the Only $1 Store building. LURA approved the $30,000 to go towards a new
waterline to the property line. This will require council approval.
There was more discussion regarding the Miller railroad lease.
Public Works Department
• Meeting with Yellowstone County Road Department for millings
A meeting is scheduled in Billings on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. regarding Alder, Fir, and East 8th Street.
• Construction of a storage building
If Kurt can find the plans from the old building, an architect might not be needed.
• Status of Water Treatment Plant improvements
The valve is in and is a great improvement as there is no more water hammer. Work is being done on
the wiring.
• Status of Main Street from 1 s' to 8th Avenues (need 2 property owners' approval)
The project is going forward, and Kurt is still working on Mr. Fink.
o SE 4th Street
o Storm water
o Leveling course
o Center turn lane / parking
o Street lights
o Flat work
o SID
Chad Hanson is working on this and still needs to do the street lights. The city needs to meet with the
property owners regarding assessment of lineal feet. There was discussion regarding Fox Lumber going
out of business. The Public Works Department wants a five-year moratorium on excavating in the
street once it has been fixed. An ordinance change would be required.
• Status of Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade
The lift station submittals were made in Georgia and were not according to specifications. The
contractor will resume the water line project on Monday, March 8th. ESI needs to fix a hole in the road
to the sewer plant.
• Ditch mitigation ARRA grant project - 7th Street
The project has been advertised and bid opening is scheduled on March 15th.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2010
• Water fill station
Task Order No. 17 is on tonight's council agenda.
The timeline for the 8th Avenue project has been updated.
The Public Works Committee will meet on Monday, March 8th. There will be discussion regarding
mutual aid agreements.
There was a water break on Locust where there used to be a fill station. Thirty feet of line that had been
leaking all winter is being replaced.
The Tree Board is getting ready to trim and plant trees. The Board recently discussed the Arbor Day
celebration.
Gary Colley is back in the hospital.
Rick asked about the proposed center turn lane on SE 4th Street. He stated that SE 4th Street needs to be
made part of the truck route.
Two items were added to the March 9th council workshop agenda: Planning - Ordinance for zoning
clarification provisions; Public Works - Business licenses/contractor bond.
City Attorney
There was no discussion.
Mayor Olson
The auditor's comments will be discussed on Wednesday, March 10th, at 1:30 p.m.
Chief Administrative Officer
• Discussion - SID process for streets where new water lines were installed
Chad Hanson is working on this.
• Schedule of Fees and Charges
The public hearing is on tonight's council agenda.
• Impact Fees
There was no discussion.
• City's lease of railroad property on Main Street for various uses
Mayor Olson has presented this issue to the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, LURA and Laurel
Alive to inform and gather support.
• Bus Transit System / Meeting with Council on Aging
The COA is not opposed, but they have what they want and would like the city's help. Their dispatch
can help the city. Two vehicles will be coming from the state.
Library
• Roof replacement
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 4, 2010
Nancy asked Bill if a meeting had been arranged with the architect and the engineer.
• Status of City of Laurel's website
Nancy is still working on the website.
Other
Bob Morrison wants to meet with Kurt, Bill, and Mayor Olson on March 15th regarding Morrison-
Maierle.
Kurt asked regarding annual vacation leave for non-union and union employees.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
n
Mary K, bleton
Clerk/Treasurer