HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 07.12.2011 MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
JULY 12, 2011 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT: Mayor Ken Olson Heidi Jensen Rick Musson
Sam Painter Kurt Markegard Gary Colley
Shirley Ewan Nancy Schmidt Jan Faught
Council Workshop Agenda — July 12, 2011
Public Input:
Dan O'Neil, 522/524 Woodland, might attend to speak about his street. Gary stated that the street was
bladed today.
General items
Ambulance appointments of Heather Fitzhugh, Camille Miller and Brook Murphy will be on the
agenda.
Executive Review:
• Discussion — Water and Sewer Rate Study
Chad Hanson will attend the council workshop to answer the council's questions regarding the Water
and Sewer Rate Study.
• Discussion — Council's intent for the next Urban Route Project (West Railroad Street)
There will be council discussion regarding the council's intent for the next urban project.
• Resolution — Release funds from the TIF District fund for facade improvements for Laurel
Movie Haus (Riley Cooke)
The LURA sub - committee approved the funds for the Laurel Movie Haus.
Council Issues:
• Discussion regarding Pacific Steel/car crusher (Doug Poehls)
Yellowstone County did not approve Pacific Steel's request for the business. The City of Laurel might
be interested in having the business in the Industrial Park east of Entertainment Subdivision in order to
provide some tax revenues. There was discussion regarding noise levels, access to the interstate and the
railroad, and conditions that the Planning Board could place on the business.
Other items
• Resolution — MOU with Yellowstone County Council on Aging for the bus transit services
The MOU states the responsibilities of the City of Laurel and the YCCOA for the bus transit program.
• Resolution — Engagement Letter with Dorsey & Whitney for SID No. 113
• Resolution of intent to create SID No. 113
There was discussion regarding the status of the storm water hookups on SE 4 Street and the need to
present the two resolutions tonight in order to complete the paving project before the end of the
construction season. Dorsey & Whitney has been contacted.
Department Head Meeting Minutes ofJuly 12, 2011
Department Reports:
Clerk/Treasurer
• Surplus list
Heidi requested a metal desk from the surplus list for the bus driver. Since the Public Works
Department is still reviewing the list, the deadline has been extended to next Tuesday, July 19
Ambulance
Jan stated that the garage door was recently destroyed as the ambulance was being backed into the bay.
Shirley asked her to take pictures, report it to Cheryll, and fill out a property claim form for MMIA.
The claim should be submitted if the estimate is over $1,500.
Fire
Gary stated that the ISO tested the tender truck last Saturday.
Gary stated that the fire department thanked the city, including the police, ambulance and public works
departments, for their assistance on the 4 ofJuly.
Library
Nancy asked regarding the progress on the budget. Mayor Olson stated that the budget would not be
ready for at least a month. Budgets will be returned to the department heads for further review and cuts.
Spending authorization for major capital expenditures is frozen at this time.
Police Department
Rick stated that the police department is waiting for July 16 to be done.
Rick spoke regarding the overtime costs for providing security for the ExxonMobil oil spill. He asked
Shirley for the actual cost per hour to bill ExxonMobil. The city will bill Exxon $40 /day for the use of
police cars.
City Planner
Heidi spoke regarding the city's switch for cell phone service from AT &T to Verizon. Department
heads need to decide which phone they want and how many minutes are needed. The city will keep the
same phone numbers and all phones will be activated at the same time. Heidi will order the phones on
Wednesday. There was discussion regarding the AT &T phones, which will be gathered and donated.
Training for the Droid phones is scheduled on July 19
The Safety Officer will reschedule the safety committee meeting that was scheduled right before July
4 Heidi asked the department heads to respond to the e-mail.
The city will make ID cards for all city employees soon and would like to use the fire department's
machine to do so.
Public Works Department
Kurt distributed copies of contact phone numbers for use in emergencies, as the city's list was out -of-
date when he used it during the recent emergency event. He asked for input from department heads.
Additional phone numbers for churches, schools, the Red Cross, CHS Refinery, the railroad, etc. will be
added to the list.
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Department Head Meeting Minutes of July 12, 2011
Kurt stated that a gravel ramp will be built to provide access for emergency services vehicles to get to
Evergreen.
The paving project by the Catholic Church will start and Wednesday and continue through Friday.
Court
There was no discussion.
City Attorney
There was no discussion.
Mayor Olson
• Ambulance building
Gary recently met with the architect to discuss some issues. Gary stated that the sheds need to be
moved prior to the start of the construction project. Mayor Olson will contact High Plains to find out
the starting date for construction.
• Surplus auction
There was no discussion.
Other
Mayor Olson spoke regarding the ExxonMobil oil spill, the meetings with the EPA and DEQ and their
statements about how the fire department's initial response was handled well, their appraisal of Kurt's
involvement and concern for the levee, and some bank stabilization issues the County Commissioners
recently identified.
ExxonMobil and EPA will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Laurel
High School auditorium.
The meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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