HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08.07.2012 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL
August 7, 2012
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the
Council Chambers and called to order by Council President Poehls at 6:30 p.m. on August 7, 2012.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls
Bruce McGee Mark Mace
Scot Stokes Chuck Dickerson
Tom Nelson Bill Mountsier
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Jan Faught
Council President Poehls led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Council President Poehls asked the council to observe a moment of silence.
MINUTES:
Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 17,
2012, as presented, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council
discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion
carried 8 -0.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Laurel Senior Center: Letter of thanks for the donation.
Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of July 12, 2012; Agenda of July 26, 2012.
Montana Department of Transportation: Letter of July 12, 2012 regarding Community
Transportation Safety Planning and Development Assistance.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
CONSENT ITEMS:
• Claims for the month of July 2012 in the amount of $649,820.56.
A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk - Treasurer's Office.
• Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 07/22/2012 totaling $163,308.72.
• Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record.
-- Budget/Finance Committee minutes of July 17, 2012 were presented.
-- Council Workshop minutes of July 31, 2012 were presented.
-- Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of June 18, 2012 were presented.
Council President Poehls asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none.
Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by
Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken
on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None.
Council Minutes of August 7, 2012
REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE- MINUTE LIMIT):
Riley Cooke, who owns the Laurel Movie Haus, explained some issues the owners are having with
the theater. He stated that nothing they do draws people into the theater because they cannot get the
new movies. When the theater was new last year, the studios gave them the new films. Because
they are not grossing the numbers now, the studios will not give them the movies. Riley stated that
the problem is film, as Hollywood has gone digital. When the owners built the theater, Hollywood
told them there were four to five years of film left. He spoke regarding the cost of building a film,
the delays in receiving movies, the opportunity to get digital movies daily, the film industry's desire
to see small town America close, the challenge of getting teenagers into the theater, the need and
cost of $160,000 to convert to digital movies, and the need for a source to obtain a low interest loan.
SCHEDULED MATTERS:
• Confirmation of Appointments.
Laurel Ambulance Service:
Ambulance Director Jan Faught introduced Amber Achten and Brook Murphey to the council.
Amber Achten completed the EMT class in Laurel, lives in Laurel, and would provide availability to
answer calls. Brook Murphey rode along with the ambulance last summer, recently graduated from
college, and hopes to start medical school soon.
Council President Poehls appointed Amber Achten and Brook Murphey to the Laurel Ambulance
Service.
Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve the appointments of Amber Achten and Brook
Murphey to the Laurel Ambulance Service, seconded by Council Member Nelson. There was no
public comment.
Council Member Eaton wished the new appointees good luck.
A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
Public Works Committee:
Council President Poehls appointed Chuck Dickerson to the Public Works Committee.
Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve the appointment of Chuck Dickerson to
the Public Works Committee, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment
or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted
aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
Budget /Finance Committee:
Council President Poehls appointed Tom Nelson to the Budget/Finance Committee.
_ Motion by Council Member Mace to approve the appointment of Tom Nelson to the
Budget /Finance Committee, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public
comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present
voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
• Resolution No. R12 -56: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign
an Operating Contract with the State of Montana, Department of Transportation for
the Laurel Transportation System Coordination Plan.
Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R12 -56, seconded by Council
Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
• Resolution No. R12 -57: Resolution relating to proposed Special Improvement District
No. 114; preliminary levy of special assessments for maintenance costs on property
2
Council Minutes of August 7, 2012
within the proposed district for the purpose of paying the cost of maintaining certain
local improvements; and amending Resolution No. R12 -53.
Motion by Council Member Nelson to approve Resolution No. R12 -57, seconded by Council
Member Mace. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
• Resolution No. R12 -58: A resolution accepting the bid and authorizing the Mayor to
sign a contract with Hardrives Construction for the 2012 Street Maintenance Project in
the City of Laurel.
Motion by Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R12 -58, seconded by
Council Member Nelson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on
the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
• Ordinance No. 012 -04: An ordinance amending Section 5.08.040 of the Laurel
Municipal Code titled "Contractor's license and bond requirements" located at
Chapter 5 of the Laurel Municipal Code. First reading.
Motion by Council Member McGee to adopt Ordinance No. 012 -04, seconded by Council
Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on
the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE- MINUTE LIMIT): None.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
• Review of Monthly Reports: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None.
Council Member Nelson will notify the council secretary if the Cemetery Board will meet in August.
Council Member Nelson will not attend the council workshop next week.
Council Member McGee mentioned that a meeting regarding county rabies regulations is scheduled
on Wednesday, August 8 at 3:00 p.m. in the county attorney's conference room. He asked if the
Emergency Services Committee needed to consider this issue.
Council President Poehls stated that the city was informed about the meeting so the county and cities
could consider compatible ordinances for rabies and animals.
Council Member Eaton asked for discussion at the next workshop regarding placing stop signs at
Southwest 4th Street and Cedar Avenue and the costs and how long it would take to place the signs.
A constituent is concerned about the morning and evening traffic from the new Cenex employee
route.
Council Member Eaton stated that there was a suggestion in the council workshop minutes to update
the public about the status of the speed limit on East Railroad. The suggestion was to put an article
in the newspaper and an update in the city's newsletter. Jennifer Reis will contact Council Member
Eaton this week to put an article in next week's paper.
Council Member Mountsier stated that some tall sunflower plants are obstructing the view in the
boulevard at the corner of East Maryland and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Council President Poehls will refer the issue to the public works director.
Council Member Mace asked for discussion regarding Riley Cooke's statement to the council at the
next workshop.
Council Member Mace informed the council that, after a discussion at the Budget/Finance
Committee meeting, the Park Board will hold a public meeting on September 6 regarding the
viability of building a skate park with the location at Kiwanis Park. He will contact the Laurel
3
Council Minutes of August 7, 2012
Outlook to publish notice of the meeting in the paper. There will be people at the meeting to answer
specific questions.
Anyone that is planning to attend the Elected Officials Workshop in Kalispell in October should
contact the clerk/treasurer so reservations can be made. The agenda will be distributed when it is
available.
UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Council Member Mace to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council
Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8 -0.
There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at
6:55 p.m.
Cindy Allen4Council Secretary
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 21 day
of August, 2012.
enneth E. Olson, Jr. or
Attest:
,Xf , c (___>
Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer
4