Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.19.1996Minutes of the City Council of Laurel March 19, 1996 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 Chuck Rodgets at 7:00 p.m., on March 19, 1996. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Gay Easton Bud Johnson John Minch Miles Walton Ron Marshall Dirk Kroll Donna Kilpatrick Chuck Dickerson COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Alderman Johnson. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 5, 1996, as presented, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Alderman Marshall changed his vote from "YES" to "NO" on the motion by Alderman Dickerson and seconded by Alderman Walton, to accept the proposal for a room expansion to the water plant construction as an alternate design of $38,100.00. Motion now carried 4-2. A vote was taken on the motion to approve the minutes of March 5, 1996, amended. Motion carried 8--0. as CORRESPONDENCE: Received a letter from the Laurel Chamber of Commerce regarding the Goggles and Dusters Car Club requesting a parade on June 21, 1996. Received a Risk Management Bulletin from MMIA. Received a memo from the Montana Public Service Commission regarding proposed rail trackage removal. Received a memo from MMIA regarding a vacancy on the Board of Directors. Received the March 19, 1996 agenda from the Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. Received the March 15, 1996 agenda from the Montana Tradeport Authority. Received the February minutes and activity report from the Air Pollution Control Board. CITY CLERK'S AND CITY TREASURER'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: The City Clerk's and City Treasurer's financial statements for the month of February were presented. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick that the City Clerk's and City Treasurer's financial statements for the month of February, 1996, be approved, seconded by Alderman Minch. Motion carried 8--0. GARY PETERSON - GOGGLES & DUSTERS CAR CLUB PARADE: The city council received a letter from Laurel Chamber of Commerce stating Gary Peterson would not be able to attend the council meeting. Mr. Peterson contacted the Laurel Chamber of Commerce about setting up a parade of 50 antique cars to drive through Laurel on June 21, 1996. This parade of cars would leave the Ramada Inn in Billings at 5:00 p.m. and enter Laurel at the Mossmain entrance at approximately 5:20 p.m., drive down Main Street, turn at the underpass (if not useable, they would turn at 5th Avenue), and exit Laurel at the interchange. They would like permission to have this parade, and would like to drive through without any stops. He would like the Laurel Police Department to set up road blocks, also. Mike Atkinson, Police Chief, stated he can see no problem with having the parade of antique cars drive through Laurel. Motion by Alderman Marshall Car Club to hold a parade on June carried 8--0. to grant permission to the Goggles & 21, 1996, seconded by Alderman Easton. Dusters Motion Page 2 Council Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Meeting of March 19, 1996 AMENDING THE CITY BOUNDARY: ORDINANCE NO. 096-2 (second reading) AMENDING SECTION 1.12.010 OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, ORIGINAL TOWNSITE Public Hearing: No comments. Motion by Alderman Marshall to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Minch. Motion carried 8--0. Motion by Alderman Dickerson that Ordinance No. 096-2 (second reading) be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Johnson. A roll call vote was taken and all aldermen voted, "YES". Motion carried 8--0. AMENDING THE FOUR WARD BOUNDARY: ORDINANCE NO 096-3 (second reading) AMENDING SECTION 1.16.020 OF THE LAUREL MUNICIPAL CODE, FOUR WARD DIVISION Public Hearing: No comments. Motion by Alderwoman KilDatrick to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Marshall. Motion carried 8--0. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick that Ordinance No. 096-3 (second reading} be passed and adopted, seconded by Alderman Kroll. A roll call vote was taken and all aldermen voted, "YES". Motion carried 8--0. ANTI-DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY - DOT REGULATED: A resolution will be on the April 2, 1996 agenda. EMERGENCY EXPENDITURES - WATER INTAKE LINES: A resolution will be on the April 2, 1996 agenda. WATER FLUORIDATION - SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING: There are no legal requirements as to advertising for the public hearing. The city council voted to hold a public hearing to get the public's response on whether or not to continue fluoridation of the municipal water system. Motion by Alderman Easton to hold a public hearing on fluoridation at the next council meeting, April 2, 1996, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 8--0. The fluoridation was established in 1957 by the city council. COMMITTEE REPORTS: --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of March 5, 1996 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman KilDatrick to enter the Budget/Finance Committee minutes of March 5, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Alderman Easton said there are ten people that are registered to take the EMT course. Vote taken on the motion. Motion carried 8--0. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of March 5, 1996 were presented. Motion by Alderman Marshall to enter the City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of March 5, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Walton. Motion carried 8--0. Dave Michael distributed pictures of the water intake project. Minutes of Page 3 Council Meeting of March 19, the City Council of Laurel 1996 --City-County Plannin~ Board minutes of March 14, 1996 were presented. Motion by Alderman Easton to accept the planning activities report for the first quarter of 1996, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. No meeting was held, due to a lack of a quorum. Motion carried 8--0. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of February 27, 1996 were presented. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to enter the Laurel Airport Authority minutes of February 27, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Easton. Motion carried 8--0. --Laurel Local Governmental Review Commission minutes of March 11, 1996 were presented. These minutes are for informational purposes only. Motion by Alderman Marshall to enter the Laurel Local Governmental Review Commission minutes of March 11, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 8--0. --Park Committee minutes of March 14, 1996 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to enter the Park Committee minutes of March 14, 1996, into the record, seconded by Alderman Easton. Motion carried 8--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Rodgets appointed three members to the Board of Appeals for abatement of the abandoned buildings; Marvin Carter, Ted Bundy and Bob Western. Motion by Alderwoman Kilpatrick to confirm Mayor Rodgets appointment of Marvin Carter, Ted Bundy and Bob Western to the Board of Appeals, seconded by Alderman Kroll. Motion carried 8--0. MAYOR ' S COMMENTS: Mayor Rodgers commented that the fire department has a new truck. He thanked them for the donated time they spent working on the truck which saved the city money. Mayor Rodgets encouraged the council members to visit the water plant to observe the construction on the intake lines. Merchant Apartments Alderman Marshall asked what the scenario is on the abatement of the abandoned buildings, at this time, after the fire? Jim Flisrand stated the property owner was required to make the area secure, which has been done by putting up the fence and then to clean up the debris. The owner has requested adequate time to contract with someone, on his own, to do an investigation of the fire site. There is no time frame when this will be done, but it might take a couple of weeks. Alderman Jehnson asked if there were requirements or guide lines to follow when there is a fire scene? Darrell McGillen, Fire Chief, stated that at the time the fire department left the fire scene at about 5:00 p.m. , Thursday, March 14, the owner took responsibility. The owner has seventy-two hours from that time to secure the property and make arrangements to clean up the debris. He has replied that he wants to bring in his own investigators to investigate the fire, and this apparently has no time frame. In discussion, there is a concern whether the asbestos that is lying at the fire scene is regarded as a hazardous material or regarded as burn site trash. The state said the asbestos could be cleaned up as it is, if it was done in a timely manner while it remains wet. The longer the asbestos lays and dries out, the harder it will be to dispose of. Jim was asked if the owner knew about this. Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 4 Council Meeting of March 19, 1996 Joe Leckie, City Attorney, stated the only standard that the city has is to allow them a reasonable amount of time to conduct an investigation. It is felt a week or two may be a reasonable amount of time. Alderman Dickerson suggested a letter be sent to the owner stating the city allow him until the next council meeting on April 2, 1996 to notify the city council on what his plans are. It was noted that the city needs to be forceful in communication with the property owner. This letter should be sent certified. Jim mentioned that he will get more information about restraints in cleaning up hazardous material and include this in the letter. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to send a certified letter to the property owner and give him until April 2, 1996, to let the city council know what course of action he is planning, seconded by Alderwoman Kilpatrick. In discussion, it was noted that the garages that are still on the property were included in the original abatement. Another problem is the fence that secures the property is over public right-of-way. The public right-of-way should have been cleaned immediately and the fence placed on the inside. Darrell McGillen asked that before a letter is sent, he would like to get together with the State Fire Marshall's office who is still working on the case. The property owner is asking for his own investigation because he is working with an insurance broker in California to find out the status of insurance on the building. This could be where the delay is. Darrell stated that it is prettymuch proven where the fire started, but not how it started. The fire was definitely arson and intentionally set, but it is not a closed case yet. The State Fire Marshall's office is still working on it and they may be in a position to push things along a lot faster. Darrell would like to find out what they say a reasonable amount of time is. A vote was taken on the motion. Motion carried 8--0. Power Pole - Firemen's Park Jim Flisrand stated the power pole located in Firemen's Park is used by various groups throughout the year for electrical service. The service of the power pole is not in anyone's name. It is now necessary for Montana Power to charge the city $75.00 each time it is turned on and off. If the service is put in the city's name, then there is no charge. When the power pole is needed, the city will read the meter before and after the usage and charge the group that uses it accordingly. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve the service of the power pole in Firemen's Park to be in the City of Laurel's name and charge the group using it accordingly, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 8--0. Bright and Beautiful Clean-up Jim stated that the City of Laurel has the Bright and Beautiful Clean-up celebration on April 27, 1996. Various activities will take place on that day. There is a competition where the school is participating and is requesting the council's participation. They have challenged four of the council members in a wheel barrel race in the park. The race will consist of taking the wheel barrel to four different designated positions to pick up a bag of recyclables, dumping it into the wheel barrel. When the four bags are dumped into the wheel barrel, they will then go to the end and sort the recycled material and return back to the beginning, with each partner doing the same thing. After all four participants have completed the course, the best time will receive a prize. Jim would like four volunteers from the council tonight. Alderman Dickerson, Alderman Johnson, Alderman Minch, and Alderman Easton volunteered. Negotiations Committee Mayor Rogers announced a Negotiations Committee meeting on Wednesday, 1996 at 4:00 p.m. to go over ground rules. March 27, There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 5 Council Meeting of March 19, 1996 Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 2nd day of April. Attest: Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk