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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 01.02.1996Minutes of the City Council of Laurel January 2, 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 Rodgers at 7:00 p.m., on January 2, 1996. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Gay Easton Bud Johnson John Minch Miles Walton COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None Ron Marshall Donna Kilpatrick Dirk Kroll Chuck Dickerson INVOCATION: Invocation was given by Alderman Dickerson. SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR NEW ALDERMEN: Judge Herman conducted the swearing in ceremony for the new Aldermen, Dirk Kroll, Ward 1; Miles Walton, Ward 2; Gay Easton, Ward 3; and John "Bud" Johnson, Ward 4. The oaths of office have been filed with the election department at the Yellowstone County Courthouse. CERTIFICATE AND PLAQUE PRESENTATION: Mayor Rodgets presented Dave Powers with a certificate and plaque for thirty-seven years of service to the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Dickerson to approve the minutes of the of December 19, 1995 as presented, 8--0. CORRESPONDENCE: Received a copy of a letter to Fred seconded by Alderman Minch. regular meeting Motion carried Sielback, Morrison Maierle, Inc., from Michael, Utilities Plant Superintendent, regarding the Laurel underpass. Received a copy of a letter to Fred Sielback, Morrison Maierle, Inc., from Michael, Utilities Plant Superintendent, regarding a capital projects plan the next five years. Received a memo from the Laurel Police Commission regarding a hiring list patrolmen. CLAIMS: Claims for the month of December were reviewed by the Budget/Finance and recommended that they be paid. Kilvatrick to of December, approve the seconded by Dave Dave for for Jim Flisrand stated the resolution is not prepared. He would like to present this to the Street and Alley Committee and have the committee consider if there is a need to purchase the property and bring any decisions back to the council. The property cannot be purchased as it is now because it cannot be legally described. The plat will have to be amended either by the city or hired done, at a cost to the city, or maybe Mr. Murray may be willing to have this done. It will have to be done before the city can purchase the property. Jim will contact Mr. Murray and see if he is willing to follow through with this. Jim suggested the resolution be tabled until he can get more information. ELECT COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT: President Alderman Marshall Alderman Minch. nominated Gay Easton for council president, Motion by Alderman Dickerson to close the nominations, Alderwoman Kilpatrick. Motion carried 8--0. Vote taken on the carried 8--0. Vice-President RESOLUTION ACCEPTING TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM RED MURRAY: Motion by Alderwoman $254,536.83 for the month carried 8--0. seconded by seconded by Motion nomination for Gay Easton as president of the council. Committee claims in the amount of Alderman Easton. Motion Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 2 Council Meeting of January 2, 1996 Motion by Alderman Walton to close nominations for vice-president, seconded by Alderman Minch. Motion carried 8--0. of the Vote taken on the nomination for Donna Kilpatrick as vice-president council. Motion carried 8--0. APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICIALS: Mayor Rodgers appointed Jim Flisrand as Public Works Director for two years effective January 1, 1996. Motion by Alderman Marshall to confirm Mayor Rodgers' appointment of Jim Flisrand as Public Works Director for two years effective January 1, 1996, seconded by Alderman Dickerson. Motion carried 8--0. MAYOR'S COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Rodgets handed out a list of committees and boards. He asked them to review it and make any comments before the next council meeting so it could be finalized. Mayor Rodgets asked that the committees follow through with the new list. COMMITTEES: --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of December 19, 1995 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderwoman KilDatrick to enter minutes of December 19, 1995, into the record, Motion carried 8--0. the Budget/Finance Committee seconded by Alderman Minch. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of December 19, 1995 were presented and reviewed. Motion by Alderman Dickerson to enter Whole minutes of December 19, 1995, into Kilpatrick. Motion carried 8--0. the City Council Committee of the the record, seconded by Alderwoman --Local Government Review Commission minutes of November 27, 1995; December 14, 1995; and December 21, 1995 were presented. These minutes are for informational purposes only. Motion by Alderman Marshall to enter the Local Government Review Commission Committee minutes of November 2?, 1995; December 14,1995; and December 21, 1995, into the record, seconded by Alderman Easton. Motion carried 8--0. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Kristine Kerr, 703 Locust Avenue, stated that last week there was sewer backup in her basement for the second time. There was damage to her basement last May from a sewer backup problem. In May a claim was filed with the city's insurance company and compensation was denied. She is asking the council what can be done to stop these sewer backups and prevent them from happening again. Kristine stated she had to take off work to clean it up. The damage was not as costly as in May, because the carpet that had been destroyed then had not been replaced. Jim Flisrand reported that the cause of the problem was a blockage in the main line on East Main Street, six blocks away. Jim stated blockage does happen occasionally in the city and then the lines are cleaned out. This line has not backed up, because of blockage, for a number of years in the past. Jim pointed out that the cause of the sewer backup this time doesn't relate to the issues that caused the backup in May. This was a blockage that was corrected by using a jet fodder. In May the backup was related to the lift station. Jim indicated that the residents that were affected by the backup need to come to city hall to fill out an incident report. It will then be sent into the insurance company. This will be addressed as a separate issue and does not relate to the backup in May. Kristine replied that by from happening again. She still has the same backup filling out an incident report, it will not stop it stated that even though it is a separate issue, she running in her basement causin~ Page 3 Council Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Meeting of January 2, 1996 She was asked if other residences were affected and she stated that this time the damage also occurred at a couple of other homes. Jim stated that the homes that were affected were looked at. The homeowners will need to come into city hall and file a report. Procedures and policies will have to be followed in filing a claim and will be done as fast as possible. Kristine was concerned that the insurance company may turn down the claim for compensation again. Jim said he couldn't say whether the damage claim would be paid since this is a separate issue and it is the first blockage that the city has had in years. He suggested that she report her time, effort and any cost in the incident report. Alderman Walton asked Jim if the city could give Kristine any hope by knowing if the insurance company has paid on claims for blockage in the past, even though it has been years since there was one? Jim replied that the city cannot give her any indication because each incident is evaluated separately. Alderman Dickerson asked~ if the blockage was on the east side of Hazel on East Main and the line is higher on Locust compared to East Main, than what is keeping the houses below them from sewer backup? Dave explained that it is based on elevation. The line on Locust is higher than East Main, however the three homes that had sewer backup have basements that are at the lowest elevation. The basement floor elevations are lower then any other homes that may have had backup in the area. It may not seem that way since they are up hill, but the elevation of their basements are the lowest. The water goes to the area with the least resistance which happened to be these three homes. Alderman Easton commented that individual check valves would eliminate the problem. It would be wise to put them in to prevent future backup in basements at low elevation. In discussion of the cost put, what type is bought, the homeowner. He has not of a check valve, Jim said it depends on where it is and if the labor is hired done or the work is done by acquired any cost estimates. Kristine said she has explored the possibility of putting in a check valve and would do it but she doesn't have the money. Mayor Rodgers asked Jim to put together information for the Utility Committee relating to the sewer blockage. B Bar S Partnership - Reservoir Jim Flisrand stated that Bob Graham requested that the members who will decide on the reservoir site go and view his property in the near future. This would be the members on the Water Reservoir Steering Committee, the Utility Committee, and the council members. Bob would like to meet at the property with the members whenever it is convenient for the city. He would like to let everyone know where the site is, how it would represent the need for a reservoir and etc. Bob would like to have the council set a date at this time. A meeting was set for Saturday, January 6th at 9:30 a.m. All members are to meet at city hall and then go to the site, APPOINTMENTS: None MAYOR'S COMMENTS: Mayor Rodgets welcomed all the new council members and thanked all the council members for their past service and dedication. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m. Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the Minutes of the City Council of Laurel Page 4 Council Meeting of January 2, 1996 Attest: Donald L. Hackmann, City Clerk