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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 10.17.2000MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL October 17, 2000 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by President Gay Easton at 7:00 p.m. on October 17, 2000. COUNCIL MEMBERS pRESENT: Lauren Van Roekel Ken Olson Gay Easton Bill Staudinger Gary Temple Mark Mace Daniel Dart Bud Johnson COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None President Easton asked the council to observe a moment of silence in behalf of the families of Miranda Fenner and Marilyn Huestis, and for Billings City Councilman Jack Johnson, who recently suffered a heart attack. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Staudinger to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 3, 2000, as presented, seconded by Alderman Johnson. Motion carried 7-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Montana Department of Commerce: Letter of October 2, 2000, regarding audit findings. Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control Board: Activity Report for September 2000; Agenda for October 10, 2000. City of Billings: Letter of October 10, 2000, regarding Landfill Users Summit on Wednesday, October 18, 2000. PUBLIC HEARING: Resolution No. R00-63 RESOLUTION NO. R00-63 BEING A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ESTABLISH A WATER SERVICE LINE REPAIR PROGRAM AND FEE. President Easton opened the public heating. President Easton asked if there were any proponents. Steve Klotz stated that twelve citizens called to state their support for the water line repair program. Ralph Stone, representing his son's business of Curb Box Specialists in Billings, voiced his support for the proposed program, based on their experience with a similar resolution in the City of Billings. Mr. Stone said that the program has worked well in Billings, and it has relieved the citizens of the shock of having a $500 or higher bill for repairs for which they did not know they were responsible. He offered some words of caution to the council. He stated that bids for water main replacement should include curb box repair or replacement, or the early financing for the program could be quickly depleted. Mr. Stone mentioned that a grandfather clause should be considered in the resolution to replace defective curb boxes that were discovered before the effective date of this program. Mr. Stone stated that Curb Box Specialists would be willing to visit with the staff regarding the contractors' involvement in the program. John Minch stated his support for the program, which provides a type of insurance policy for the property owners. Council Minutes of October 17, 2000 George Chopper stated that this is a feasible and workable program. He feels that city forces should do the routine maintenance in order to facilitate more expedient repairs, good teamwork, and close communication, but he agreed that some of the work might have to be contracted. Sam Mourich stated his support for the program. He figured that he would have paid $552 into the program if $1.00/m0nth had been paid during the forty-six years that he has lived in Laurel. Dick Clayton suggested charging a higher fee in order to extend the program to include the water meters. President Easton asked if there were any opponents. There were none. President Easton asked if there was any discussion. Alderman Mace asked Steve Klotz why the program does not extend beyond the curb box valve. Steve explained that curb boxes are located in the public right of way and the city does not want to provide additional services on private property. Alderman Staudinger stated that, in the case of rental properties, the $1.00 monthly fee should be charged to property owners instead of the renter. Steve explained that the fees are usually passed on to the renter in increased rent, and an agreement could be made between the landlord and renter. Motion by Alderman Staudinger to close the public hearing, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carded 7-0. CONSENT ITEMS: a. Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of September 2000. b. Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of September 18, 2000 were presented. --City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of October 3, 2000 were presented. --Emergency Services Committee minutes of September 25, 2000 were presented. c. Resolutions. 1) Resolution No. R00-67: Accepting the low bid for a new garbage truck and .authorizing the Mayor to sign the contract for manufacture with Kois Brothers Equipment and financing with a State Intercap Loan. RESOLUTION NO. R00-67 ACCEPTING THE LOW BID FOR A NEW GARBAGE TRUCK AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE CONTRACT FOR MANUFACTURE WITH KOIS BROTHERS EQUIPMENT AND FINANCING WITH A STATE INTERCAP LOAN. 2) Resolution No. R00-68: A resolution adopting a Water Service Line Repair Program, fee, fund and administrative charge, and setting forth the application of funds, handling of delinquent accounts, compliance with city standards/regulations, effective date of resolution, and filing of resolution and rate schedule. RESOLUTION NO. R00-68 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A WATER SERVICE LINE REPAIR PROGRAM, FEE, FUND AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE, AND SETTING FORTH THE APPLICATION OF FUNDS, HANDLING OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS, COMPLIANCE WITH CITY STANDARDS/REGULATIONS, EFFECTIVE DATE OF RESOLUTION, AND FILING OF RESOLUTION AND RATE SCHEDULE. Council Minutes of October 17, 2000 3) Resolution No. R00-69: Adopting a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and Contract with ICMA Retirement Corporation and entering into a Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust. RESOLUTION NO. R00-69 ADOPTING A 457 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND CONTRACT WITH ICMA RETIREMENT CORPORATION AND ENTERING INTO A DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST. President Easton asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Alderman Johnson to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Olson. Motion carried 7-0. SCHEDULED MATTERS: a. Confirmation of Appointments. Police Officer: President Easton appointed Christopher Romero as a police officer for the City of Laurel with a one- year probationary period. Ambulance Reserve Attendant: President Easton appointed Teresa Ross as a Reserve Attendant for the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance. Motion by Alderman Johnson to confirm the appointments of Christopher Romero as a police officer for the City of Laurel, with a one-year probationary period, and Teresa Ross as a Reserve Attendant for the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance, seconded by Alderman Olson. Motion cai-ried 7-0. b. Set public hearing for CTEP proposal. Cai Cumin placed this item on the agenda in order to take the necessary action. The deadline for the CTEP application is in November and, if a public hearing were necessary, it would need to be scheduled. The City of Laurel is in the third year of CTEP funding. We are planning to construct sidewalk from downtown to the recently completed South Pond CTEP Project, but the cost of the project ($135,000) exceeds the amount of dollars that are currently available ($97,612). Cal explained that the Montana Department of Transportation would extend us another year for use of the accumulated CTEP monies at the request of the local official, and a public hearing would not be necessary at this time. A project will be submitted for review in November 2001. The council agreed to have Mayor Rodgers send a letter of request for an extension to the State. Joe Leckie stated that no council action was necessary as the Mayor is the authorized agent on the CTEP Grant. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Larry McCann stated that the Department of Environmental Quality has moved forward on our permit to put bend way weirs in the river. This puts pressure on the Corps of Engineers regarding their approval of the permit and the second intake. The Corps of Engineers is working on a WRDA Grant, which would be administered by the Corps. SRF in Helena has agreed that the balance of the water project loan could be used to match the grant. A temporary weir may have to be installed for the winter. Cai Cumin thanked the council for the get well card he received after his recent car accident. Council Minutes of October 17, 2000 Alderman Olson stated that the recent League of Cities and Towns meeting was very informative. He mentioned that the City of Laurel has a great opportunity with the legislative process, and he anticipates more involvement in the future, as he is a member of the Legislative Committee. President Easton thanked the individuals who attended the League of Cities and Towns meeting in Missoula. Due to Election Day on Tuesday, November 7th, the Budget/Finance Committee recommended changing the council meeting to Monday, November 6th. Motion by Alderman Johnson to change the City Council meeting from Tuesday, November 7th, to Monday, Novqmber 6th, at 7:00 p.m., with no Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled, seconded by Alderman Dart. Motion carried 7-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Cindy Aller~Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 6t~ day of November, 2000. Charles G. Rodgers, MayO~ ~f Attest: MarY K. ~/tnbleton, Clerk-Treasurer 4