HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 01.16.2001 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
JANUARY 16, 2001 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Lauren Van Roekel
Ken Olson
Gay Easton
Bill Staudinger
Matt Erekson
Larry McCann
Mary Embleton
Cai Cumin (6:47 p.m.)
Gary Temple
Mark Mace
Daniel Dart
Bud Johnson
Rick Musson
Jim Stevens
Jan Faught
Duke Nieskens (6:47 p.m.)
The workshop for elected officials and department heads is scheduled for Saturday, January 20th, at 8:00
a.m. at the FAP.
Brent Olness will conduct the exit interview for the 2000 Audit at a special Budget/Finance Committee
meeting on Monday, January 29th, at 6:30 p.m. Council members and department heads are encouraged
to attend.'
Matt Erekson stated that negotiations are proceeding with Stewart Kirkpatrick, the attorney for Thomae
Lumber. Matt will pick up the insurance information on January 17th.
Bud Johnson stated that the council recently rescinded an ordinance that addressed a specific business, but
seemed to be headed in a similar direction again. He asked regarding policy for unlicensed vehicles
(forklifts) in the streets. There was discussion regarding a general policy as opposed to a specific policy
for an individual or business. Such issues could be addressed through the Rules and Regulations that are
currently being examined. However, a drawback would be that the Public Works Department, not the
Police Department, would have to address' and enforce the issues regarding zoning and building
violations.
Negotiations have not been completed regarding the Thomae Lumber issue. Matt stated that maintenance
of the street, use of vehicles on the street, signage, and insurance/liability concerns are being addressed.
Gay Easton asked how to handle the 30-day effective date for Ordinance No. 000-6. After some
discussion, it was agreed that an extension could be granted under unscheduled matters during the council
meeting.
Fire Chief Jim Stevens reported that Brian Fox and Dusty Ballantyne recently spent sixteen hours
working on Engine 3 and Engine 4, producing an $800 savings to the City of Laurel. Dan Mears is also
changing some pans on the fire masks.
The State Volunteer Firefighters' Convention is scheduled for June 14, 15 and 16 in Laurel The
preliminary agenda includes Larry McCann, Lockwood's Fire Chief Rylee, and a State of Montana
speaker who will address the subject of the 2000 wild land fires. The school has offered its facilities for
City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of January 16, 2001
the training sessions, the meals will be provided in the Fire Hall,
tent.
and the banquet will be held inside a
Jan Faught distributed the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance statistics for 2000. There were a total of 511
responses with a total of 455 patients treated. The number of volunteer hours totaled 19,141, not
including crew meetings and continuing education hours.
The emergency lights were recently lost on Care 1. Our Wheeled Coach technician spent fourteen hours
repairing the lights at a cost of $120 for parts. The cost for another technician to do the repairs would
have been $150 for each of two repair trips, $80/hour labor, plus the cost of the necessary parts.
Two reserves and one attendant are leaving the ambulance roster. Jan stated that she works with a very
good ambulance crew.
Ken Olson thanked the volunteers for all their work for the City of Laurel, and he also thanked Jan for her
work.
The state got a grant for pediatric supplies and the LVA will receive some of the grant money in the form
of equipment at the MEMSA Convention in Lewistown in February. Jan is completing a survey on
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and the state will determine specific needs from the survey.
Dan Dart asked if progress had been made with Bill Kennedy regarding definition of a coverage map for:
the ambulance. Jan has received the map and she will schedule a meeting with other communities.
Mayor Rodgers thanked Jan for her work.
Gay and Larry are scheduled to travel to Helena on Wednesday, the 17th, to present the efforts on the
groundwater and salinity study to the legislature. The goal was to convince the legislature to continue the
study with the Bureau of Mines by requesting a higher priority rating to receive grant monies to fund the
study.
The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary