HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 12.04.2001 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
DECEMBER 4, 2001 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Lauren Van Roekel
Ken Olson
Gay Easton
Bill Staudinger
Mark Mace
Daniel Dart
Bud Johnson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Matt Erekson
Mary Embleton
Jan Faught
Rick Musson
Steve Wegner
A letter requesting a council member to serve on the Yellowstone County Council on Aging (YCCOA)
was distributed to the council with the agenda information. Mayor Rodgers stated that Gay Easton is
already on that board, but another council member could also serve on the board if desired.
Smokey mentioned that the top handrail at the Little League baseball field needed to be repaired.
Gay Easton explained that the Yellowstone County Council on Aging would be submitting a grant
application for vehicle funding. The funds would be used to purchase a replacement van for the Laurel
Senior Citizens van that currently provides service within Laurel five days a week and service to Billings
every other Wednesday. The grant would allow for expansion of transportation services to meet the
special transportation needs of seniors and persons with disabilities within Laurel.
Lauren asked when the trucks would complete alley cleanup. Mayor Rodgers explained that the main
hydraulic is down in the rear loader and repairs would cost approximately $5,000 to $6,000. However,
the truck is only worth about $500. Plans are to set a roll-off`container at the end of the alleys and use the
front-end loader to go through the alleys to pick up the trash. Another possibility is to rent a rear loader
from the City of Billings.
Dan Dart mentioned that the Olympic Torch is now going through the United States on its way to Salt
Lake City. He stated that it is a great honor for Laurel to have the Olympic Torch come through our city.
Bud Johnson stated that the council would review the CIP on January 8th and 22ha. The public hearing for
the CIP is scheduled for January 11th. Bud is working on the committee list and requested input from the
council.
Mayor Rodgers stated that filling the Ward 4 seat could be addressed after Bud Johnson becomes the
mayor at the council meeting on January 2~a. Council vacancies have been filled in several ways in the
past: the council member could select a resident from the ward to fill the vacancy; an advertisement could
be made to fill the vacancy; an unsuccessful candidate in the election could be reviewed for the position.
Stewart Kirkpatrick spoke to represent the City-County Health Department. The department was created
in 1997 to provide for public health services and medical services. Mr. Kirkpatrick explained that the
issue before the council was a housekeeping matter. The City of Laurel passed a resolution in 1997 to
become a member of the City-County Health Department, but the statute clearly required adoption of an
City Council Cornnnttee of the Whole minutes of Deceraber 4, 2001
ordinance to permit the Mayor to sign the interlocal agreement. Passage of the ordinance would ratify the
agreement retroactively since it had previously been accepted.
Mr. Kirkpatrick introduced Lil Anderson, the CEO, and Perry Howell, the chief financial officer of the
City-County Health Department.
Previous to 1996, the county had its own health department to provide essential sanitary and sewer issues,
emergency preparedness, disaster assistance, visiting nurse services, and other types of primary health
programs. It became clear that the cost of multiplying public heakh to all cities and counties would be
too great, so the 1997 legislature decided to permit the consolidation of health services within a particular
area. Since the interlocal agreement with the health department provides the necessary functions, the City
of Laurel is not required to provide its own health officer and health services. Bud Johnson is a member
of the Board of Health, which has significant input as to how public health is administered in the specified
area. The goals of the department are to improve health care for the citizens and to avoid duplication of
costs and expenses by consolidating public health requirements. The agreement is functioning very well
with essentially no cost to the City of Laurel.
The original agreement with the health department included restaurant and grocery store inspections and
various other functions. Lil Anderson explained that the original interlocal agreement was approved in
1974. At that point, the health department was under the auspices of the county commissioners. In 1997,
the City-County Health Department was moved out from the auspices of the county and put in its own
structure. The Board of Health became responsible for the policies and operations of the health
department at that time.
Bud complimented Lil Anderson and her staff for their efficiency in the department and during the Board
of Health meetings.
The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary