HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 08.13.2001MEMBERS PRE$£NT~
OTI-IERS PRESENT:
Leonard Christisom Roof
MINUTES
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
AUGUST 13, 2001 5:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Chairman Gay Easton
Gary Temple
Lorraine Craig
Marvin Carter
Mark Mace
Ed Steffans
John Oakes
Steve Klotz
Matra Trout
Jeanette Koch
Doctor - Exemption from LMC Contractor's License and Bond
Requirements.
This issue was resolved recently when Mr. Christison got a bond and purchased a business license.
First Baptist Church -Adiustment to sewer rate calc.lution.
The house at 905 West 4th Street is owned by First Baptist Church. A large family occupied the house
last winter. They had a high consumption and established a high sewer average of 22.00 cubic feet.
The large family moved out of the home in June and a smaller family moved into the house. The
church has asked for a reduction &the sewer average since the occupancy has changed.
The committee had a lengthy discussion regarding the issue. It is the policy of the city that the sewer
average remains with the home regardless of change of occupancy, and sewer averages are in effect
until the October l0th reading. The sewer charges for the November through April billings are
determined by the amount of water used, and the average of those six months determines the sewer rate
for the summer months.
Motion by Marvin Carter to stay with the present policy, seconded by Gary Temple. Motion carried.
Sanitation - Ownership of 90-~allon garbage containers.
The city owns all of the 300-gallon garbage containers that are placed in the alleys. In cemain areas
where the 300-gallon containers cannot be used, residents are required to purchase their own 90-gallon
container for $117 each. When this policy began, the city required a contractor to purchase the
container and assumed that the homeowner would leave the container for the next resident if the house
were sold. Contractors then started making the homeowner purchase the container, and the
homeowners have been taking the cans when the property is sg!d, Steve explained that the city wants
to take over the ownership and maintenance of the 90-gallon containers to ensure a fair and equal
policy for all residents. Residents that have already purchased the containers would still own them, but
any new containers would be provided by the City of Laurel.
Motion by Lorraine Craig to change the policy so the 90-gallon containers are purchased, owned, and
maintained by the City of Laurel and homeowners not be charged for the containers, seconded by
Marvin Carter. Motion carried, with Gary Temple voting nay.
Public Works Committee minutes of August 13,2001
Utilit3, Billing - outstandin~ sewer and ~arba~e charges.
Jeanette Koch provided lists of the outstanding sewer and garbage charges for the past fiscal year. The
outstanding sewer charges totaled $933.90, and the outstanding garbage charges totaled $1,466.29.
The outstanding garbage charges include charges of $840.30 for a property owner who has requested
the amount to be placed on the taxes. The City will write offthe $1,052.71 unpaid water charges for
the year.
Zoning- City of Laurel Sign Code.
Steve Klotz stated that the Public Works Department needed a recommendation from the committee on
a process to develop a sign code. The present sign code governs the mounting and safety of signs, but
other issues need to be addressed.
Gary Temple and John Oakes volunteered to work with Larry and Steve to develop a sign code.
Unscheduled matters.
The problems with junk vehicles and tall weeds were discussed.
A committee member has observed the summer help driving too fast and not complying with the seat
belt policy. Steve stated the policy and will address the issue again.
Steve stated that we temporarily lost suction on one of the pumps at the intake structure during the
weekend. A letter was faxed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today requesting emergency
approval to put the berm back in. COP Construction has been lined up to do the work. The low water
level and work being done upstream in the Yellowstone River are aggravating the problems.
The FEMA Grant reallocation isin process and the revised scope of work was recently submitted.
Engineering has been completed for replacing the sewer line in the 500 block of Colorado Avenue.
The sewer line is located in the middle of the street and serves the west side residents of Colorado. On
the east side, an undersized 4-inch line is run up along the curb and serves the east side residents and
the service lines are tied into that. The problem was discovered after one resident had repeated
problems with sewer backup. The engineer has estimated a cost of under $80,000 for the work, and
the money would need to be taken out of reserves.
Motion by Mark Mace to recommend to the council to get a firm bid and get the project done,
seconded by Gary Temple. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/7 ' /.
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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