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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 06.11.2001 MINUTES PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE JUNE 11, 2001 5:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Gay Easton Gary Temple Lorraine Craig Marvin Carter Mark Mace Dan Mears John Oakes OTHERS PRESENT: Larry McCann Jeanette Koch Steve Klotz Ken Olson (5:35) Leonard Diercks - Laurel Little League Ernest Freund - Rod and Gun Club James Knight - Laurel Rifle Club Terry Krum - Laurel Rifle Club Steve Krum - Laurel Rifle Club Peggy Miller - YMCA Jim Hill - YMCA Taylor Dollarhide; Travis Cossitt; Bruce Olson; Paul Meyers - YMCA Gary Temple opened the meeting. Motion ~.v Dan Mears to approve the Public Works Committee minutes of May 7, 2001, seconded by Mark Mace. Motion carried. Flood Mitieation Planning Grant Steve Klotz distributed copies of a letter received fi-om the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation regarding the FMAP Planning Gram Application. A Flood Mitigation Plan to lessen the floodplain hazards for the City &Laurel is necessary in order to receive any FEMA grants. After council approval, a public meeting would be scheduled to form a planning team for the plan. Motion by Gary Temple to submit the Flood Mitigation Plan for council approval, seconded by Mark Mace. Motion carried. The Nutting Drain Board has been set up. Dr. Benner is the chairman, and Chip Watts and George Fox are members. After the first meeting, they will probably elect other members. Sign code Steve Klotz distributed draf~ copies of the proposed City of Laurel Sign Code. The city presently operates under the Uniform Sign Code, which addresses the construction of signs. The draft document addresses types of signs and the placement areas. Steve asked the committee to review the Public Works comnutt¢¢ minutes of June 11,2001 document before the next committee meeting. Gary Temple volunteered to inform the Chamber of Commerce regarding the sign code draft before the next Public Works Committee meeting. Averaging water for commercial businesses The Laurel Liquor Store requested a water usage average during the summer months while they are watering their grass. An irrigation meter is usually installed for businesses instead of averaging the water. Larry explained that the owner does not want to install an irrigation meter because of the plumbing costs. The current water charges involved total less than $100 per year. Larry recommended that the committee should not approve averaging water for commercial businesses. Motion by Gary Temple to accept the recommendation of the Public Works Director not to allow water averaging for commercial businesses, seconded by Marvin Carter. Motion carried. B&B Restoration - garbaee comolaint This business, which is located behind the Laurel Outlook, complained that there was no garbage can directly behind the business. An extra can was recently set in the alley behind the business. YMCA- proposed use of tennis court Peggy Miller, Jim Hill, Taylor and Travis (teenage representatives) attended the meeting to represent the Laurel YMCA. The YMCA uses the high school parking lot as a skateboard park on weekends. They requested that the committee consider allowing the YMCA to use the two tennis courts to the west in Thomson Park as a temporary skateboard facility, leaving the tennis court to the east as a tennis court. The group requested usage of this area until a new skateboard park is completed at the proposed site. The YMCA would provide and purchase 10-foot high fencing to be installed around the area. An entrance would be placed at the north end, and paid and volunteer staff members would run the facility. The area is approximately 136x96 feet, providing 13,056 square feet for the skate park. The YMCA would provide the necessary insurance and fundralsing events would be held. Skateboard park hours would probably be from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with specified hours for certain events. The committee discussed the issue at length. Discussion included the use of the courts by the schools during the school year, the need to repair the courts, the expense to surface and maintain the courts, and the current minimal daily use of the courts. Motion by Gary Temple to accept the proposal of the YMCA to construct a skateboard park in the tennis court area, seconded by Mark Mace. Larry explained that the $20,000 soccer field grant is being used to apply for additional grants, particularly a FWP grant. Larry has requested letters from people who want the park and asked that they mention picnic tables, soccer, baseball, etc. A total of $80,000 could be received for the project through grants. The possibility exists that a slab of cement for the skate park could be included, and Public Works Committee minutes of June 11,2001 grant approval looks good. A four-page recreation questionnaire was mailed to 350 residents last week. Gay questioned if a time limit should be specified for use as a skateboard park so that the agreement was subject to review. No time limit was specified, although the YMCA anticipates the need to use the park for two summers. A vote was taken on the motion to accept the proposal. Motion carded. Larry explained that council approval of a resolution approving an agreement with the YMCA for the skateboard park would be necessary. Motion by Gary Temple to create a resolution for the council approving an agreement with the YMCA with a yearly review for the skateboard park, or to amend the pool agreement with the YMCA, seconded by Mark Mace. Motion carried. Ball club agreement Leonard Diercks, Laurel Little League, attended the meeting to find out what the City of Laurel is requesting for the agreement. Matt Erekson is presently working on agreements between the ball clubs and the City of Lanrel. Larry requested names of contact persons from each ball club in order to finalize the agreements. Larry explained that bleachers are a big issue with the insurance company. The City's insurance provides coverage of $1.5 million per event, and other organizations would be required to provide additional coverage of $2 million per event if bleachers are used. There was further discussion regarding scheduling issues for watering and mowing. Meetings will be set up with the clubs, Larry McCann, and the city attorney. Further information will be brought back to the committee at a future date. Riverside leases Weapons are also a big issue with the City's insurance company, and the clubs will be required to provide liability insurance coverage that is equal to the City's insurance. Larry stated that businesses cannot purchase liability insurance coverage in half-million dollar increments, so they would have to have $2 million coverage per event. There was discussion regarding who should lease the properties, as non-residents have requested the opportunity. Matt is reviewing suggestions that the organization's board members should be Laurel residents, the organization should be non-profit, and that 50% of an organization's membership are Laurel residents. Larry stated that there would be no more buildings in the cky's parks. Ernie Freund explained some concerns the Rod and Gun Club had about the lease. Gay stated that a meeting needed to be scheduled with the club members, Larry McCarm and the city attorney. Public Works Committee minutes of June 11, 2001 James Knight stated some concerns of the Laurel Rifle Club. The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Department and the Montana Highway Patrol send letters to the club requesting use of the firing range on certain dates. The club then approves and schedules the use for those organizations. Flowever, the Laurel Police Department has been unwilling to reqUest and schedule dates in advance. Mr. Knight emphasized that any group or organization cannot use the range without prior permission, and the police chief needed to understand that requirement. A liability issue is involved in this situation. John Oakes questioned why the clubs do not have their own grounds and facilities. Larry stated that liability issues, ground maintenance, and lease issues should be discussed with all the lease tenants and the agreements should be clear. Steve Krum, a member of the club, stated that he talked to Officer Wells regarding scheduling. He stated that the police chief contended that officers have the right to come and go there because it is city property. Gay stated that the club has the lease and that should be respected by the police department. Ken Olson stated that it is to the city's advantage to have citizen groups that are willing to maintain buildings and parks on a lease basis. Otherwise, the maintenance costs to the city would be excessive. Marvin Carter suggested sending a memo to the police department to emphasize the requirement to schedule through the Rifle Club. The mayor would need to inform the chief of the requirement. Motion by Marvin Carter to recommend that the council inform the Police Department that the Rifle Club is in charge of scheduling the firing range at Riverside Park, seconded by Dan Meats. Motion carried. Firemen's Park name change Gay Easton gave a summary of the history of Firemen's Park: "The original lease was in 1927 by the Northern Pacific Railroad. It was modified in 1937. The Log Cabin Museum was built in 1938. In 1988, the MRL put out another lease with the information booth and a city park. Past leases from the railroad recognized a museum, information center booth, planting of flowers, and fire department display, Christmas decorations, and the park to support the downtown merchants. This led to the name of the Firemen's Park. In 1944, volunteers put up the veteran's memorial alongside the Log Cabin and trees were dedicated west of the Log Cabin. In 1953, the fire department displays were started in the park, which again was where the name started. In 1955, the dedicated tree for Judge Chapman with the first police station in Laurel. The rest of the police stations in the past were in the policeman's car -- that was the only police station we had. The first station was over there and he took on the tourists as an information center and a police station. In 1962, the Laurel Rod and Gun Club beautification project, under Lois Markegard as President, was finalized. In 1967, the Old Timer's Club took over the Log Cabin, which we almost lost the lease on Public Works Corarmttee minutes of June 11, 2001 that because it was starting to deteriorate. In 1988, IVlRL gave us a lease for an information center and a city park. In 2000, the Log Cabin was remodeled with Department of Transportation funds and has a museum and information center. Mrs. Johnston was very supportive of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department and donated several hundreds of dollars toward the Christmas display and the Fourth of July program. I have talked to some of the old-timers of the Laurel Garden Club. They stated that Mrs. Johnston never had any disapproval with the name of the Firemen's Park and would not have been in favor of any name change. There are many, many faithful hard-working volunteers that could have equal recognition. I am not against the name of a park for Mrs. Johnston or any other well-deserving volunteer, but a park recognized for nearly fifty years without any problem needs a good viable reason for change. This park is leased land and cannot be dedicated as a city park." Gary Temple explained that the name change was initiated from the standpoint of bringing tourism to Laurel and to honor Elsie P. Johnston Memorial Park for her dedication to the community. Gay further stated that he could see no valuable reason to consider a name change for Firemen's Park. Motion ~ to leave the name Firemen's Park as it is due to the history of the park, seconded by Lorraine Craig. Motion carried. Unscheduled. Meeting with Representative Rehberg's Office Larry met with Representative Rehberg's office regarding the intake problem and drought situation. A public meeting regarding the intake problem has been scheduled for June 25th at 1:30 p.m. in the old council chambers. Randy Vogel, the state director for Dennis Rehberg, will be the representative at the meeting. Fox Water Service - second water fill pipe When Fox Water Service completes installation of a second water fill pipe, the City of Laurel will close the fill station on 1~t Street. The city is in competition with private business by having the water fill station open, and the station needs repairs and upgrades. Fox Water has been informed of state and federal chemical requirements for water. The committee discussed water rationing because of the drought conditions. Larry stated that some water conservation issues were given to the Laurel Outlook for publication. State Firefi ghter' s Convention Approximately 250 firemen will be in Laurel on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the State Firefighter's Convention. Public Works Committee minutes of June 11,2001 Street repair Marvin Carter asked regarding plans to repair the streets in the city. Larry explained that repairs on South 4th were star~ed this week, and the locations of ten old water leaks would be repaired soon. Repairing culverts will then be the next project. Requests for proposals for the capital improvements plan are due on Friday, June 22nd and will be opened on Monday, June 25ta. Wastewater study bids are also due on June 22nd. Dick Franks - Disputed water bill charges On April 11th, Dice Franks requested the water to be shut offat one of his rentals. However, the curb box could not be shut off, and the account was then put in his name. He received a bill for $58.07 for water, sewer and garbage, and water consumption of two-tenths ora hundred cubic feet was recorded on the meter. New renters moved in on May 1a, and the account is now in their name. Dick did not agree with the charges, since he had requested a shut off The committee discussed the issue at length. Motion by John Oakes to deny the request to waive the bill. There was no second to the motion. Motion by Mary Carter to waive the charges, seconded by Dan Mears. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen Council Secretary 6