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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 02.17.2015 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL February 17, 2015 A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Mark Mace at 6:30 p.m. on February 17, 2015. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Doug Poehls Bruce McGee Richard Herr Scot Stokes Bill Mountsier COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Chuck Dickerson Tom Nelson OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Chief Rick Musson Judge Jean Kerr Mayor Mace led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Mace asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 3, 2015, as presented, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CORRESPONDENCE: Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of January 8, 2015; Agenda for February 12, 2015. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: Council Member Poehls stated that he recently had a discussion with an individual that serves on the Little League Board concerning the Little League, American Legion and concession stand leases. PUBLIC HEARING. CONSENT ITEMS: • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of January 2015. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 02/01/2015 totaling $179,640.52. • Receiving the Committee/Board/Commission Reports into the Record. --Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of January 20, 2015 were presented. --Park Board minutes of January 22, 2015 were presented. --Emergency Services Committee minutes of January 26, 2015 were presented. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of February 3, 2015 were presented. --City-County Planning Board minutes of February 5, 2015 were presented. --Public Works Committee minutes of February 9, 2015 were presented. --Cemetery Commission minutes of February 10, 2015 were presented. Council Minutes of February 17,2015 --Council Workshop minutes of February 10, 2015 were presented. w-- The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): Corey Mcllvain, 903 6th Avenue, Mindy Guenthner, 1600 Pheasant Brook Drive, and Carrie Preller, 703 West 9t11 Street, attended the council meeting. Corey stated that he is the president of the Laurel Little League, Mindy is the vice-president, and Carrie is the secretary of the Laurel Dodgers. They wanted to express some concern and some thanks at the same time. Corey stated that they are working closely with Ms. Jensen on the lease agreements for the Little League fields and the large field that the Dodgers use. He expressed concern that that the council understands what they do for the city. The Little League takes care of almost 700 kids, regardless of financial status. The Dodgers have sixteen older kids in their program. Corey asked the council to recognize the value that the programs bring to the city. He asked for the council's consideration regarding the financial part of the lease agreements. The lease agreements have been $1.00 per year for many years, and now they are proposed to be $1,200 per year. Corey stated that Little League could do that but it would cause a hardship. He again asked the council to recognize what Little League and the Dodgers do for the city and the amount of effort and money the organizations invest in the fields that the public is allowed to use when they are not there. When they are not there, the teams are allowed to play makeup games, but they are the ones funding the facilities. Carrie stated that they have financial needs as organizations and they understand the city's financial needs. One of her concerns is the justification for the concession stand and why the city wants to have a lease agreement with a larger dollar figure. There were three line items on the form, one of which was new shingles for the concession stand. Carrie stated that the concession stand was not shingled last year. Another building was shingled last year, but the concession stand does need to be shingled. She is not sure where this information came from. A Dodger family shingled the roof last year and they are willing to do the concession stand at no cost to the city. Other parents do things on the fields with their own equipment, their own time and their own money. Another line item was electricity for the concession stand at $200 per month with a six-month Dodger season. According to the Little League board, the concession stand pays for the costs of electricity, not the city. The last line item was for wages of$22.14/hour for cleaning the concession restrooms five days a week. Carrie stated that the parents clean the restrooms before and after the games. They had asked the city to spray out the floor in the men's bathroom once a week. She does not know where these dollar figures came from, but it does concern her. She understands the need for the finances, and asked that the process be positive in order to work together and have a good relationship. Mayor Mace thanked them for coming to talk to the council. Monna Rae Adickes, 102 8th Avenue, represented the Friends of the Pool Committee, which has been working with the Park Board. The Friends of the Pool Committee hopes to form a non-profit within 30 to 60 days. They meet regularly with the Park Board to provide updates and will be making recommendations in hopes to keep the pool open for another year or possibly three, until they can come up with a better solution. Marvin Carter, 307 6th Avenue, also represented the Friends of the Pool Committee. At the recent Park Board meeting,the committee highly recommended not closing the pool at this time. He would hate to think of the possible mishaps if swimmers would go to the river and the Big Ditch because the pool was closed. Marvin also commented that, at the Park Board, he heard about the possibility that the stone buildings in Riverside Park would be torn down. The Historical Society told him that the buildings are not on the National Register but they are eligible to be registered as historic 2 Council Minutes of February 17,2015 buildings on the National Register. Marvin stated that the buildings have a tremendous history for this community in the early days of the CCC Camps. SCHEDULED MATTERS: • Confirmation of Appointments. Laurel Police Department: Mayor Mace appointed Jarred Anglin to the Laurel Police Department. Motion by Council Member Poehls to approve the Mayor's appointment of Jarred Anglin to the Laurel Police Department, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. Chief Musson and Jarred Anglin recited the Criminal Justice Code of Ethics together. Judge Jean Kerr conducted the swearing in ceremony for Jarred Anglin. Chief Musson pinned Jarred's pins on his uniform. Mayor Mace welcomed Jarred to the City of Laurel's Police Department. • Resolution No. R15-08: A resolution of the City Council approving the proposed large Grant Request Program as requested by the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency. Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve Resolution No. R15-08, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. • Resolution No. R15-09: A resolution accepting the bid and authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with The Good Earth Works Co. for the Cemetery Irrigation Project. Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R15-09, seconded by Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Poehls stated that the Emergency Services Committee will meet on Monday, February 23"1, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. Council Member Nelson will preside at the meeting. Council Member Stokes requested a discussion regarding the pool at the next council workshop. Council Member Mountsier commented that the new construction by the convenience store and Mabel's is a vast improvement over what was there previously. Council Member McGee mentioned that the Laurel Police Reserves has produced the two newest appointed police officers, provided security at the recent fire, covered all the football and basketball games with security, and has an ongoing academy. The Police Reserves have a new president and good things are coming out of it. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Mayor Mace stated that a special council meeting is scheduled next Tuesday, February 24th, at 6:15 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: 1114 ►tib. 3 Council Minutes of February 17,2015 Motion by Council Member McGee to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time,the meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Cindy Allen,' ouncil Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 3rd day of March, 2015. Mark A. Mace, Mayor Attest: Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 4