HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 04.08.2003 MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
APRIL 8, 2003 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Bud
Johnson at 6:30 p.m. on April 8, 2003.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
_x_ Lauren Van Roekel _x_ Doug Poehls
x Ken Olson x Mark Mace
_x_ Gay Easton _x_ Daniel Dart
x Dan Mears x John Oakes
OTHERS PRESENT:
Carl Anderson
Alan Hulse
John Craig
MMIA
· 1996 - MMIA - self insurance pool
· Now non-profit corporation owned by municipalities
· Three types of insurance:
o Worker's compensation
· Benefits set by legislature
· Exclusive remedy
o Liability
· Third party civil insurance
o Property
· 1998 - 30 communities
· 2003 - 94 communities
· 118 cities and towns insured today
· Current property market is a difficult business at the moment.
· Liability
o Exposure is unavoidable
o Take reasonable steps to mitigate exposure
o People have heightened expectation of government
· Claim must prove:
o Negligence
o Duty owed
o Was duty breached?
o Was that the cause?
o Prove damages
· Trends in elected bodies - employment practices
Council Workshop Minutes of April 8, 2003
· Human resource law is very specialized
· Land use issues
· Difficult issues
· Council somewhat sits as jury
o Approach with open mind
o Consider facts (evidence), then make decision
· Exparte
o Response by council
o If you said it, then disclose it.
o Encourage all comments to be brought to public forum
o Personnel issues should generally be directed to the Mayor.
o If asked if you had a conversation, what is your answer?
o Can you defend your actions?
· Sidewalk grinder is one possible method to approach sidewalk problems.
Change Order #4 for the Water Treatment Plant - Larry,
Bruce Rost - COP Construction; Carl Anderson - HKM Engineering
· Some abandoned sheet pile was discovered while placing the 24" gravity feed lines.
o The sheets lay across the pipe trench at the same elevation as the pipe and prevent
the ability to completely seal river waters from the pipe cofferdam.
o The cofferdam sheets can only be driven to the elevation of the abandoned sheets,
thus allowing river waters to continue flowing beneath the sheets.
o The sheets will also need to be cut away to place the pipe.
· Contract price increase of $23,315.76
· Work directive - either owner request or unforeseen condition identifying cost
· Change order - addendum to contract
Engineering Services Agreement extension for HKM - Larry · Bidding contractors indicated project time too short.
· Modify to accommodate longer time.
Use of contingency funds for new generator - Larry. · $216,000 in loan contingency fund
· $280,000 cost of generator
· Cenex is considering participation in the generator cost.
· Alternate power source routing explained also
· Do we have an uninsured exposure in the water situation?
· Loss of supply
· "Reasonableness" is the standard.
Resolution to sign an agreement with Montana Engineering and Administration (ME&A -
Pat Murtaugh) for a Wastewater Facilities Grant (CDBG) for $500,000 - Larrv
· Housing grant ($500,000) available to fund wastewater improvements.
· Normal grant process is being supplemented with this grant opportunity.
Council Workshop Minutes of April 8, 2003
· The low-income survey we completed earlier is being used as a foundation for this
application.
· This puts us in the grant cycle.
Appointment - Rick Musson, Chief of Police
· Appointment on April 15th council agenda
Agenda discussion
· No discussion
Announcements
· Spaghetti Dinner at the Laurel Senior Center on Thursday, April l0th, from 5:00 to 6:30
p.m.
Other items
· No discussion
The council workshop adjoumed at 9:00 p.m.
Bud Joh]son, Mayor