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John E. Johnson, Mayor
City of Laurel
PO Box 10
Laurel, MT 59044
February 28, 2003
RE: Strategy Meeting
Laurel Water Intake Project
Dear Mayor Johnson:
I'm writing to congratulate you and your staff on the successful planning and execution
of the emergency water intake project. You didn't have nearly the time to act on this
emergency as I had to get off this follow-up letter! You'll note, however, this letter is
primarily driven by bureaucratic administrative requirements, as opposed to your
situation driven' largely by Mother Nature.
A program, Financial and Managerial Assistance, administered by the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality, was drawn upon to support ray travel and brief
participation in your project. I hope there is some recognition of the fact that some
assistance is forthcoming from the same state agencies that have the regulatory role as
well My day in Laurel with you and your staff was, in my opinion, well spent. We,
collectively, came up with a plan, approach, and direction that made sense and got the
job done. I learned from the experience. Several things really impressed me:
The fiscal responsibility of the Council and staff that provided a financial
cushion many Montana communities simply would not have if faced with a
similar eraergency.
b)
The fact that the Council and staffwere already planning for a permanent
solution to the long-standing water intake problem before shiffing river
currents created the emergency.
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c)
The excellent working arrangement between staff, Mayor and Council,
which led to a logical and agreeable solution to what could have been a
major city administration and community strain.
d)
The availability of state-controlled Iow-interest loan funds demonstrates the
excellent rapport your staffhas gained with the SKF program
administrators, and the leadership displayed in earning an excellent high
credit rating with the state funding agencies.
The above are attributes that I regrettably do not get to recognize all that often. I hope
fl~e citizens of Laurel appreciate that, as well. Please give my regards to Mary Embleton
and Larry McCann, and thank them for their warm reception and fine briefing On the
situation at hand. Again, congratulations!
Sincerely,
William E. Leonard
Rural Development Specialist
P.S. The orderly and expeditious dispatch of business at hand, during the City Council
meting, was likewise impressive.