HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 08.11.2003 ~iinutes
Public Works Committee
August 11, 2003 5:00 pm
Council Chambers
Members Present: Chairman Gay Easton Mark Mace
John Oakes Bill Staudinger
Dave Siljestrom
Others present: Steve Klotz Cheryll Lund
Eugene Tuka Ernie Freund
John Letcher
Minutes of the April 7, 2003 meeting were reviewed and approved by a motion from Mark Mace,
second by Dave Siljestrom.
Riverside Park Leases
Chairman Gay Easton gave a brief overview of the history of the park. The park was purchased from
Frank Platt on August 24, 1934 for $2,000. The park size then is the same size it is today,
approximately 20 acres. Shortly atter that it was leased to the Montana Relief Association Commission
(September 1934) for the building and operation on a transient camp. The existing cobble buildings
were then built. In the beginning there were 8 log cabins. Some of the original cabins ended up being
sold and placed in other parts of Laurel. In 1942 - 1945 the park was leased to the federal government
for a concentration camp to hold Italian prisoners. There was an electric fence around it. The Jaycee
Hall was the kitchen area of the prison. In 1946 the City took it back. Since then the Horseshoe Club
was added. The boat ramp was then added with money from Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Steve Klotz, Director of Public Works, spoke. In the past the City has simply renewed the leases. In
reviewing the leases it was decided that now is a good time to look at all of the options.
Chairman Easton stated that the park is not within the city limits, but is owned and supported by the City
of Laurel taxpayers, which puts the park in a unique situation and also causes controversy about what to
do with the park. Gay has done some research and estimates the park as being worth between $250,000
and $500,000.
Steve Klotz, Director of Public Works, gave four different options for the parkland.
1. Review the leases and find a lease that works for the city and the organizations. At this time the
parks are being leased for $1.00 per year for each organization.
2. Sell the properties for a fair price.
3. Contact the Historic Preservation Society and have the park buildings declared as historical
buildings.
4. Sell the park to the Conservation District.
not kept up we will lose them. He also states that anywhere you try to drill a well in the park you are
going to get water. He stated that the Historic Preservation society would be a way ofkecping the
buildings intact.
Chairman Easton stated that the ideas and opinions that come out of the meeting tonight will be taken to
a Council Workshop to help come up with a workable solution for Riverside Park.
Mr. Letcher stated that if they were going to have to drill a well they would like to negotiate the acreage
they would be responsible for irrigating.
Chairman Easton told Mr. Letcher that before they drill a well they need to contact the Department of
Environmental Quality.
Mark Mace clarified why this issue has come up. Last week during the Public Hearing for the proposed
Park Maintenance District there were many people concerned about maintaining a park that they are
unable to use because of an organizations exclusive use. This restricts citizens from using something
they are paying for. This is the same situation at Riverside Park where the different groups have
exclusive use. The people seem to have the feeling that the parks are not theirs to use.
Chairman Easton stated that he would keep the Clubs informed on what is happening with the leases.
Miscellaneous.
Bill Staudinger stated that he had a letter from MDOT stating that they were in favor of the plan
submitted for the bus parking.
Public Input.
Gene Tuka stated that he would like to be involved with the leases when they are reviewed because of
his knowledge of the park.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:08 pm
Respectfully submitted,
CherylFLund, Secretary