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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 01.06.2004 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF I %UREL January 6; 2004 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 Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on January 6, 2004. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Lauren Van Roekel Doug Poehls (6:33 p.m.) Gay Easton Mark Mace Dan Mears Daniel Dart John Oakes COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Olson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Alderman Easton to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of December 16, 2003, as presented, seconded by Alderman Dart. Motion carried 6-0. Alderman Poehls an'ived at the council meeting at this time. SWEARING IN OF NEW OFFICERS: Judge Jean Kerr conducted the swearing in ceremony for the newly elected aldermen: Dick Fritzler, Mark Mace, Gay Easton, and John Oakes. Alderman Fritzler took his seat on the council. Mayor Olson expressed appreciation to Judge Kerr for performing the swearing in ceremony. He thanked the aldermen for their commitment to the City of Laurel for a four-year term on the council. CORRESPONDENCE: Cable Montana: Service Reports for November 2003. Tami Zundcl: Letter regarding a leash law. CONSENT ITEMS: · Claims for the month of December 2003 in the amount of $747,305.02. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk-Treasurer's Office. · Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 12/21/03 totaling $119,943.27. · Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record. --Bud~et/Finance Commi~ee minutes of December 1, 2003 were presented. --City-County Planning Board minutes of December 4, 2003 were presented. --Council Workshop minutes of December 30, 2003 were presented. · Resolutions. Resolution No. R04-01: A resolution accepting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities Grant award and authorizing the Mayor to sign any and all documents associated with said grant. Resolution No. 04-02: A resolution authorizing purchase of two repeater stations. Mayor Olson asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none. Council Minutes of January 6, 2004 Motion by Alderman Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by Alderman Mears. Motion carried 7-0.· CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: Yellowstone County DUI Task Force Award to Dustin Black Police Chief Rick Musson stated that every year the different agencies in Yellowstone County select an officer out of their employment to give an award for DUI enforcement. The Laurel Police Department has chosen to look at its officers by stats. Last year the dispatchers were honored for the work they do in the office, and that was really special for them. As citizens of Laurel, we should be really proud of officers like Dustin Black. Officer Black has been with the City of Laurel for two years, and he is very aggressive in his traffic enforcement and DUI enforcement. It takes people like that to make streets safe, and Dustin's hard work is appreciated. Chief Musson read part of a letter that Sergeant Zuhuski wrote to nominate Officer Black for the award: "I would like to take this time to nominate Officer Dustin Black for the DUI Task Force Merit Award. Officer Black has shown determination, as well as a professional interest in deterring DUI drivers in the City of Laurel. His hard work and willingness to aggressively enforce the DUI laws in Laurel make him a worthwhile recipient for this award." Chief Musson personally thanked Dustin for his hard work and stated that he deserves a lot of credit, as it is not easy to deal with drunk drivers. Chief Musson again thanked Dustin for his work and encouraged him to keep up the good work. Chief Musson read the plaque that Officer Black received: Yellowstone County DUI Task Force Award of Merit presented to Dustin Black, Laurel Police Department, for outstanding contributions to DUI awareness and enforcement. Mayor Olson thanked Chief Musson. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: · Confirmation of Appointments: None. Current Board/Commitlee vacancies Board of Appeals: three positions - two-year terms to beg~n immediately Board of Adjustments -- two positions to fill terms expiring 06/30/04 and 06/30/05 ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Alderman Poehls questioned why a garbage can was on top of a garbage truck on Saturday. Alderman Meats explained that sometimes the clips that keep the can from sliding all the way in come loose when the garbage can is lifted. If it slides all the way in, it is taken back to the shop and the backhoe is used to remove it. Alderman Mace mentioned that it would be a benefit for the city to show the snow routes and the plowing schedule because there were questions during the recent snowstorm. His neighbor questioned why the city had not plowed, and Alderman Mace told him that it would be done in an order. He suggested that it be published in the paper or posted as a free public service on the cable channel. Mayor Olson stated that it is posted on the bulletin board and residents who pay their water bill can view the snow routes. Mayor Olson said that it is a good idea to post it on the cable channel and he would see if that could be accomplished. Council Minutes of January 6, 2004 Alderman Meats suggested publishing the snow routes in the Laurel City Voice. Mayor Olson explained that the next issue might not be published during the period in which the snow routes are pertinent. He also explained that when something that large is included in the newsletter, it would probably take away opportunity for text from another department. The Opportunity to use the free public service from the cable company will be examined. Alderman Easton explained a recent problem with freezing at the water plant. The river froze completely upstream and created a dam without water at one point. When the dam broke loose, there was five feet of water coming over the top of the ice. However, it was deep enough so there was a source of Water. Mayor Olson stated that he Would be out of town from January 11th to January 15th. The council president will chair the council Workshop on January 13t~, Mayor Olson mentioned that the election of council president and council vice-president would be scheduled on the January 20th council agenda. · Review of Committee Minutes: None. · Review of Monthly Reports - Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Code Enforcement: None UNSCItEDULED MATTERS: Motion by Alderman Dart to force the council agenda to include the appointments of three ambulance attendants, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carried 7-0. Ambulance Attendants Mayor Olson appointed Aaron Harris, Rodney Lee, and Jason Ness as ambulance attendants for the Laurel Ambulance Service. Motion by Alderman Poehls to approve the appointments of Aaron Harris, Rodney Lee, and Jason Ness as ambulance attendants for the Laurel Ambulance Service, seconded by Alderman Mace. Motion carded 7-0. One letter of interest has been received for the vacant Ward 2 council seat. Advertisements were placed in the local newspaper on December 31st and January 7th. The Local Government Center Will attend the council work sessions on Saturday, January 17th and Saturday, January 24th. The sessions will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Super 8 Motel. Agendas for the work sessions were distributed in the council mailboxes. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Cindy Aller/f, Secretary Approved by the Mayor and passed bythe City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 20th day of January, 2004. Attest: (/Kenneth E. Olson, Jr,/ffvlayor Mary K.~mbleton, Clerk-Treasurer 3