HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 02.13.2007PRESENT:
Perry Asher
Larry McCann
Rick Musson
MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2007 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Mary Embleton
Jan Faught
Steve Klotz
Gay Easton
Mayor Ken Olson
Mark Richards
Council Workshou Aeenda - February 13. 2007
Chris Brink. Beartooth RC&D: Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding provides funding for services the RC&D provides to the city.
Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Service:
· Appointments of Jason Ness and Tryn Benzing
Jan stated that Jason Ness has returned from active duty and wants to be reappointed as an ambulance
attendant. Tryn Benzing worked for a paid service in Maine.
Council Discussion: City's abatement and zoning enforcement authority reoarding the old asphalt plant.
Steve stated that letters have been sent and the immediate dangers have been abated. The windows in
the Blue Bell Antiques building have bean boarded up and another building will be demolished. Ken
Miller has expressed concern about the buildings around the elevator. Dean Rankin has a buyer for the
buildings. Gary Colley will also attend the council workshop tonight.
Steve explained that Gary has to do the building department requirements in order for the city to keep
its certification. It is difficult to weigh the need for fire inspections versus code enforcement duties.
Another employee is needed to keep up with code enforcement needs.
Clerk/Treasurer:
· Resolution - Beartooth RC&D, Memorandum of Understanding
The resolution is on the council workshop agenda.
· Resolution - MMIA Employee Benefit Program Representation
The contract and resolution are on the council workshop agenda.
· Resolutions - Insurance Transfers and Fund Transfers
Mary stated that the fund trm~sfers are not ready, as they are tied to the CIP. The insurance transfers are
the milled levies that will be transferred to the General Fund.
planning Board:
· Resolution - Canyon Creek Station Subdivision Preliminary Plat
Mark stated that the MDT worked out the lang-age in the SIA. Copies of the SIA will be distributed to
the council tonight.
Mark received a letter of request for a one-year extension for Govemors Subdivision. The request was
taken to the county commissioners, who told the developer that it was in Laurei's jurisdiction. Mayor
Department Head Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2007
Olson asked if there was urgency to present this tonight. Mark stated that it came to his attention today
and a letter is needed to grant the request.
Executive review:
· Appointment: CTEP Administrator
Mayor Olson stated that Polly was appointed as CTEP Administrator to take Cal's place and Mark
would be appointed to the position now. Perry and Mark had not discussed the appointment.
Mary questioned the appointment of the planning director to the position since most of CTEP involves
sidewalks, streets, and projects that pertain to the Public Works Department. She recommended that
Steve be appointed as the CTEP Administrator.
There was more discussion. Mayor Oison will remove the appointment from the agenda to review the
issue further.
Mary stated that the remainder of the CTEP monies for the East First Street project has not yet been
received.
· Resolution - Fencing for Neumann/Eiena Subdivision Booster Station
Mayor Olson will remove this item from the council workshop agenda, as he has not been able to
contact the developer regarding the issue.
· Capital Improvements Plan
Mayor Oison will remove the CIP from the agenda for further review. He has asked Perry and Mary to
complete additional work on the CIP by next Wednesday. The CIP will be presented at the council
workshop on February 27th and will be on the council agenda on March 6t~. The CIP is the funding
mechanism for the General Fund. The water, sewer, streets, and garbage funds will be reviewed later
and a capital expenditure program for equipment replacement will be developed.
· Maps (Ald~l~a Dickerson)
Mayor Oison stated that he did not know exactly what Aldarnian Dickerson wanted to discuss.
Additional layers are needed on the maps on the tables in the council chambers. Steve has requested the
PDF files from the county. There was discussion regarding the various options available for the maps.
Mayor Olson will ask the council which maps they prefer.
** Only $1 Store building (Ald~t~n Dickerson)
A walk through of the building is scheduled on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Scott Atwood, the real estate
agent, Steve, Gary, and some council members will attend the meeting. Mayor Olson stated that this is
the first step in a long process. The owner of the building has indicated that they would like the city to
own the building. Funding mechanisms, as well as some concerns, need to be reviewed carefully.
Perry spoke with Larry Tanglen about the building today. Perry told him that no decision has been
made but the city might be interested if it has the potential of alleviating space issues.
Gay mentioned some history regarding the land purchase for the FAP building.
Other items
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Departmeat Head Meeting Minute8 of February 13, 2007
There was discussion regarding the proposal by the City of Billings to build a water plant off$6th Street.
The issue was discussed at the recent joint meeting. Tom Benson, a Blllings Gazette reporter, contacted
Mayor Olson regarding Laurel's interest in this. Mayor Olson told him that it was just an exchange of
information. The issue will be placed on the March 13th council workshop.
Review ofdratt council agenda for February 20, 2007
· Public Hearing: Storm Water PER
The public hearing will be held at the council meeting on February 20th. Larry stated that he has had
very little input on this. Perry sent letters to the South Laurel District property owners regarding the
public hearing.
Department Reports:
Ambulance Service
· New ambulance
There was no discussion.
· Other issues
Jan does not receive e-mail fi.om Mary, Cindy, or the State. Her e-mail address has not been changed to
the new address. Larry stated that something is wrong with the server, as he does not receive e-mail
either. Perry asked the department heads to write down the problems and he will contact Bart Haskell.
All e-mail now goes through the city's server, and e-mail is received at the old and new addresses. A
blast e-mail needs to be sent to contact lists to inform them of the change in e-mail address. Jan's
computer still needs to be set up.
Jan stated that ENCODE installed a new vent in the floor in her office and the heat is working.
Twenty-two people attended an IV class last week. Volunteers are needed for the attendants to practice
starting an IV. Jan needs a place to store some temperature sensitive equipment. There was discussion
regarding changing the locks on the doors so ambulance personnel could have access to the room next
to the council chambers. Perry and Steve will review the issue.
Jan stated that the ambulance department received a request for services during the hill climbs in Blue
Creek this summer. Since this is out of the district, Jan told them it would not work. Some of the crew
members work there during the hill climbs. There was further discussion. Mayor Olson asked if there
are pmtocois for standbys outside the city's area, and Jan said that there are not. Mayor Olson said that
the issue could be reviewed if it detvxtidned that the level of service would not be detrimental to the
taxpayers. An acceptable protocol is needed in order for the city council to consider it.
City Attorney
There was no discussion.
City Council President
There was no discussion.
City Court
There was no discussion.
Clerk/Treasurer
· CIP Financing
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Departmeat Head Meeting Minutes of Fobmary 13, 2007
Mary stated that the CIP financing would be completed next week.
· Other Issues
None.
Fire Department
There was no discussion.
Library
There was no discussion.
Planning, Department
· Subdivision Application Update
Mark stated that the Canyon Creek Station Subdivision preliminary plat is ready to go, and four other
subdivisions are being reviewed. He is trying to convince the applicants to submit things in a certain
timefi'ame. The Planning Board meeting was cancelled last week, as the applicants could not attend.
The Planning Board meeting was rescheduled for February 22~.
Mark has received no further contact from the individual that spoke regarding a new subdivision at the
council meeting on February 6a~.
Mark is working on the subdivision regulations. He stated that it is tough to control the time crunch
because of telephone calls and people that stop at his office.
· Impact Fee update
Mark has discussed impact fees with Gus Byrom and Tim Davis, who is associated with Montana Smart
Growth. New legislation is being reviewed. Mark also has contact with the Planning Director in
Bozeman. The City of Bozeman has prevailed on some litigation regarding impact fees.
· Other Issues
Mark has not used the city truck. Steve will remove the two-way radio fi.om Perry's track.
Police Depat hnent
Rick stated that, atter reviewing the February 6th council minutes, it was not listed that he attended the
recent meeting with Congressman Denny Rehberg. Mary explained that his name was not mentioned so
it was not listed in the minutes.
Rick has asked the police department employees to compile a list of questions regarding the four
proposed health insurance plans. There have been questions regarding tho plan with the Health Savings
Account. Mary stated that would have to be a negotiated item.
Rick gave a three-page list of surplus items to Mary. The list included several computers. There was
discussion regarding the hard drives and the proper procedure to delete information. The list also
included seized and impounded vehicles. There was discussion regarding the proper procedure and the
necessity to obtain titles. Further research needs to be done.
Rick stated that items are missing from the storage location and surveillance cameras would be helpful.
Public Utilities
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Departm~t Head Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2007
· Report on Trunk Main and associated issues
Lam/stated that the project was shut down for two days because of weather.
· Johnson Controls - Meter Replacement Project
Larry stated that the project is on track.
· Report on what's happening in Helena
Perry received a call from Larry Tanglen asking about Senator Kerns' bill for funding for the WWTP
project. Lar~ stated that congress is taking the money out of CDBG and the funds will come back
under a different control.
· Other
Larry is still waiting on the highway department's decision regarding a pipe burst or casing for that
portion of the trunk line project that goes under the interstate.
Mary mentioned some confusion regarding the proper channel of communication with the Johnson
Controls project. Training for the meter reading was originally scheduled at the beginning and end of
the process. Neptune contacted Kelly and informed her that training was scheduled for the end of May,
which is unacceptable. Mary contacted the project manager, who then contacted Neptune. There was
discussion regarding the contractor, the subcontractors, the crew, the proper channel of communication,
and the training schedule.
Public Works
· 8ta Avenue
Steve stated that the project is being redesigned.
· Other issues
Steve attended a boiler certification class last week, which is one of the requirements to obtain a boiler
license. A daily, weekly, and monthly log is required for a boiler operator. The license requirements
include attendance at the class, forty hours working under a licensed boiler operator, and completion of
a written exam. There was discussion regarding the boiler in the council chambers building. The JCl
contract will be reviewed regarding the boiler.
Mayor Olson
No discussion.
Administrative Assistant
There was discussion regarding how department heads want to be addressed at council meetings,
formality versus informality, and the use of the nameplates at all council meetings. Mayor Olson stated
that the council workshops could be informal and the council meetings should be formal Mary stated
that formality can help keep control when a situation becomes heated.
· Vehicle Use Policy
Larry stated that MMIA is trying to shift the responsibility with the added verbiage. Rick stated that it
can be so strict that it is unenforceable.
· RFP for Engineering Services
There was no discussion.
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DeparUnent Head Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2007
* Other Issues
There was no discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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