HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 11.16.1999MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
NOVEMBER 16, 1999 6:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Bud Johnson Gary Temple
Ken Olson Miles Walton
Gay Easton Norman Orr
Bill Staudinger
OTHERS PRESENT: V. Joe Leckie Rick Musson
Lary McCann Jim Stevens
Mary Embleton Tan Faught
Cal Cumin
Mary Embleton explained that the Clerk-Treasurer Financial Statements for October were not
complete due to computer problems. Black Mountain Softwaze is scheduled to be here on Wednesday,
November 17, 1999, to correct some of the networking problems. The utility billing conversion has
been completed and the cash receipt machine has been installed. Mazy anticipates that the staff will be
comfortable with the new system by the end of this calendaz year.
Gay Easton welcomed the mayor back to the council meeting. Mayor Rodgers thanked Gay for taking
over for him during his absence.
Gary Temple and Miles Walton also welcomed the mayor back.
Bud Johnson stated that the Planning Review Committee is considering ways to implement long-range
planning.
Mayor Rodgers informed the council that a tour of the various. City of Laurel facilities has been
scheduled for Tuesday, November 30a', for the two new council members. Those interested in
attending should meet at City Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Mayor Rodgers is planning to schedule another workshop with Ken Weaver for sometime after the
first of the year.
Rick Musson stated that 33 applications have been received for the police officer position, and eleven
of those applicants are already POST certified. Testing is scheduled for Monday, November 22"a
Cal Cumin explained the item agenda for a request for annexation by William Broyles. The request
from Mr. Broyles was for a variance of city policy requiring at least a city block for annexation. He
was only asking for council permission to apply for less than a city block and then he would complete
the required annexation process.
Cal stated that the telecommunications towers ordinance was discussed six months ago but was not
placed on an agenda. This is basically the same ordinance passed by the City of Billings, and a public
City Council Committee of the Whole minutes of November 16, 1999
hearing needs to be set for this ordinance. Since the ordinance had not been properly prepared, it will
be placed on the next agenda.
Jim Stevens said that the Fire Department would be setting up their Christmas displays on November
28`h' and the displays will be lit up on December 5th.
Jan Fought encouraged the council to inspect and test drive the new ambulance that is presently sitting
at Auto Trim Design. This ambulance is one of two demos in this area, but the other one did not meet
our needs as well. Since this ambulance did not have everything that was needed, Jan signed an
agreement to have it brought up to our needs and to have it discounted $3,800. This ambulance is on
hold until November 24`h.
Larry McCann mentioned that the work at South Pond is almost complete until next spring. The
property will be fenced off as soon as the Lions Club is finished with their work. The bathroom, the
lawn and the sprinkler system will be completed next spring.
The cemetery building is 75% completed. The cost to rebuild it was $62,450 and the insurance paid
$57,306. Larry has located a used backhoe to replace the damaged backhoe. The insurance company
wanted to repair the old backhoe at a cost of $26,557, but the company would not guarantee the
backhoe after repair. Anew lawnmower, costing $8,400, will be purchased to replace the damaged
one.
Interviews are scheduled for Thursday, November 18th, for the Maintenance I position. The interview
committee will consist of Larry, Duke Nieskens, Andy Loebe, Gay Easton, Bill Staudinger and Mayor
Rodgers.
The Project Impact Grant was awarded to Yellowstone County.. An educational program regazding
this grant is scheduled for December 12-16 in Washington, D.C. Jim Kraft will be attending the
training session and has strongly recommended that the City of Laurel send a representative. Larry
further explained this during the council meeting under unscheduled matters.
Larry explained that Town Pump is starting to comply with the regulations of the City of Laurel for
their remodeling plans. Larry has instructed Steve Klotz to inform Town Pump to submit only
engineer-stamped plans for the city's consideration.
Mayor Rodgers took out an ad in the Laurel Outlook to congratulate the Laurel Locomotives on their
State Football Championship. The ad, which listed the city council members, cost $120, and he
mentioned that any council members could contribute to the expense of the ad if they so desired. Gary
Temple suggested that the ad should specify that it was paid for by members of the city council and not
by the City of Laurel to avoid misinterpretation by any constituents.
The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m
Respectfully submitted,
~, ~~,__.
Cindy Allen
City Council Secretary
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