HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 08.17.1999 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
AUGUST 17, 1999 6:34 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Dirk Kroll Gary Temple
Ken Olson Bud Johnson
Bill Staudinger
OTHERS PRESENT:
V. Joe Leckie
Larry McCann
Mary Embleton
Rick Musson
Jim Stevens (6:41 p.m.)
Cal Cumin
Larry McCarm thanked the council for the Employee Appreciation Luncheon that was
given today. He received a positive response from the Public Works Department
employees.
Larry mentioned that the leak in the reservoir was found and patched, and the repairs cost
about $1,600.
Flushing of the hydrants will end this week, as the seasonal help will be leaving. Two-
thirds of the city has been done.
On Wednesday, August 18th, a 9:00 a.m. meeting is scheduled with an aide from Conrad
Bums' office regarding some available funds from the federal government's line item
budget. Larry encouraged the council members to attend if possible.
Rick Musson thanked the council for the employee luncheon.
The process for kiting a new dispatcher was completed on Monday, August 16th. There
were twelve applicants, and ten showed up for the interview process. Five were
dismissed during the testing process, and ~ve participated in the scenario interviews.
Cory Cutting was chosen for the relief dispatcher position. He has been a police reserve
for three years.
Dirk Kroll reported on the recent EMS meeting. The task force talked with the healthcare
professionals, emergency room doctors and surgeons, to see how the services are doing in
Billings. There were questions on the fragmentation of services in the county. Dirk has a
copy of the report put out by the Advanced Services Committee, which responds to the
Billings City Council and looks at eight-minute responses.
Dirk said that the parks and the cemetery look good. He thanked everyone for attending
the picnic and thanked Smokey for cooking. Dirk mentioned the good review concerning
the meeting with Scott Day that was in the paper. Dirk thanked Rick for the quick police
response at a disturbance near his house last weekend.
Ken Olson asked if there is any news on the grant for a resource officer. Kick said that
no information has been received regarding the grant. He mentioned that an officer is
being sent to school on the 23ra for resource education.
Bill Staudinger thanked Larry for installing the two cement posts in the handicap ramp
south of the high school. The posts will prevent traffic from going up the handicap ramp.
Bill expressed concern that the newly planted grass near the shelter in Thomson Park has
been tom up.
Jim Stevens and Rick Musson met with the superintendent of the Laurel School District
last week. The school district is in the process of upgrading their policies and
procedures, and Jim and Rick offered their expertise. The superintendent is talking about
doing tabletop exercises for his administrators and school personnel, and the chiefs
offered their expertise in mitigating incidences.
Jim briefed the council on the request for assistance from Park City for their wild land
fire. The LVFD assisted in order to contain the fire at Park City. The Rimrock Vista area
is an area of fire concern, and we are working with Ron Kessler to install a 10,000-gallon
tank for a water supply in that area.
Mary Embleton reported on the budget process. We will not receive a certified levy until
some time in September. She set up some special revenue funds for the new grants and
for the planning board. She will be getting assistance from Norm Klein of the
Department of Commerce to set the funds up properly. Mary moved the airport from a
special revenue fund to an agency fund.
The general fund is almost balanced. Letters were sent out to the department heads this
week and should be returned by Friday, and the budget should be completed as far as
possible without the certified levy sometime next week.
There have been problems with the Y2K conversion of the computer system. The
Budget/Finance Committee recommended calls for bids for a new system to see what
options are available.
The Log Cabin Project is complete as far as the construction. Mary will send the
paperwork to the various channels necessary to get reimbursement for the project.
The Montana League convention is scheduled for September 22-24, and registration is
due August 25th.
A meeting with the CorpsLINK representative was held on August 15th. Many good
ideas were exchanged and a draft contract was presented.
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Joe Leckie explained the proposal for court services item on the agenda. He will discuss
some of the problems the court is having and the relationship that we currently have with
CorpsLINK during the council meeting.
Mayor Rodgers thanked Smokey, Ken, Dirk, Larry, Duke and Andy for helping with the
picnic. He expressed regret that he could not attend the picnic as he had planned. He
mentioned that Gay Easton had planned to be at the picnic, too.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
City Council Secretary