Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 03.16.1999 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Mazch 16, 1999 6:30 P.M. Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Chuck Rodgers Dirk Kroll Ken Olson Miles Walton Gay Easton Norman On Bill Staudinger Bud Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: Larry McCann Rick Musson Mary Embleton Jim Stevens Don Hackmann Cal Cumin Cal Cumin reported that the Cabin Restoration Project bids have been received. Randy Hafer, High Plains Architects, recommended accepting the low bid of $48,500.00 from Rocky Mountain Homes, 2048 South Whitehorse Bench. Eggart Engineering and Construction submitted a bid for $52,794.85, and Seven Buffalo, Inc. submitted a bid for $56,375.00. Cal prepazed a letter for the mayor's signature to send to the state CTEP Engineering Coordinator for their concurrence. Once the state concurs with the recommendation, the bid can be awazded to Rocky Mountain Homes. Cal sent a letter to the state on January 5~` requesting some changes to the South Pond Project using the rest of our CTEP money. The changes reflect the master plan that was worked up with CTA and the Laurel Lions Club. The state did not respond to that letter, but when Cal contacted them by telephone, they agreed to the changes in the South Pond Project per the January 5~' letter. The total CTEP funds for the South Pond Project will be $114,941. Larry McCann reported that the crew is currently working at South Pond, and he wants to have them done this week. Three workers are building the berm. The Lions Club is planning to begin pumping the water out of South Pond on Mazch 29ei, and it should take a week to pump it down. They have some equipment lined up. The contractor for the Shiloh overpass is interested in possibly using the rock for that project. If so, the project would be completed in two days, and the water could be put back in. Larry checked on the insurance needs for the project. MMIA asked that we develop an insurance contract with the Lions Club, even though they aze volunteering the work. The Lions Club has decided to operate under their national policy, instead of a local policy. MMIA said that could be done if the policy names the City of Laurel as a named insured. Larry is taking that approach at the present time. Bids aze out to replace the sidewalk, curb and gutter in front of City Hall. Larry is trying to get the highway project to do the overlay from Main to the middle of First Avenue and on First Street from First Avenue to Third Avenue. If that is possible, the overlay project will be. started during the second week of April and should last three to four days. Rick Musson mentioned that two police officers aze still at school and Cheryl Marshall is still on sick leave with a back injury. Investigative work is continuing on the Fenner homicide. Jim Stevens reported that the Fire Department has had eleven call outs so faz this month. The test pit will be pumped out so that the wooden baffles can be replaced with fiberglass baffles. Cenex Refinery wants to use the test pit next week for confined space rescue training. Bob Dantic resigned from the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department after nine yeazs of service. Jim thanked Bob for his service and encouraged the council to thank him, too. Mayor Rodgers asked the council for recommendations to fill the vacancies on the Yellowstone Historical Preservation Board, the Boazd of Health, and the Yellowstone Conservation Board. Dirk Kroll thanked Dave Michael for his years of work on the Board of Health. Dirk reported that the Ambulance Study Committee is still in the formative stage and will possibly be discussed at the joint meeting on March 25a'. With the mayor's approval, Bud and Dirk would like to be on the committee. Dirk asked Larry about the construction work being done on the retaining wall at Asphalt Supply. Lary is working with the Highway Department to see if some engineering could be done on Fifth. If we get that rebuilt, Asphalt Supply has agreed that, if we give them grade mazkings for curb and gutter and sidewalk on their side of the street, they would probably install a cement retaining wall at the same time. This cut in the retaining berm is part of the four-inch water line project from last year. Dirk asked Cal about the billboazd sign situation. Cal sent a letter to Hall Outdoor Advertising, but he has not received a response. He was going to send them a certified return receipt letter, but Cheryll said they have been in to get some information, so he is going to wait to send another letter. Ken Olson mentioned that the Fourth of July meeting scheduled for Thursday, Mazch 25w, would conflict with the joint meeting scheduled for the same evening. The Fourth of July Committee meeting will be rescheduled for Thursday, April ls`, at 4:30 p.m. Bill Staudinger received a complaint about the old cars and school buses parked on Washington between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Bud clarified that this involves two separate residences, one on the east side of the street and another one on the northwest comer. Larry will look into the problem. Larry McCann met with Larry Robson, Corps of Engineers. He has a letter which includes the itinerary of the hydrologist who came here to look at the river a few weeks ago. One of the discussions while he was here had to do with the berms. Joe Davis, who has been concerned about the berm on his side of the river, has agreed to have it removed. Larry Robson told Larry to go ahead and do it. Larry McCann asked him to send a copy of the letter. This will not be a cheap effort, even though the gravel could be used for needed projects. It will be at least a $30,000 project. We have not yet had a response from the Omaha office of the Corps of Engineers. While he was here, the hydrologist indicated that we might do more damage by moving the rock than by leaving it where it is. If we move the rock, it has to be physically moved out of the riverbed. The rock could be used to build up the Sewer Plant road. Curb and gutter will be installed on Fifth Avenue by Railroad Street. The sand and the dirt has built up from Schessler's, making the road get narrower and narrower. There had previously been discussion regazding removing the bank of dirt. Larry would like to have curb and gutter installed down both sides of Railroad Street. The Highway Department is considering assisting in Fifth Avenue from Main to Railroad Street. The discussion they are having is regarding truck routes. When they get into doing Railroad Street, the whole length could probably be done. Crossings with lights and arms will be put in at Fourth and South First and lights will be installed on Railroad Street. The railroad is planning to do a lot of work on the crossings, so Lany would like to get Fifth Avenue built up before that takes place. The crossing arm on the east side presently sits in the driving lane. Miles suggested that making Railroad Stteet the truck route would alleviate some of the traffic on First Avenue South. Larry explained that a left tum lane onto Railroad might be mazked on First Avenue South, with the right hand lane being used for right turns and straight traffic. Larry agreed that a traffic light is needed at Railroad Street and First Avenue South, but it is difficult to coordinate it all. A traffic light could be installed near Town Pump at South Fourth Street and First Avenue South. Town Pump is now applying for a caz wash and some landscaping will be done. Signs designating which offices aze located in the buildings will be installed outside the City Hall doors soon. Signs forbidding firearms, weapons and explosives will be also be installed outside the City Hall doors. Cal Cumin said that a provision in state law allows the city to annex South Pond by notification and publication. When the site has been surveyed, we can proceed with annexation without doing the usual development and plan process. The meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m. Respectfullly subm~itte~d,~~ ~iti~ ~'c.(~C,~/~ti Cindy Allen City Council Secretary