HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 01.19.1999 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
January 19, 1999 6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Dirk Kroll Bud Johnson
Ken Olson Miles Walton
Gay Easton Norman Orr
OTHERS PRESENT:
V. Joe Leckie
Larry McCann
Cai Cumin
Rick Musson
Jim Stevens
Bud Johnson thanked Norm Orr for preparing the breakfast for the retreat on Saturday
morning.
Dirk Kroll congratulated Larry McCann on receiving the Public Official of the Year
Award at the Chamber of Commerce banquet held on Monday night.
Miles Walton questioned Cai Cumin as to why there are so many billboards along the
highway. The municipal code addresses the posting of billboards within the city, but
Miles wondered what the procedure would be out of the city. Cal will check to see what
needs to be done.
Mayor Rodgers congratulated Larry McCann on receiving the Public Official of the Year
Award and Rick Musson on receiving the Boss of the Year Award at the banquet.
Cai Cumin applied to the Montana Department of Transportation and the Federal
Highways Admirdstration for a Transportation Grant under a new funding program. The
focus of the grant is to fund the analysis of how vehicular transportation systems
adversely impact a community and what to do about it. Laurel is adversely affected by
the north-south highway, Main Street, the interstate highway, the railroad system, the
present interchange, and the new interchange that is being built west of Billings. All of
these have interesting implications on the quality of life and how the community of
Laurel grows. The downtown group is struggling with defining where downtown is
located, mainly because of the effect the transportation system has had on the downtown
area. Five hundred communities throughout the United States applied for the grant and
only forty-nine slots were available. The City of Laurel has been approved for full
application for the $85,000 grant. The information packet should be arriving soon, and
Cai will complete the required paperwork. The application process for this grant will be
quite extensive.
Dirk Kroll questioned the issue of manufactured~-housing that was discussed at the City-
County Planning Board meeting on January 14th. Cai stated that a situation occurred
recently in an old neighborhood where someone wanted to put in a new manufactured
home. Cai told him that he could not do so, but he feels that the house would have been
of comparable value to the existing homes in that neighborhood. Cal told him to go to
the Board of Adjustments regarding the situation.
There was further discussion regarding the information that was distributed at the City-
County Planning Board meeting on January 14t~.
Rick Musson informed the council that Sherd Fenner contacted him recently. She
wanted him to assure her of the town's safety and she wants answers regarding her
daughter's homicide. About forty people are planning to have a rally outside the Police
Department within the next two weeks to confront the Police Department and ask for
answers about the murder. Rick wants to hold a town meeting on Tuesday, January 26th,
at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers. Officer Guy and two detectives will be present to
answer questions.
Larry McCann distributed a public works report. A meeting has been set for February
l0th or 11th with Ms. Debbie Bray, an engineer from the Army Corp of Engineers. The
goal for the meeting is to receive direction for the engineering problem at the intake and
for the funding issues that will be encountered.
At the Public Utilities meeting on January 11th, Larry neglected to include the repair of
the road on the north side of the water plant in the change order.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
City Council Secretary