HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Head Meetings Minutes 10.23.2007 MINUTES
DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING
OCTOBER 23, 2007 3:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PRESENT:
Gay Easton
Rick Musson
Nancy Rohde
Jan Faught
James Caniglia
Kurt Markegard
Since Mayor Olson could not attend the department head meeting, Gay Easton led the meeting.
Draft Council Workshoo Aaenda - October 30, 2007
~artment:
· Resolution - State and Local Task Force Agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration
Denver Field Division
Rick stated that the agreement would continue the city's involvement in the Drug Enforcement Task
Force. He stated that this is a very successful program. The resolution will be on the council workshop
agenda on October 30t~.
Gay asked Rick to report on the IACP Conference in New Orleans. Rick stated that he attended several
excellent classes and interacted with other chiefs of police.
Public Works Department:
· Ordinance - Ordinance deleting a section of the "Laurel Vehicles and Traffic ordinance"
located at Chapter 10 of the Laurel Municipal Code
Kurt is working with the school district to add parking zones at other schools to the ordinance.
· Resolution - Agreement with MDT for Main Street from 3~a to 8th Avenue
· Resolution - Agreement with MDT for 8a' Avenue from West 12th to West 9th
Kurt stated that these two agreements are for work on the streets.
· Resolution - Agreement with MDT for West 12~a Street from 5th to 8z Avenue
· Resolution - Agreement with MDT for Maryland Lane from Washington to 8t~ Avenue North
Kurt stated that these two agreements are for chip sealing projects. Since temperatures above 60
degrees are needed for chip sealing, the projects probably will not get done until next spring.
Planning Board:
· Ordinance- Annexations
James stated that the annexation of Schessler Park and the proposed change in height restrictions for
conmaunity commercial will be on the next Planning Board agenda~ James would like minor
subdivisions to be presented to the city council without having to go to the Planning Board first.
Clerk/Treasurer:
· Quarterly Budget Report
Mary will present the report at the council workshop on October 30t~. Copies were distributed to the
council members.
D~artmeat Head Me~ing Minu~ of Octol~r 23, 2007
Executive review'
* Ordinance - Establishing urban renewal plan and TIF District
Gay stated that the council would discuss the issue further at the council workshop.
· Ordinance - City of Laurel track route
· Resolution - Establishing the City of Laurel truck route
Kurt stated that one individual claims there are conflicts in the draft truck route. Nancy stated that Sam
is working on the truck route issue.
· Resolution - Job Description for the Director of Public Works
There was no discussion.
· Resolution - Petition for Redcterudnation to Amend Certification of Exclusive Representative
of Certain Bargaining Units at the City of Laurol
The resolution is for the change in the union.
· Appointments:
o Building Official - Gary Colley
Imerviews are in pmgress for the code enforcement inspector position.
o Laurel Airport Authority- to fill term ending June 30, 2012
There was no discussion.
· Council Issues:
o Maintenance of walkway by bridge on Valley Drive (Chuck Dickerson)
Gay stated that the walkway is in Murray Park. The county planned to put in a new bridge last fall, but
the project bus not been done. Gay stated that the city needs to get on the county's agenda to discuss
this issue.
· Review ofdrat~ council agenda for November 6, 2007
o Ordinance No. O07-10: Ordinance amending certain sections of the "Laurel Zoning
Ordinance" located at Chapter 17 of the Laurel Municipal Code. Second reading. (First
reading - 09/18/2007; PH - 10/16/2007)
There was no discussion.
De artment Re orts:
Ambulance Service
Jan stated that Wal-Mart will present checks to the fire, ambulance, and police departments tomorrow
morning. The Laurel YMCA will also receive a check. On Saturday, Wal-Mart will present a check to
the Safe Kids Coalition. Jan mentioned that there will be a safety seat check at Wal-Mart on Saturday,
which will be the final test for six Laurel Ambulance attendants. Safe Kids Coalition wants to make
Laurel a fitting station for safety seats.
· AMR contract discussion
Jan stated that there is no news on the AMR contract, and she thinks there will be no further response.
Jan mentioned that the power steering was recently fixed on the new ambulance and there are some
problems with the brakes now.
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D~m-'anent I-Ie~d Meeting Minutes of October 23, 2007
Cit Council President
There was no discussion.
Clerk/Treasurer
· Quarterly Budget Report - October 30~
There was no discussion.
Fire
· Tender truck
· Cenex contract update
· USDA grant/loan update
o Facility plan
o Brush truck
Scott is in New Orleans at a conference this week. There was no discussion.
· Parking lot progress
Kurt stated that the contract with Engineering, Inc. has been signed. The engineers have started
designing the project and are optimistic about completing it within the next couple weeks. Kurt stated
that the city will not have to go out for bids for the project since it will be under $25,000. Quotes will
be requested for the project.
Police D artment
· Dispatcher hiring progress
Rick stated that the background check has been done and the drug test will be completed on the
prospective employee. The individual has been a dispatcher in Roundup for five years.
· Update on code enforcement position
Rick, Kurt, and Gary interviewed four applicants on Monday and will interview three applicants on
Wednesday. The committee plans to have an answer for the mayor tomorrow.
Public Utilities
· Report on fire hydrants at Wood's Powr-Grip
Kurt stated that the fire hydrants should be mapped out in the next couple weeks in order to present the
prices for the materials to the Budget/Finance Committee on November 6t~.
· Update on water line in Sheets Subdivision
Kurt received the final information on the dedication of tho alley. He got two quotes for prices on water
line and valves for the project. Since one company does not have the items in stock, Kurt will
recommend purchasing the supplies from Northwest Pipe. Mr. Milliron is ready to do the project.
· Retention ponds
Kurt contacted the Department of Agriculture about the mosquito abatement. Marvin Brown will have
to maintain the park at Iron Horse Station Subdivision. Kurt asked Engineering, Inc. for the park master
plan for Iron Horse, but the engineers have not responded.
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Deparlme~t Head Meeting Minutes of October 23, 2007
Kurt stated that Fry Bwthers replaced the water meters in the city. There have been questions regarding
how many meters were not insulated. A letter will be sent to the mobile home owners to remind them
to make sure that the meters and water lines are properly insuhted before winter.
Kurt stated that the city received notification that it is in violation ofpemdt because a fee that was due
in July has not been paid. He called DEQ today and is trying to resolve the issue.
The city is cleaning out the Laurel Drain on 8th Avenue and 7t~ Street today because of concorns that the
ditch is not flowing properly. Paul Thomae approached the city about installing 18-inch pipe. This is
only one-half ora fight-of-way, and the other half is in a private yard.
Public Works
· Report on progress with South Laurel Business SID
· Report on Main Street, 3ra to 8t~
A meeting is scheduled with Great West Engineering today at 4:30 p.m. regarding these issues.
· Update on staffing
Kurt stated that there are two openings: Utility Worker II and Maintenance II. If the union bid closes on
Wednesday without an applicant, ads will be placed in the Billings Gazette (Sunday) and the Laurel
Outlook (Wednesday).
· Update on survey line on 13th Street
Kurt stated that there is a waiver of protest for curb, gutter, and street improvements. He has tried to
contact Craig Reeder regarding paying for the engineering. If the pmpeay owners reach an agreement,
the city will not be involved. If the property owners do not reach an agreement, the city will go forward
with an SID for this issue.
The crow has been patching the avenues on the east side of the city. Southeast 4t~ Street was patched
today prior to Wal-Mart's opening tomorrow. The crew is busy cleaning curbs, gutters, and culverts.
Ads for Curbside and Alley Cleanup Week will be published twice. Branches must be cut and bundled
and other items must be bagged. Appliances will not be accepted.
Kurt explained that he has two years left to get the required credits for the Department of Agriculture's
certification for spraying. He will attend a continuing education class on Friday.
The Public Works Department did not have a staff meeting on Monday because of a meeting with Wal-
Mart's civil engineer. The city issued Wal-Mart a tet~orary certificate of occupancy until the backup
generator for the litt station is completed in November. A punch list of items that needs to be done was
given to Wal-Mart. Them are issues with the right-of-way and maintenance of the ditch to the north.
Rick stated that Southeast 4~ Street, between South Washington Avenue and Bernhardt Road, is a very
narrow stree~ and should have "no parking" signage. He asked Nancy to check into whether an
ordinance is needed for this. Kurt questioned who enforces the speed limit on East Railroad Street.
Rick stated that ''no passing" signs and striping are needed on East Railroad. Kurt has requested that
Wal-Mart do the striping since it created the condition on the street.
City Planner
Sam is incorporating Janles' suggestions in the draft annexation ordinance.
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Depamae~t ~ M~ing Minutes of October 23, 2007
· Tony's Pawn Shop addition
There was no discussion.
· Update on tree nursery at 1500 Valley Drive
James stated that the individual has not called back. When he realized that his neighbors within 300
feet could voice their opinions, he decided to contact the neighbors. He has not submitted a variance
request yet.
· Update on alley vacations
James stated that Technical Edge will install the LaserFiche program on his computer today. This will
enable him to search for information regarding the alley vacations.
City Attorney
· Truck mute issue
· Draft annexation ordinance
Nancy stated that Sam is working on the annexation and truck mute issues.
· Cable TV
Nancy stated that Cable Montana is reviewing the agreement and has requested negotiation.
Mayor Olson
· Schedule of Fees and Charges
There was no discussion.
· Website progress
Rick stated that Jim Huertas is working on the website.
Kurt stated that the Pureless Wireless owners are dismantling the elevator building on Main Street and
have future plans for the area.
The meeting adjourned at 3:49 p.ro.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Allen
Council Secretary
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