HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole Minutes 09.01.1998 MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
September 1, 1998 6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers
MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Dirk Kroll Miles Walton
Ken Olson Norman Orr
Gay Easton Bud Johnson
Bill Staudinger
V. Joe Leckie
Cai Cumin
Mike Zuhoski
Don Hackmann
Rick Musson
Miles Walton reported that the county has approved Sections 27 & 28 as part of the
LUFSA area. A contract will be drawn up and presented to the Fire Committee soon.
Miles commented that signage is lacking around some of the project holes. The mayor
said that Larry McCann is addressing the problem with the contractors.
Norm Orr mentioned that the portion of Railroad Street that was recently repaved is
sinking.
Ken Olson informed the council that the YMCA contacted the Park Committee to request
the use of a park for flag football. The committee decided to let them use Nutting Park.
The YMCA will have ar~ organizational meeting in the outfield of the Legion Field.
Nutting Park will be painted for a flag football field. The grass will die when it no longer
has available sunlight, but will return to normal when it is cut next year. The flag
football program is geared for third and fourth graders and will include children from
Park City, Joliet and the surrounding areas.
Gay Easton reported on the recent joint meeting with the County Commissioners and the
City of Billings, as well as the Town Meeting that was held on September 1st. He
explained about the proposed space center for Hardin that would employ 1,000 people.
Gay commented on the ribbon cutting at the Shiloh interchange and the impact that the
interchange will have on Laurel. He feels that everything is coming around us but we
have not done adequate planning for the future. Gay said that there are many
knowledgeable people and various grants available through the U.S. Department of
Agriculture that the city should use to help in planning improvements for our downtown
district and other projects. The development of roads outside the city will affect us if we
do not have a better plan to deal with our traffic problems.
Cai Cumin said that we need to organize a task force of downtown business people to
inventory mapping systems. Gay expressed concern that small industries will not come
to Laurel if some of the current problems are not addressed.
Ken Olson recently spoke with Mr. Kennedy to express his concern that so much time is
spent on the legislative end of the agenda. Mr. Kennedy reassured him that the topics of
discussion would return to the current problems after this legislative session is over.
Mayor Rodgers encouraged the council to give their support in any way possible.
Bill asked if there Would be a fall clean-up time this year. The mayor said that we
usually do and that Andy Loebe has been working to get rid of the piles in the alleys.
Larry McCann reported that we are about one-third of the way across South First Avenue
with the water line. The rest of the south side is finished. We are waiting for the bacteria
test on that 60 feet of line. After the test is done, we will be supplying water to the city
through the south side of Fifth Avenue. The costs to totally pave Railroad Street were
too high, so we will patch the places where the trench was cut. The plant project is
progressing and they expect to bury the three 24-inch lines next week. The intake
cleaning is scheduled for this month. We are waiting for a new electric sensor for the
heated line at Riverside Park. The water reservoir was finished today. The Sewer Plant
is presently transferring the sludge from one di~ester into the one that was just coated.
The bids for the digester are due September 11 . Larry has bids out for a new service
truck for the shop.
Dirk mentioned that he has received compliments about the appearance of the cemetery.
Rick Musson gave a brief report on the activities at the Police Department for August.
The thefts were primarily gas drive-offs. Jason Wells has completed his first week at the
Police Academy and thin~s are going smoothly. The department will be three officers
short, as another officer vCill be going to serve with the National Guard this month and
the chief has not been replaced. The vehicle maintenance expenditure was high during
August.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
Respectfully submittted,
Cindy Allen
Secretary