HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 04.15.2008MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL
April 15, 2008
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, was held in the
Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on April 15, 2008.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Emelie Eaton
Kate Hart
Gay Easton
Alex Wilkins
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Mary Embleton
Sam Painter
Bill Sheridan
Mayor Olson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.
Mayor Ulson asked the council to observe a moment of silence
MINUTES:
Doug Poehls
Mark Mace
Chuck Dickerson
Norm Stamper
Motion b Council Member Stam er to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April
1, 2008, as .presented, seconded by Council Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or
council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye.
Motion carried 8-0.
CORRESPONDENCE:.
Olness & Associates: Letter of March 20, 2008 regarding Norm Klein joining the team.
Cable Montana: Service Reports for February 2008.
Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Newsletter of March 30, 2008.
Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Minutes of March 27, 2008; Agenda of April 10, 2008.
Montana Municipal lnsurance Authority: Risk Management Bulletin of March 21, 2007 regarding
Special Events Coverage.
Montana Municipal Insurance Authority: Risk Management Bulletin of March 26, 2008 regarding
Underground Fuel Storage Tanks.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
CONSENT .ITEMS:
• Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of March, 2005.
• Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 04/06/200$ totaling X141,660.60.
• . Receiving the Committee Reports into the Record.
--Bud et/Finance Committee minutes of April 1, 2008 were presented.
--Park Board minutes of April 3, 2008 were presented.
--City__County Planning Board minutes of Apri13, 2008 were presented.
--Tree Board minutes of March 27, 2008 were presented.
Council Minutes of April 15, 2008
--Council Worksho minutes of Apri18, 2008 were presented.
The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none.
Motion b Council Member Mace to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by
Council Member Poehls. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on
the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
CEREMONIAL CALENDAR:
• Proclamation of Municipal Clerks Week -May 4-10
Mayor Olson read a proclamation recognizing the week of May 4t~' through 10~' as Municipal Clerks
Week. He extended appreciation to Mary Embleton for her service as Municipal Clerk for the City
of Laurel and her work on the Tax Increment Finance District.
REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None.
SCHEDULED MATTERS:
• Confirmation of Appointments: None.
• Resolution No. ROS-27: A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with
the Montana Department of Transportation to provide for street cleaning on the
primary road system in the City of Laurel.
Motion b Council Member Dickerson to approve Resolution No. R08-27, seconded by
Council Member Stamper. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken
on the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Resolution No. R08-32: Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute the requisite
agreements with Beartooth Harley-Davidsan/Euell for the use of three motorcycles by
the City of Laurel Police Department.
Motion b Council Member Poehls to approve Resolution No. R08-32, seconded by Council
Member Mace. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Resolution No. R08-33: A resolution approving a Maintenance Agreement between the
City. of Laurel and Yellowstone County providing for the maintenance of the
Yellowstone County Veteran's Cemetery.
Motion b Council Member Eaton to approve Resolution No. R08-33, seconded by Council
Member Hart. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Resolution No. ROS-34: Resolution of the City Council declaring its intention to
support the City of Laurel's Centennial Celebration and the efforts of the newly-formed
Centennial Committee.
Motion b Council Member Hart to approve Resolution No. R08-34, seconded by Council
Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
• Resolution No. R08-35: A resolution of the City Council authorizing the Mayor to sign
a one-time project specific agreement between the Owner (City of Laurel, Montana)
and the Engineer (Morrison and Maierle, Inc.) for design, bidding, construction, and
post-construction of the Phase 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade, outlined in the
2006 Laurel-Wastewater Facilities Plan Update.
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Council Minutes of April 15, 2008
Motion b Council Member Easton to approve Resolution No. R08-35, seconded by Council
Member Hart. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye.. Motion carried 8-0.
Resolution No. R08-36: Resolution of the City. Council to create the seasonal positions
of life guard/instructor and to adopt a job description for such positions.
Motion b Council Member Wilkins to approve Resolution No. R08-36, seconded by
Council Member Mace. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on
the motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried 8-0.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE-MINUTE LIMIT): None.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
Council Member Foehls stated that the Emergency Services Committee will meet on Monday, April
21St, to discuss the Cenex Mutual Aid Agreement and the overview of the Fire Hall Task Force. He
stated that Cenex is supposed to come back with the final approval of the Mutual Aid. Contract by
Memorial Day.
Council Member Dickerson stated that the council tour of the city's facilities is scheduled for
Tuesday, April 22"d, at 6:00 p.m. The Centennial Committee will meet on Thursday, April 17t", at
7:00 p.m.
Council Member Easton stated that the Tree Board. will meet on Thursday, April 17t", at 3:00 p.m.
instead of 1:30 p.m. The Tree Board will discuss whether to plant a memorial tree, possibly an oak
tree, in Thomson Park as a hundred year tree. Thomson Fark is the city's oldest park and the tree
could be planted just ahead of the monument. The trees in Thomson Fark were planted by Fete
Thomson in 1955.
Council Member Easton mentioned that lilac bushes will be planted in Russell Park during the Arbor
Day celebration on Friday; April 25t", at 1:00 p.m. The sixteen bushes will have white and purple
flowers and will be planted four. feet apart to provide a windbreak and a separation between the
private property and the park. About 160 South School kindergarteners will participate in the Arbor
Day program.
Laverne lvie, of the Yellowstone Conservation District, contacted Gay Easton recently regarding
water rights. The Yellowstone Conservation District is responsible fox water rights for irrigation for
agriculture, and it is their responsibility to issue permits or water shares. There are water shares in
the Highline Ditch, which comes off from the Big Ditch that has water rights from the Yellowstone
River. There are water rights available, and the County is considering partnering with the City of
Laurel to purchase water rights for the Veteran's Cemetery to ensure that water is not cut off during
the irrigation season. A meeting needs to be scheduled with the County Commissioners and the
Cemetery Board for further discussion. State law includes cemeteries with agricultural water rights.
Bill Sheridan will follow up on this with Bill Enright, the engineer for the Veteran's Cemetery.
Mayor Olson stated that the possibility of water rights was discussed at a recent Veteran's Cemetery
meeting and Commissioner Kennedy was very .interested in it.
Council Member Dickerson talked to Vi Hills last week to volunteer his services for the cleanup
event in Laurel. Volunteers are still .needed. Weed eaters, lawn mowers, and pickups are also
needed for the event. The Centennial Cleanup is scheduled for May 3`d and ~t", beginning at 8:00
a.rn, and lunch will be provided. Anyone interested in participating should contact Vi Hills.
Mayor Olson stated that Vi Hills has been very instrumental in coordinating this event. She has
talked to Bill Sheridan a couple different times to ensure that the crews are prepared. Bill stated that
the city is asking employees to spend a little time on the weekend for this event. Containers and
equipment will be available to handle whatever comes. The Ministerial Association and the
National Guard will also participate in the event.
Mayor Olson stated that the job description for the chief administrative officer is being developed
and will be on the April 29t" council workshop for the council's review. A proposal to update the
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Council Minutes of April 1.5, 2008
Personnel Implementation & Instruction Guide will also be reviewed and presented to the council on
Apri129`". Review of the Laurel Municipal Code will be done in the future.
Clerks Institute is scheduled for May 6`" through 8`" in Billings. Mark Mace, Chuck Dickerson, and
Emelie Eaton plan to attend. Mayor Olson stated that this is a goad opportunity to get ideas, to
mingle with other people, and to share ideas. Council Member Mace stated there is always
something of interest at the Institute and he encouraged the council members to attend. Council
Member Dickerson stated. that he has learned a lot from discussion with other elected officials, as
well as from the instructors.
Mayor Olson stated that the idea of the Tax Increment Finance District (TIFD) was first presented at
a mayoral conference and then at three or four different Institutes. At tax time this fall, the City of
Laurel will realize the opportunities created for infrastructure improvements through the new TIFD.
Mayor Olson has asked a representative of Big Sky EDA to help the city develop a program to
understand the roles and responsibilities of the council in the TIFD.
Council Member Dickerson asked if the job description for lifeguards/instructors referred to in
Resolution No. R08-3Fi could be available for review at the next council workshop for approval on
May 6`". Mayor Olson stated that the jab descriptions were approved tonight with the approval of
the resolution.
Mary Embleton announced that Jane Jelinski, the former director of the Local Government Center,
resigned at the end of March. Dan Clark, the former mayor of the City of Choteau, has been named
the new director. Mary offered to forward the official e-mail announcement to the council. Mary
stated that Dan Clark will be presenting at Clerks Institute, is a dynamic speaker, and is a good
choice to continue the work of the Local Government Center.
Mayor Olson stated that Alan Hulse is the new director for MMIA.
UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion b Council Member Poehls to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council
Member Dickerson. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All eight council members present voted aye. Motion carried $-0.
There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at
7:05 p.m.
C ~
Cindy A11e ,Secretary
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 6`" day
of May, 2008.
L
Ke eth E. Olson, Jr., Ma r
Attest:
~~~~ ~
Mary K mbleton, Clerk-Treasurer
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