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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 03.06.2018MARCH 6, 2018 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 Tom Nelson at 6:30 p.m. on March 6, 2018. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Heidi Sparks Bruce McGee Richard Herr Scot Stokes Iry Wilke Richard Klose Bill Mountsier None Mayor Nelson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Nelson asked the council to observe a moment of silence. MINUTES: Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 20, 2018, as presented, seconded by Council Member Sparks. There was no public comment. Council Member Eaton stated that there was an error in who called the meeting to order. She was referencing the error in the Workshop minutes of February 27, 2018. The minutes of February 20, 2018, had no correction. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. CORRESPONDENCE: None. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: Mayor Nelson gave a brief clarification of what are ex parte communications. PUBLIC HEARING: None. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of February 2018 in the amount of $44342.00. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk/Treasurer's Office. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 2/25/2018 totaling $186,280.22. • Receiving the Committee/Board/Commission Reports into the Record. --Budget/Finance Committee minutes of February 20, 2018, was presented. --Council Workshop minutes of February 27, 2018, was presented. --Emergency Services Committee minutes of January 22, 2018, was presented. --Public Works Committee minutes of January 22, 2018, was presented. --Laurel Airport Authority minutes of January 23, 2018, was presented. --Library Board minutes of January 9, 2018, was presented.10 --Library Board minutes of February 13, 2018, was presented. --Cemetery Commission minutes of February 13, 2018, was presented. Council Minutes of March 6, 2018 --Tree Board minutes of February 22, 2018, was presented. The mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. Council Member Eaton stated her correction to the Workshop minutes of February 27, 2018. The minutes stated that Mayor Tom Nelson had opened the meeting. They will be corrected to state "...the. meeting was called to order by Council President Emelie Eaton in the Mayor's absence..." Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items with the correct to the Workshop minutes of February 27, 2018, seconded by Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: None. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): Rlynn Halvorson, 604 7th Avenue, spoke in reference to a recent incident involving a family member and the delayed response of the Ambulance Service. He stated that the delayed response or no response fiom the Ambulance Department has been an on-going issue for many years. He stated that the problem starts at the top with the Mayor and. Council. He stated that in March 2017 volunteers from the Ambulance Service spoke at Emergency Services and asked for time to address the problem. He felt that in the year since no changes had been made. He encouraged Council to place someone who is "motivated, problem -solving, proactive" as Ambulance Director. He gave the example of how Columbus accomplished this in recent years. He stated he believed there are many funding opportunities for the City to pursue, such as Federal funding and the City's own coffers, to fund a full-time Ambulance. His final statement was, "the next unanswered call by the Ambulance may be to assist you or your family." Jason Summers, 304 Cedar #3, spoke at last week's Council Workshop meeting. However the Mayor was not present, so he briefly described an incident that occurred to a family member. At 5 a.m. one morning there was no Ambulance available, his girlfriend took this family member to the hospital. She was admitted to the ICU for two weeks; there are oxygen deprivation issues now. He stated he does not know how to fix this issue, but that it needs to be addressed. Mary Ann Halvorson, 805 Pennsylvania Avenue, stated that her husband was the family member mentioned by Rlynn Halvorson. She stated that because there was no immediate response from Laurel's Ambulance Services they had to requested an ambulance from Billings. At that point, they were able to find a crew and had two ambulances responding to the same call. This was a waste of resources. She stated that once Laurel's Ambulance was on scene, they had wonderful service. Denise Smart, 707 7th Avenue, stated that approximately 25 years ago she was the Assistant Director on the Ambulance. Stated that these are the same issue they faced all those years ago. The way they combated this issue was to increase wages. She stated that it is in the budget, that it just needs to be found. SCHEDULED MATTERS: ® Motion to approve the Laurel Rod and Gun Club's Membership Application Event on May 5, 2018, at Riverside Park Motion by Council Member Wilke to approve the motion to approve the Laurel Rod and Gun Club's Membership Application Event on May 5, 2018, at Riverside Park, seconded by Council Member Sparks. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE -MINUTE LIMIT): Council Member Wilke stated that March 17, 2018, there will be a Hunter Education Field Course going on in Riverside Park. There will be no live fire. There will be a walk through course, students will be caring the firearms with them, but if any ammunition is found near a rifle, they will automatically fail the course. They will graduate after completing the course. i Council Minutes of March 6, 2018 COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Herr thanked those in attendance for their comments. Council Member Wilke stated that Council did hear those that made statements regarding the Ambulance Service. Council Member Wilke stated that Park Board recommended the use of the Billie Riddle Donation interest to provide benches and shade at the pool. Council Member Wilke stated that Park Board recommended some pool fee changes. Council Member Wilke stated that Park Board recommended that the City enter into a lease with the Horseshoe Club after the electrical issues have been addressed. Kurt Markegard is working with the Mayor to determine what those costs are and who should pay for them. Council Member Wilke stated that Park Board recommended that the City enter into a lease with the Laurel Rod and Gun Club for the trap range and clubhouse in Riverside Park. One member questioned what the lead contamination was in the park itself. That same member questioned what the new Council and Mayor's position is on shooting in Riverside Park, including BB Gun, Archery, and Hunters Safety Field Tests. Council Member Wilke stated that Park Board recommended that the City enter into a contract with the YMCA to run the swimming pool. The contract will include a start and end date. Council Member Klose thanked those who spoke regarding the Ambulance Service. He also stated that Cemetery Commission is canceled until May. Council Member Stokes thanked those who spoke regarding the Ambulance Service. Council Member McGee reminded those in attendance that Emergency Services meets on the fourth Monday of each month, and those meetings are open to the public. The next Emergency Services meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2018. He questioned if the Safety Bond levy had been passed in 2015, would these instances spoken of tonight have occurred. He stated that Council does not rush through meetings to not deal with issues like the one brought forth tonight; Council grapples with them every week, every month, every year. He challenged an earlier comment that Council and the Mayor are at the "top." Above the Mayor and the Council are the citizens of this community. The citizens of this community decide where the finds come from and where they are spent. Council Member Eaton clarified a statement in the Park Board minutes of March 1, 2018, where Kathleen Gilluly, from the Outlook, made a comment regarding insurance coverage if shooting were to be allowed in the park. The minutes read, "Katheleen Gilluly said the insurance company has said they would cover the city." Council Member Eaton stated that MMIA had repeatedly come before Council to advise them if there was a shooting incident in the park, the City would be on the hook. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: Mayor Nelson responded to all topics discussed under Council Discussion. The Park Boards recommendation to use the interest from the Billie Riddle for pool improvements. This recommendation will be taken to the City Attorney. The Park Boards recommendation for pool fee changes. The City is working with the YMCA on this along with the dates on the contract. This will be coming to Council soon. The Park Boards recommendation for the Horseshoe Club lease. The City is working on the electrical issues. This will be brought to Council when all questions have been answered. The Park Boards recommendation for the Laurel Rod and Gun Club's lease recommendation. Mayor Nelson stated the month of May has five Tuesday's. May 22nd is typically a night that Council would not meet. However, he is bringing in MMIA and the City Attorney present to discuss shooting in the Park. Mayor Nelson invited the public to attend the next Emergency Services meeting. He stated that he does have a scanner in his home and listens to calls when he is home. He stated that he is well aware Council Minutes of March 6, 2018 of the situation and the City will address the problem. This is not a problem that will be fixed in a week or even a month. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Sparks to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Brittney Mo t/11 m , Administrative Assistant Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 20`x' day of March 2018. Thomas . Nelson, Mayor Attest: Bethan K eler, Clerk/Treasurer