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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 10.22.2019OCTOBER 22, 2019 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 October 22, 2019. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHER STAFF PRESENT: Emelie Eaton Bruce McGee Richard Klose Scot Stokes Heidi Sparks Richard Herr Iry Wilke Bill Mountsier Bethany Langve, Clerk/Treasurer Mayor Nelson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Mayor Nelson asked the everyone present to observe a moment of silence. ROLE CALL OF THE COUNCIL MINUTES: Motion by Council Member Klose to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 8, 2019, as presented, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion, and all seven council members present voted aye. The motion carried 7-0. CORRESPONDENCE: None. COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARING: None. CONSENT ITEMS: • Claims for the month of October 2019 in the amount of $188,998.07. A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk/Treasurer's Office. • Clerk/Treasurer Financial Statements for the month of September 2019. • Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 10/6/2019 totaling $189,175.76. Motion by Council Member McGee to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Council Member Sparks. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion, and all seven council members present voted aye. The motion carried 7-0. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: • Review reports from Boards and Commissions. • Laurel Chamber of Commerce Minutes of September 12, 2019. • Park Board Minutes of June 6, 2019. • Park Board Minutes of July 11, 2019. • Park Board Minutes of September S, 2019. • Park Board Minutes of October 3, 2019. • Tree Board Minutes of September 12, 2019. • Library Board Minutes of August 13, 2019. • Budget and Finance Committee Minutes of October 8, 2019. There were no questions or comments regarding the presented minutes. 13 Council Minutes of October 22, 2019 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None. SCHEDULED MATTERS: 1. Appointment of Nick Altonaga as an Ex -Officio Member, for the City of Laurel, to the Big Sky EDA Committee. Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the appointment of Nick Altonaga as an Ex - Officio Member, for the City of Laurel, to the Big Sky EDA Committee, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion, and all seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. 2. Resolution No. R19-80 A Resolution Authorizing The Award Of A Grant To The Front Porch From The Tax Increment Financing District Funds Pursuant To The LURA Small Grant Request Program For Eligible Applicants And Improvements. Motion by Council Member Wilke to approve Resolution No. R19-80, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion, and all seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. 3. Resolution No. R19-81 A Resolution Of The City Council Authorizing The Submission Of A CDBG Grant Application And To Commit The Matching Funds Required By The Creating Agency. Motion by Council Member Mountsier to approve Resolution No. R19-81, seconded by Council Member Sparks. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion, and all seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. 4. Resolution No. R19-82 A Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Sign A Resolution For The State Of Montana Updating The Agents Authorized To Acquire Surplus Property Through The State Of Montana Surplus Property Program. Motion by Council Member Sparks to approve Resolution No. R19-82, seconded by Council Member Mountsier. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion, and all seven council members present voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE -MINUTE LIMIT): Dixie Feller, President of the Laurel Library Board, stated that the Library was conducting their semi-annual book sale, and everyone was invited to attend. The book sale was currently going on and would be happening all week this week during regular Library hours. The Council asked if there were any books on CD for sale. Ms. Feller stated that there was a fairly good selection of books on CD for sale as well as musical CD for sale. There were also large print books, small print books, paperbacks, children's books, fiction, non-fiction, and even some antique books for sale. They have something that would appeal to everybody. COUNCIL DISCUSSION: Council Member Herr stated at the Public Works meeting it was brought up that a company in the very near future was going to be building a wind farm in Bridger MT. He wanted to know how Laurel could get involved in possible housing of the employees that will be building the wind farm. Bridger only has six motel rooms and Council Member Herr would like to investigate the possibility of Laurel being utilized for housing. Council Vice President McGee stated that the Emergency Service Committee meeting will take place Monday October 281h at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Council President Eaton stated that the Laurel Leaf Pick-up will happen the week of November 4"'. All bagged leaves need to be in the alley for pick-up by the City staff. Council 2 Council Minutes of October 22, 2019 President Eaton requested a discussion be put on the next Council Workshop regarding proper right- of-way in an uncontrolled intersection. Council Member Sparks stated that she attended the 2019 Montana League of Cities and Towns conference and the importance of the 2020 Census was a topic. She would like the City to inform the public of the importance of the Census and how to participate. She stated that the 2020 Census website has a lot of information on it. The Mayor stated that a City mailer could be sent out with an update on what is going on in the City and it could include information on the upcoming Census. The Clerk/Treasurer stated that this will be the first year the Census can be completed online. Dixie Feller stated that the Montana State Library has started a project on the Census, and anyone can access the Laurel Library computers themselves and the staff at the Library can help them. MAYOR UPDATES: The Mayor stated that the Public Works Director had informed him the leaf pick-up was November 4th through the 7t". The Mayor stated that he read in the Laurel Outlook a statement regarding the new intake not working. He stated that since the intake had been blown out, in late June or July, it has been running. It has been running fine ever since. The valve is barely cracked open as the City only has to utilize a small fraction of what is available to it. The employees at the Water Plant believe that when the intake was started up, the Yellowstone River turbidities were high, and the intake sucked up a lot of debris. The valve was opened all the way and the suction sucked up all the debris, plugging up the screen. The intake is running on only a fraction of what it can do, and it is supplying both the City and CHS. The Council asked if it would be beneficial to run an article in the paper stating that the intake is running. The Mayor thought it would be a good idea. The Mayor reminded the Council there was no workshop next week. UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Council Member Herr 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, and 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 6:55 p.m. Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of th ;City of Laurel, Montana, this 22nd day of October 2019.-------7 Thomas C. Nelson, Mayor