HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 01.26.2021MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL
JANUARY 26, 2021
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 6:35 p.m. on January 26, 2021.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHER STAFF PRESENT:
Emelie Eaton
Bruce McGee
Scot Stokes
Richard Klose
Heidi Sparks
Richard Herr
Iry Wilke
Don Nelson
Bethany Langve, Clerk/Treasurer
Karen Courtney, Code Enforcement Officer
Nancy Schmidt, Library Director
Stan Langve, Police Chief (6:44 p.m.)
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 January
12, 2021, as presented, seconded by Council Member Eaton. There was no public comment or
council discussion. A vote was taken on the motion. All six council members present voted aye.
Motion carried 6-0.
CORRESPONDENCE:
• Beartooth RC&D Correspondence
• Laurel Chamber of Commerce Correspondence.
Mayor Nelson noted there were 52 blank pages included in tonight's packet. When the Council
Secretary converted the Excel file to PDF, it added 52 blank pages.
It was questioned if the Laurel Chamber of Commerce Correspondence was included in the packet.
It was clarified that yes, it was included and started after the blank pages.
COUNCIL DISCLOSURE OF EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC HEARING:
• Public Hearing — Budget Amendment
Mayor Nelson stated this is the time and place set for the public hearing on the City of Laurel's
Budget Amendment Resolution Amending Revenues And Appropriations For The Library And
Permissive Medical Levy Funds For Fiscal Year 2019-2020
Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing.
Mayor Nelson opened the floor for public comment and asked that Staff present the item.
Bethany Langve, Clerk/Treasurer, stated the resolution Council would be viewing is for the fiscal
year 20 budget. We need to amend two funds, the Library Fund and the Permissive Medical Levy
Fund. Both need their revenues and appropriations amended. Both have increased revenues due to
increased tax revenues received. When the budget was done, the Permission Medical Levy Fund had
a specific amount that would be held back for a reserve. At the end of the year, General Fund needed
all the money it could get so that $5,000 was not held back. These will be the last budget
amendments for fiscal year 20.
Council Minutes of January 26, 2021
Mayor Nelson stated that copies of the rules governing the public hearing were posted in the council
chambers.
Mayor Nelson asked three (3) times if there were any proponents. There were none.
Mayor Nelson asked three (3) times if there were any opponents. There were none.
Mayor Nelson stated that he would not have Staff respond to questions as there were none.
Mayor Nelson closed the public hearing.
• Public Hearing — Title 13
Mayor Nelson stated this is the time and place set for the public hearing on the City of Laurel's An
Ordinance Creating A New Title 13 Entitled "Fire Prevention And Protection" And Amending And
Renumbering Certain Sections Of Title 15 And 8 Of The Laurel Municipal Code Updating The
City's Fire Prevention And Protection Codes.
Mayor Nelson opened the public hearing.
Mayor Nelson opened the floor for public comment and asked that Staff present the item.
Karen Courtney, Code Enforcement Officer, stated Title 13 was created to consolidate all of the Fire
Codes into one location. Anyone searching our codes can find them easier and update references to
current references in the International Fire Code as required by federal law.
Mayor Nelson stated that copies of the rules governing the public hearing were posted in the council
chambers.
Mayor Nelson asked three (3) times if there were any proponents. There were none.
Mayor Nelson asked three (3) times if there were any opponents. There were none.
Mayor Nelson stated that he would not have Staff respond to questions as there were none.
Mayor Nelson closed the public hearing.
CONSENT ITEMS:
• Claims entered through January 22, 2021.
A complete listing of the claims and their amounts is on file in the Clerk/Treasurer's Office.
• Approval of Payroll Register for PPE 1/10/2021 totaling $201,515.07.
The Mayor asked if there was any separation of consent items. There was none.
Motion by Council Member Eaton to approve the consent items as presented, seconded by
Council Member McGee. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on
the motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
CEREMONIAL CALENDAR: None.
REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
• Budget/Finance Committee Minutes of December 22, 2020
• Budget/Finance Committee Minutes of January 12, 2021.
• Library Board Minutes of September 8, 2020.
• Library Board Minutes of October 13, 2020.
• Library Board Minutes of November 8, 2020.
• Library Board Minutes of December 8, 2020.
• Tree Board Minutes of February 20, 2020.
• Tree Board Minutes of December 17, 2020.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (THREE-MINUTE LIMIT): None.
Council Minutes of January 26, 2021
SCHEDULED MATTERS:
• Resolution No. R21-02: A Resolution Of The City Council Authorizing The Mayor To
Sign A Contract With Shallow Creels Kennels Inc. For The Provision Of K-9 Training
Services For The City Of Laurel's Police Department.
Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R21-02, seconded by Council
Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
• Resolution No. R21-03: A Resolution Of The City Council Approving A Task Order
Between The City Of Laurel And KLJ Engineering Inc. To Authorize Work For The
Project Known At The 5th Avenue Water Main Re -Route.
Motion by Council Member Wilke to approve Resolution No. R21-03, seconded by Council
Member Eaton. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
• Resolution No. R21-04: A Resolution Of The City Council Approving A Task Order
Between The City Of Laurel And KLJ Engineering Inc. To Authorize The
Reconstruction And Rehabilitation Of Screw Pump "B" At The City's Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve Resolution No. R21-04, seconded by Council
Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
• Resolution No. R21-05: A Resolution Of The City Council Approving A Task Order
Between The City Of Laurel And KLJ Engineering Inc. To Authorize Work For The
Water Treatment Plant Lift Well Replacement Project.
Motion by Council Member Klose to approve Resolution No. R21-05, seconded by Council
Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
• Resolution No. R21-06: A Resolution Of The City Council Approving A Task Order
Between The City Of Laurel And KLJ Engineering Inc. To Authorize A Southside
Storm Water Study For The City Of Laurel.
Motion by Council Member Stokes to approve Resolution No. R21-06, seconded by Council
Member Klose. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
• Resolution No. R21-07: Budget Amendment Resolution Amending Revenues And
Appropriations For The Library And Permissive Medical Levy Funds For Fiscal Year
2019-2020
Motion by Council Member Herr to approve Resolution No. R21-07, seconded by Council
Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
• Ordinance No. 021-01: An Ordinance Creating A New Title 13 Entitled "Fire
Prevention And Protection" And Amending And Renumbering Certain Sections Of
Title 15 And 8 Of The Laurel Municipal Code Updating The City's Fire Prevention
And Protection Codes. (Second Reading)
Motion by Council Member Eaton to adopt Ordinance No. 021-01, seconded by Council
Member Wilke. There was no public comment or council discussion. A roll call vote was taken on
the motion. Council Members Herr, Wilke, Klose, Stokes, McGee, and Eaton voted aye. Motion
carried 6-0.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None.
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Council Minutes of January 26, 2021
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS (ONE -MINUTE LIMIT): None.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
Cemetery Commission will meet on February 2, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Council thanked Staff for all their hard work on resolutions this week. It was noted that there were a
few of them, and there must be lots of work that goes into each one.
Park Board will meet on January 27, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. They will be
discussing the fees associated with renting the buildings in Riverside Park. Would like the fees
brought to the next Workshop so the City can start renting out that space.
The Emergency Services Committee Chair stated at the last Emergency Services Committee, the
Fire Chief brought pictures of Squad 5's accident. See attached the photos that were discussed at the
last meeting.
Council noted that there seem to be many comments via Facebook of people trying to get details of
emergency events. It was requested to discuss putting a disclaimer on the Website or City's
Facebook page stating, please don't ask first responders about incidents because of HIPPA laws.
First responders really shouldn't be asked about it; it is not their place.
It was requested Council discuss the possibility of a survey to Laurel's citizens similar to what the
Fire Chief handed out to the Council. The goal would be to address what citizens' future desires for
emergency services would be. This survey would assist Council in making decisions coming up.
MAYOR UPDATES:
There are no updates at this time. Mayor Nelson noted that many projects are coming down the
pipeline, many of which they saw tonight.
UNSCHEDULED MATTERS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Council Member McGee to adjourn the council meeting, seconded by Council
Member Klose. There was no public comment or council discussion. A vote was taken on the
motion. All six council members present voted aye. Motion carried 6-0.
There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned
at 7:08 p.m.
Bri tney oorman Administrative Assistant
Approved by the Mayor and passed by the City Council of the City of Laurel, Montana, this 9"' day
of February 2021. A. -
Attest:
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