HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 01.12.2021Minutes of City of Laurel
Budget/Finance Committee
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Members Present: Emelie Eaton Bruce McGee
Richard Klose Scot Stokes (Late)
Others Present: Nathan Herman Justin Baker
The meeting was called to order by the Committee chair at 5:20pm.
Public Input: Citizens may address the committee regarding any item of business that is not on the
agenda. The duration for an individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While
all comments are welcome, the committee will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
There was no public input.
General Items —
1. Review and approve the December 22, 2020 Budget and Finance Committee meeting minutes.
Richard Klose moved to approve the minutes of the December 22, 2020 Budget and Finance
Committee meeting. Bruce McGee seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
2. Review and Approve purchase requisition from the Water Department for the purchase of a
replacement lift pump for Elm Street Lift Station. Nathan and Justin presented the purchase
requisition to the Committee. They explained there is currently 1 pump working in the lift
station. The elbow needs to be repaired and all the guide rails need to be replaced. When the lift
pump went down, it was discovered that Russel Industries no longer has a technician in the
Billings area. They must send a technician out from Wyoming. It took a week to get a
technician out here to diagnose the issue with the pump, and it was discovered there was a bad
breaker. The repair part was ordered by Russel Industries. A week later Russel Industries
returned with the breaker but not all the parts to complete the repair. It was also discovered
during this time the breaker was not the issue. It was decided at that time to pull the pump out.
During that process, the cable that is used to pull the pump broke and the pump fell and busted
the elbow at the bottom of the lift station. Russell determined the pump was not working and
they would need to take the pump with them, back to Wyoming, for repairs. Russell stated there
was a broken part on the pump and a new pump was 10-12 weeks out. Justin did some research
to try to find a local company who works on these types of pumps, and he did find one. He
contacted Advanced Pump and Equipment. They came out and met with City Staff to look at the
Lift Station. The City Staff presented two quotes to the Committee for the repairs to the Elm Lift
Station. The Advanced Pump quote is lower, and it can be done quicker. City Staff
recommended going with the Advanced Pump quote, and also getting the original pump repaired
by Russel Industries to keep as a backup. The Committee asked how we were using Russell
Industries if they did not have a local technician. City Staff stated they used to have a great local
technician, but he is no longer local anymore. The Committee agreed that switching to a local
company is a great idea and having a backup pump makes sense as well. The Committee asked
how long Advanced Pump had been in business. City Staff stated they have been in business for
a long time and had branches in Idaho, Butte, and Belgrade. Bruce McGee made a motion to
approve the purchase requisition fiom the Water Department for the repairs to the Elm Lift
Station. Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
3. Review and approve purchase requisition from the Police Department for the purchase of two
toughbooks. The Chief of Police purchased the toughbooks from his Federal Equitable Sharing
funds. The requisition was not brought to the Committee as the purchased happened at the same
time as COVID, and the Clerk/Treasurer forgot about the requisition. Bruce McGee made a
motion to approve the purchase requisition from the Police Department for the purchase of two
toughbooks. Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
4. Review and approve additional items purchased on already approved purchase requisition from
the Ambulance Department. The Committee had already approved the CPR training module but
they needed to approve the Stethoscope and the other additional item needed for the Ambulance
CPR training purchase. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the increase to the original
purchase requisition from the Ambulance Department for the CPR Module. Richard Klose
seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
5. Review and recommend approval to Council, Claims entered through 12/04/2020. The claims
and check register had previously been reviewed by the Committee. There were no questions or
comments. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the claims entered through 12/04/2020.
Scot Stokes seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
6. Review and recommend approval to Council, Claims entered through 12/18/2020. The claims
and check register had previously been reviewed by the Committee. There was one question
regarding the claims, and it was regarding a refund to Askin. Construction. They had made a
water deposit and it was refunded to them. There were no other questions or comments. Emelie
Eaton made a motion to approve the claims entered through 12/18/2020. Scot Stokes seconded
the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
7. Review and recommend approval to Council, Claims entered through 01/08/2021. The claims
and check register had previously been reviewed by the Committee. There was one question
regarding the COVID 19 noted claims. There were no other questions or comments. Richard
Klose made a motion to approve the claims entered through 01/08/2021. Scot Stokes seconded
the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
8. Review and approve Payroll Register for pay period ending 12/27/2020 totaling $164,132.16.
Scot Stokes made a motion to recommend approval of the payroll register for pay period ending
12/27/2020 totaling $164,132.16. Bruce McGee seconded the motion, all in favor, motion
passed.
New Business — None
Old Business —
9. The Committee asked for an update from the Mayor regarding the two draft resolutions. The
Mayor was not in attendance so there was no update on this item.
10. The Transit Bus Repairs update. The Mayor and Clerk/Treasurer were not in attendance so there
was no update on this item.
11. Cemetery Parking Lot update. The Committee stated the Mayor stated in late December the City
Attorney was looking into this topic.
Other Items —
12. Clerk/Treasurer Update — The Clerk/Treasurer sent an update via the Council Secretary. She
stated the auditors were present last week doing year end close and another CARES Act
submission would be done this month.
13. Mayor Update — The Mayor was not in attendance, so no update was given.
Announcements —
14. The next Budget and Finance Committee meeting will be held on January 26, 2021. The
meeting will be held at 5:15pm via ZOOM.
15. Scot Stokes will be reviewing the claims for the next meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
t'
Bethany ve
Clerk/Treasurer
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the
listed workshop agenda items.