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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council Minutes 04.17.1972Minutes of the City Council of Laurel April 1?, 197 ~ regular meeting of the City Council of the City of I~~ur~l, N~ontana, was held i.n the Council Chambers, and was called to order by Mayor Louis Yovetich, at 7:30 o'clock, P.N~., on Nlanday, April 17, 1Q72. Upon taking roll ca11, the following; aldermen answered presents Tom Hard Jackson Parker E.H. Ebersviller~ Sr. Tom Kilpatrick Chcuk Rodgers Duane Behm Ervin Metzger The minutes of the prev~..ous regular meeting of April 10, 1972, were read. Kilpatrick asked correction of these minutes which state "it was suggested that °Tdo Littering" signs be posted on First Avenue to the landfill" to read "it was suggested that 'No Litter3.ng' signs be posted from the City Limits on First Avenue to the landfill". With this correction, motion was made by Ebersviller and seconded by Parker that the minutes be approved. I~'~otion carried. The minutes of the previous s~ecia3. meeting of April 10th on the matter of Park personnel ware read. Lotion was made by ~~etzger ~,nd seconded by Rodgers-.that the minutes be approved a.~ read. Naotion carried. The m~.nutes of the previous special meeting of April 10th on the matter of the new proposed water line were read. N~.otion was m~,d~ by Kilpatr3.ck and seconded by Hard th~.t the minutes be approved a.s read. Motion carried. The minutes of the previous speci~.1 m~;eting of ~pri1 10th on the matter of the Garbage charges were rea.d.: l~~otion was made by Parker and seconded by Ebersviller that the minutes be approved a.5 read. Lotion carried. L@tter of resignation signed by Stan Kinney was re~.d. Notion was m~.de b~ ~;bersviller and seconded bar Rodgers that the resignation be acc~ptecl, and that a letter of appreciation for his faithful service be written to h~_m. Motion carried. The report of the Police Judge was presented. Motion way made by Rodgers and seconded by 3ehm that the report be approved. notion carried. Other reports for the month of March wire presented for approval as follows: City Clerk~~ trial balance, Clerk~5 cash report and ~zty Treasurer's financial .report. I~~otion was made by Ebersviller and seconded by Behm that these reports be approved. Motion carried. The Pliayor called on Steve Duganz, County Sanitarian, who was in the audience. ?fie appeaxed before the council w3.th a copy of a. lease and ~n agreement which had been alt~;red from the previous year's agreement. He stated that i_f the City would not sign the a.~reement, the county would not sign the lease. The P~iayor then presented a prepared statement f'or ~h~ benefit of those who did not mow the situation, a.s follow5s "I became quite irked anal upset on Wednesday morning, April 12th, taken I checked into City Ha11, and was presented a contract from the County Commissioners' o~'fice. I was informed that this contract was delivered by the County Sanitarian Duganz under instruction from Commissioner Chairnian~ Mike NicCli.ntoek. The contract was ..renewal of the one for the y~>ar 1g70- 1971 which stated that the City would receive `1,500.00 from the County toward the landfill operation.. Th3~s contract w~.s exactly the same a~ the ..i~ 1 f]'7 (1 1 n7l .>v'. e~.v„~F f'ea~.w ~r~o oeri~Fonnc tr'hi nl~ wae~ -S ncxear+.crl T.Th'~ r+h Q~'. Si'f'.P Vllki Vl 1/ ~ V .6/ ~1~ G1f.~rGp>V 1vl uric G's c:~.+E VC~.xsv c: rvaa.a.vaa ar ~jv ~..a+vva vv....~ •a.,r.. that we would receive the money - prow ctEd-that the county residents would not have to pay a charge at the gate for dumping. This sentence wou~.d make the Laurel landfill open to the entire Yell_ow~tone County with no method of policing. Clerk Dorothy Bundy, upon reading the contract stated to NIr. Du~anz - "I don't think_~ha~h'layor Yovetich would sign this contract with that sentence included" . 1~Tr. Ihaganz was to have Mated - "he had. better sign it or he won't get the ~1,K00.00". Z inunediat~ly contacted the County C~rnmiss3.on~r~s of~'ice in Billings, end in their absence related to their secretary my feelings toward the issue, and asked her to relay the xraessa.ge to the Comr,~.ssioners. I instructed our City Clerk to mail the contract back to the Comsn- i~sioners -unsigned, -and tell them what they; could do with 3t. I fear no one;, and as Jong as 3 hold the office of Nlaypr in Laurel, we w~.ll not be intimid~tec? or b~d~ered by any outside interests. Evidently some of our County Residents were inset about having to pay a dumping charge at our dump and belly~.ched to the Commissioners. 7 am getting sie~c ~n.d tared of heaxin~ X11 the squawks and cornpla.ints from. some of these people outside of our city limits who never hive ~nythin~ good. to say about Laurel but still want to enjoy all the benefits and fa.ci.l ties provided by our ca_ty -Free of Ch~rg~, of course. As far as T am concerned, f.f they are go~.n~ to dance, let them help pay the fiddler. They will continv.e to p~.y a dumping fee at the clump as prescr~_bed by our City Council. Furthermore, if the County Commissioners don't like it, -they can furnish and m~~.nt~n a. landfill for the County residents in ti~is area, and see i~' they can operate and mainta~_n~ i~h~ for X1,500.00 a year. The City Council of Laurel worked hard ~.nd long to Minutes of the City Council of Laurel try to find a workable solution whereby we could operate our dump satis- factorily and gel it out of the red. In my opinion, we tried to be f~i.r and looked at the issue from: many different anglES before we arrived. at a final. decision. I am satisfied the people of Laurel dons t n~inci paying for garbage services of our own city provided the charge does not include paying for a. group of frPeloGders. We are not trying to mike money .from our landfill oper~.tion - we just wish to hz~~e a food operat3~on and stay within the guidelines set by the Stag Board of Health end State Air Pollution :Board - goal which is within our reach end a goal we will continue to ~rork for -with or without the help of the County Comm~.ssioners:" Kilp~.trick immediately made the motion seconded by Haxc~. thata the council support the N~yor in the position h~ ha.s taken. Parker stated he would certainly ~o along with th3.s. N1ot3on carried. The audience had severe]. students, anal Mike Bl~;~loek as a spokes- man for one group, appeared.beforE the council to ask what date would be convenient for the High School City Off~ci~ls to spend a. half day with the regular city officials. The date w€~,s decided to be Mav lath, the second regu~.ar council meeting date of the month. 5 `7 `rv poi N ~ Z Linda..~?~_=_~ a,~peared before the cotiancil as a spokesman f'or a ~ro~.p that stated they are going to clean up certain areas in an around. the City on l ay nth, and asked that i~he city provide; city ~quipm~nt to help in this direction. The Mayor, aldermen, end City Engineer sta.t~d that they would cooperate in any way possible. She also stated they were trying to get Billings Central High School to help in this project. Kilpa-hrick asked that the N~ayor proclaim Earth Meek from April 29th to AZ ay 6th, both dated inclusive. I~~ichelle N~enello, Ch~rman of anc,ther group appeared t~efore the counc~_l. with some plans f'or l~~ay 3rd, probably 3.n the aftez~noon. She stated they would like to block First Avenue w3.th bicycles to make people aware of the prob3eni of Air Pollution. Then they wanted tie Polio: cG,r to block off thy: intersection at the Penney~s Corner, so that they could give the Police car a ticket for air pollution. Police Chief Gaston stated that the hour suggested of 3:30 F.M. would po5sib3~* inconvenience many men on shift work just going to work. The N.~ayor turned this matter over to the Police CorrunittEe and the Police Chief. Kilpatrick asked that the R~.a~or proclaim the dates off' April 2yth through Ri~y 6th as Earth Week. The l~iayor then stated that he would procl.sim Earth t~~eek to be from April 29th to Iu1ay 6th, both dates inclusive, and asked ghat a. proclamation be drawn up. Nirs. Annette Behtr appeared before the Council and stated that the Jayceens had made a project of getting a traffic light installed on Sixth Street and F,xst 1?venue. She stated that the JaycPen~ hid contacted the other service or~axiizations who helped don~.te to this ~ro3eet, and she then. presented a check to Mayor Yovetich in the €mount of ~307.~0. The other organization contributing are a,s follows: ~.meriean Legion - - - - - - - -~2~.00 ~~,...,-.e,,,e Ti.,, v„~,,-,,,,..,.. i n nn S GL131SG1 Vit,L Vll 11,G1.L11G1 y ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1V ~ VV Rotana Club - - - - - - - - - - 10.0 Veterans of Foreign Wars- - - - 5.00 Lalzrel J .C. ~ s - - - - - - - - - 25.00 St. ~Llban's Guild - - - - - - - 5.00 Dorcas Society- - - - - - - - - '10.00 Etrergreen Rebecca Lode - - - - 2.50 Laurel ~+omen's Club - - - - - - 20.00 Jolly Neighbors - - - - - - - - 25.00 St. Anthony's Altar Society - - 10.00 American Legion .Aux.- - - - - - lO.OQ Zaurel Jayceens - - - - - - - -150.40 Nrs. Rehm also stated that there was still some money to come in that had been pledged, but not collected as yet. The Mayor aecegted the check with thanks, and appreciation. Iie praised the Ja~ceens for their dime drd effort on this project. Chief off' Police W. H~,ro1d Cza,ston appeared before the council and stated that he w~.s forced to resign because of ill health. He said that he was presently on vacation and that he would resign e feetive June 15th. H~ said that he wanted to thank everybody for everything, and had enjo;~ed working for the City of Laurel for 18 years. die ~1so stated that he would like to req~.est off' the City Council that he be allowed to keep his gun. He sa~.d that he has carried i.t for 18 years, and would cert~.inly appreciate it if he could take it with him. ~xotion was made by ~bersv3.ller and secondEd by Nietz~er that he be allowed to keep it. lotion earraed.. Kilpatrick thin st~.ted that he would like to rr~ake zn amendment to the motion that the Chief has done a i i I I'~~ ~ I i _ , _ _ -..-...---_-r---- Minutes of the City Council of Laurel very fine fob, and that the council is sorry to loss him. Seconded by Paxker. Notion carried. Nir. Ed P~iartian~ Chairman of the Toning Board appeared. before the council. He stated that the honing Board had received petitions signed by many persons requesting that a. portion of the East Part of town be eh~nged from an :C'~-~. to an R-3 Zone;. H~ a.7.so stated that it was the reconunendat on of the "Coning Board that this change be made. City Attorney stated that the recorr~enda.tion of the Zoning Board must be in writ3.ng to the City Council. mhen the Council must publish in the paper and hold public hearings, since the Ordin~n.ce n;.ust be amended. Consequently, no further action eras taken. Mrs. Watts thanked everyone for having the ditch cleaned out, but thought there had been too much dirt hauled .way. The N a~vr stated that in the op7_nion of everyone who had inspected this ditch that there was sU.ff3.cient dirt 1e£t, but that there should be a larger outlet for the water. dirs. Watts sai..d that renting out the city equipment is illegal in the Stag and also TJationally. The Mayor stated that, the council was trying to be fair and in his opinion there was discrimination against the City Engineer. Nirs. Watts asked about the water situ.ation~ and the N~ayor stated that we should wait for the report of the water committee. Alderman Herd asked if the City could. rPqu~st the :~urlington Nor- thern to install flashing lights ~~t all railroad crosssn~s within the City of Laurel. City Clerk to write a. letter. Parker reported on the AmbulGnce for the first quaxter of 1972 and . stated he w~.s ver~~ pleased. H~ gave a good deal o~ credit to the office ford .for the collections and credit to the ambulax~eP personnel. The Mayor also thanked the of.~"ice personnel and the Ambulance Comma_ttee. .Alderman Parker reported on the water line situations. T.he Water Comm~.ttee recomanends the following: 1. That the 8" loop be extended north on Alder from Sixth Street to 7th Street. The 8" line be extended then East to Date Avenue with tie-ins made on 7th and i~ireh, 7th and Cottonwood and 7th and T7ate. It is the intent of this reconanendation th~.t an~~ future tie-ins north of 7th Street share in the cost of the loop installation.. 2. In the event that blocks 3 and of Nutting Bros. Subdivision belonging to John Daley are brought into the city and water service is pro- vided, the loop shall be extended east on 7th and tied s_n to Elm. John Daley sha17. reimburse the city at one-half of the average lineal foot cost of the loop for his frontage. It is a15o reeomr:~ended that fifty feet of water line on Elm be replaced. Committee reeonur~ends the transfer of $5,000.00 from the W~.t~r Replacement Fund to the Water Surplus Fund for this work. After discussion, motion was made by Ebersviller and seconded by N~etzger that this reeommendati.on be accepted. Notion carried. Ebersviller requested perm~..ssion to leave the State. I~iotion was made b~ Kil~atriek and seconded by Packer that, perrris~ion be granted. motion carried. Ebersvill~r stated that the Park Committee and P~r~onnel committee had met with representatives of the Union, ~n.d it was the recomr.;endation that there b~ a new position created as Park Supervisor, and that 3t be 8 ~r~~« per day and 1~0 hours per week, at a wane of ~3.~9 for e~.ght months, and four months back on the city crew at the same rate. The Mayor stated that he wanted this matter sent back to com~r~ittee, since he feels strongly that the posita.on should be on a monthly sal~.ry and let the man work at hip own speed. die desires to be present at, the next meeting. Ebersviller brought up the subject of moving dunk cars off pxivatE property. Bradley reported on this. After discussion, Ebersviller made the motion, seconded by Metzger that a notice be placed in the paper asking people to get rid of these j~.nk cars. Motion carried. Rodgers asked whether or not Lenhardt should. be appointed Chief of Police. There was much discussion on this, since tie Mayor makes appointments anal our Chief is on vacation ~.t the present time. The Mayor said that he would appoint Lenhardt as acting Chief of Pol~~e at Chief's pay, and Manley Gerke as acting assistant Chief. Notion was made by Parker and seconded bar Rodgers to this effect, as of April 1~th. Potion Carried. Fbersviller made motion to adjourn the T41EGt1I1~. Motion died for lack of. a second. Rodgers reported. on the request of Jake Stanley to make a 10-minute parking zone in front of his place of business. The committee recommended that I I Minutes of the Gity Council of Laurel they would. approve this 10minute zone for one park3.n~ pl~.ce only, prov3.ded that N1r. Stanley buy a mo~rable sign and put it on the sidewalk during working hours and take it in in the ~venin~. Motion was made to this effect by Parker and seconded by Behm. 1~lotion carried. ~ li I Rodgers states that the 2-hour psrking on the streEts should be I, I Enforced. Rodgers reported on building permits. C~.ty engineer reported on this also. Rodgers reported on delinquent city licenses. The City Treasurer ~o write letters to all del3.nquents without exception, and enclose a copy of a ~I portion off' the licensing ordinance. II I Metzler stated that this was the time to Mart thinking seriously a~out ~'i I cutting weds. i There being no further business to come before the counc~.7. at this I ~e:~sion~ motion was made br Metzger and seconded by Behm that the meeti.rig b~ i, ~i ad3ourned. Lotion carried. i G~~~ Dorothy P Bundy, City C1 rk I Passed by the City Council ~o ity ' Lawrel, Montana, and II'~ Iii approved by the ~ ayor this 1st day of N1~~9 i ~ I j i 1 ~ g 1 0 V-W ,t~ti ovet` ch Ma r. s Y ~ ATT SST i ~~~.r orothy P Bundy, City C rk ~i I I j I II I I I i f I II I I II i i I I I I i I I i i i I I I i i