APPROVED
The 1485 Regular Meeting of the City Council was held on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Brent Teske.
Present were Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Beach, Mrs. Ford, Mr. Armstrong, City Clerk/Treasurer Audray McCollum, City Administrator Jim Hammons. Mr. Zimmerman was absent.
Prayer was offered by Mr. Coblentz.
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to approve the minutes from council meeting # 1484 held on December 18, 2017.
Mrs. Ford SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Announcements:
Mayor Teske announced the next council meeting will be Tuesday January 16. Monday January 15 is Martin Lutheran King Day.
Committee Reports:
Cemetery/Parks: None.
Fire: None.
Police: Chief Kessel reported there were 205 calls for service in the month of December resulting in 19 arrests, 29 citations and 25 snow tickets. Cody Dewitt was hired as the new officer; he will start the police academy on January 7 for 12 weeks.
Resolutions/Ordinances: Ms. Smith will call a meeting later this month.
Lights/Streets/Sidewalks: Mr. Beach said the plow ordinance was in effect, he urged the public to pay attention, so their vehicles would not be towed. Mayor Teske said the city crew did a great job plowing the city roads.
Building: None.
Water/Sewer: None.
Personnel: None.
Budget: None.
Finance: November 2017cash report in council packets.
City Administrator: Report in council packets. Mayor Teske thanked Jeff Best for fixing the snow blower.
Ms. Smith would like copies of the city administrator report available to the public.
KRDC: None.
City County Board of Heath: None.
Public Comment on Non- Agenda Items:
None
New Business:
Oath of Office-Mayor Teske, Council Members Gary Armstrong, Gary Beach, Angel Ford and Kristin Smith:
Lincoln County Commissioner Mark Peck administered the oath of office for Mayor Brent Teske, Council Members Gary Armstrong, Gary Beach, Angel Ford and Kirstin Smith.
Oath of Office-Police Officer Cody DeWitt:
Mayor Brent Teske administered the oath of office for City Police officer Cody DeWitt.
Discuss eliminating the $9.40 water credit:
Mayor Teske gave a back ground on the 9.40 credit, stating it was put in place three years ago to offset rates when the new Flower Creek Dam was built. The monthly 9.40 credit is paid out of the International Paper Settlement Agreement. The city would like to start saving the monthly 9.40 credit to invest in future infrastructure projects as matching grant money.
Mr. Beach said the water/ sewer committee suggested a summer time water sprinkling credit of 3000 gallons to offset the purposed water bill increase.
Mr. Beach presented council and the public with different calculations.
Ms. Smith was in favor of using the 9.40 credit to invest in future infrastructure as matching grant funds.
Mrs. Williams said if the city continues giving the 9.40 credit then does a water project, with IP money gone the city would have to borrow money and rates would go up.
Mr. Beach said if the city is proactive with this now, the city could leverage $200,000 to $300,000 on projects making our infrastructure sounder, which potentially would keep rates lower in the future.
Public Commit:
Arlen Magill, 807 Magill, asked if council would give a break on sewer rates in the summer because the sewer is not metered.
Mrs. Williams said the sewer is an average of October, November and December water usage; it is already a flat rate.
Alan Gerstenecker, 250 Norman, applauded the city for its fiscal responsibility. Mr. Gerstenecker asked council to consider a four-month water sprinkling credit.
DC Orr, 1117 Nevada, said council does not understand the IP settlement agreement and gave council his back-ground knowledge of the International Paper Settlement Agreement. Mr. Orr said council was looking at this all wrong and would be stealing tax payer’s money. The city council needs to rethink this.
Mayor Teske asked council to take their time and talk to their constituents, and then the committee can make a recommendation.
Approve renewal alcohol license received to date:
Ms. Smith MADE A MOTION to accept all renewal alcohol licenses received to date.
Mr. Armstrong SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Approve renewal business license received to date:
Ms. Smith MADE A MOTION to accept all renewal business licenses received to date except Lincoln County Broadcasters Inc.
Mr. Armstrong SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Approve renewal business license received to date:
Ms. Smith MADE A MOTION to accept the renewal business licenses for Lincoln County Broadcasters Inc.
Mr. Beach SECOND.
Mrs. Williams ABSTAINED.
Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Approve new business licenses received to date:
- Shop& Drop Pick-up& Delivery Services
Mr. Armstrong MADE A MOTION to accept all new business licenses received to date.
Mrs. Ford SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Approval of Claims and Payroll for December 2017.
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to approve claims and payroll for December 2017.
Mrs. Ford SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Unfinished Business:
- Changes to dog regulation (ordinance committee)
Ms. Smith stated there will be draft at the next council meeting.
- Reduced speed in school zone (streets committee)
- Council Rules and Procedures (mayor)
- Libby Web Site Re-Design (website design committee)
Mr. Armstrong, Ms. Smith and Mrs. Ford are on the committee.
Ms. Smith asked anyone with ideas for the website to give them to Mr. Armstrong.
General Comments from the Council:
None
Adjournment:
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to adjourn the meeting.
Mr. Armstrong SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Beach, Armstrong and Ford voted FOR.
MOTION PASSED.
Meeting was ADJOURNED at 7:35 pm.
______________ Attest; ______________________________
Mayor, Brent Teske Audray J. McCollum City Clerk/Treasurer
952 East Spruce Street,
Libby, MT 59923
406-293-2731