APPROVEDThe City Council held meeting # 1491 on Monday, April 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. Zimmerman, Mr. Beach, Mr. Taylor, City Clerk/Treasurer Audray McCollum, City Administrator Jim Hammons and City Attorney Dean Chisholm.
Elvie Miller offered the prayer.
Mr. Zimmeman MADE A MOTION to approve the minutes for special council meeting to interview and appoint a council member held on March 19, 2018.
Mr. Beach SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Zimmerman, Beach, Taylor voted FOR:
MOTION PASSED.
Announcements:
Mayor Teske encouraged council to attended the Municipal Summit in Whitefish on May 23.
There is a position open for a city resident on the planning board, Ms. Smith said anyone with questions, please contact her.
Gary Armstrong has resigned from the city council as of March 30; the city will be accepting applications through April 13 until 5 pm. Applications are available at city hall and on the City of Libby web site.
Mayor Teske asked the council members to put together a program for the upcoming Transparency Week in June. Ms. Smith and Mr. Taylor volunteered.
Committee Reports:
Cemetery/Parks: None.
Fire: None.
Police: Chief Kessel reported there were 265 calls for service in March resulting in 26 arrests,42 citations,17 parking, and 7 DUI. Officer Dewitt graduated from the academy on Friday; today was his first day on patrol.
Resolutions/Ordinances: None.
Lights/Streets/Sidewalks: Will call a meeting next week.
Building: None.
Water/Sewer: None.
Personnel: None.
Budget: Mrs. Williams will be calling a meeting soon to start laying the budget out for FY 19.
Finance: None.
City Administrator: Report in the packet,
KRDC: Mr. Zimmerman said there would be a meeting the third Thursday of this month.
City-County Board of Heath: None.
Public Comment on Non- Agenda Items:
Denise Pepmiller,509 Idaho, asked to have chickens in town. Ms. Smith will set up a meeting with the ordinance committee.
New Business:
Vote to move forward with the fire-wise project on Flower Creek presented by Ed Levert and Ben Scott.
Mr. Levert, Lincoln County Forester, purposed a three-part prescription fire wise project.
1) 5 acres on the North side would be a regeneration project.
2) Southside bench a buffer line then harvest and regenerate the rest.
3) South end of the property make a group selection and regenerate the rest.
Mr.Levert then presented council with an estimated harvest of the timber.
Mr.Levert recommendation:
• Mark the timber to leave.
• Put the sale up for bid.
• Require a contract.
• Require liability insurance and workmans compensation insurance.
• Require independent contract extension.
Mrs.Williams asked about slash burning in the airshed?
Mr. Levert has been in contact with commissioner Peck, who has been in contact with DEQ and they are working on a plan.
Ms. Smith asked if Mr.Levert would manage the plan?
Mr. Levert said he plans to retire May 1; he would finish the markings by May 1.
Ben Scott, vice president of Kootenai Country ski club.
Scott said the clubs mission was to get kids out and active in the winter. To date, the club has raised $140,000.00 to upgrade the Flower Creek Ski Trail system. The fire-wise project will help with the following:
• Build a ½ mile of biathlon trails.
• Build a warming hut/maintenance building.
• Build a ½ mile of paved trail to allow for safe training of athletes.
Mr.Scott hopes that others will also take advantage of the paving(bikes, strollers, walkers, etc.).
The Flower Creek Ski trail will be the anchor for future development of the trail system to the historic Snowshoe road trail.
Mr. Scott’s proposal to the council, Kneller Logging has volunteered to do the fire-wire project on Flower Creek at no cost and donate all their proceeds back to the ski club. The other half of the profit would go to the City of Libby.
Mayor Teske asked Mr. Levert did he saw any problems if the project was not put out to bid?
Mr.Levert said the city would be setting a bad precedent.
Council discussion followed.
Mr.Zimmerman MADE A MOTION to move forward with the fire-wise project in Flower Creek; the project will be put out to bid as proposed by Lincoln County Forester Ed Levert.
Ms.Smith SECOND.
Mr. Scott said time is of the essence and he only has two years to get the project done. Next summer Pavco is coming over to do the paving.
Council comments followed.
Mr. Scott asked if legally this needed to be put out to bid. City Attorney Dean Chisholm would give Mr.Scott an answer tomorrow.
Council discussion followed.
Public Comment:
Jack age eight, has done the after school for three years, skiing is his favorite sport and is fun.
Kale Hall is nine, has done the after-school program for two years, and would like to build the warming hut.
Charlie Weber eleven would like to ski forever.
Cody Watson third grade would like more trails.
Williams, Smith, Zimmerman, Beach, Taylor voted FOR:
MOTION PASSED.
Approve all renewal business licenses received to date:
Ms. Smith MADE A MOTION to approve nine renewal business licenses received to date.
Mrs. Williams SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Zimmerman, Beach, Taylor voted FOR:
MOTION PASSED.
Approve new business licenses received to date:
• The Sacred Forest.
• Parker Construction.
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to accept all new business licenses received to date.
Mr. Beach. SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Zimmerman, Beach, Taylor voted FOR:
MOTION PASSED.
Approve claims and payroll for March 2018.
Mr. Zimmerman MADE A MOTION to approve claims and payroll for February 2018.
Ms. Smith SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Zimmerman, Beach, Taylor voted FOR:
MOTION PASSED.
Unfinished Business:
1) Libby Web Site Re-Design
Mrs. Williams is working on pictures and the welcome.
2) Council Rules and Procedures
Mayor Teske attended the mayor’s forum and reached out to how other cities are handling background checks and their council rules and procedures. Council discussion followed.
General Comments from the Council:
Mayor Teske encouraged council to attend to the spring summit in Whitefish.
Adjournment:
Mrs. Williams MADE A MOTION to adjourn the meeting.
Mr. Zimmerman SECOND.
Williams, Smith, Zimmerman, Beach, Taylor voted FOR:
MOTION PASSED.
The meeting ADJOURNED at 8:15 pm.
______________ Attest; ______________________________
Mayor, Brent Teske Audray J. McCollum City Clerk/Treasurer