APPROVED MINUTESRegular Council Meeting
May 7th, 2018
#1493
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brent Teske.
Present were Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Beach, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Dufficy, City Clerk/Treasurer Audray McCollum, and City Administrator Jim Hammons.
Prayer was offered by Lloyd Miller.
Announcements:
Ms. Smith reminded council and public that the first week in June will be Transparency Week.
Committee Reports:
Cemetery/Parks: Mrs. Williams presented information for a new concrete bathroom at Fireman’s Park. She will be requesting funding for $31,000 from the Community Development fund. The city was not successful in obtaining a grant from Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks. She asks that this request be on the next agenda. Mrs. Williams said the Rotary Club pledged $15,000 towards the new bathroom.
There was more discussion from the Council on the need for the new bathroom facility.
Fire: None.
Police: Chief Kessel did not have statistics for the month due to a computer issue, but mentioned the month was about average. He talked about a few things that has been happening. The Police had executed a search warrant on a vehicle for drugs, and the person pleaded guilty to felony charges. Chief Kessel talk about the department getting up to speed with the new body cameras. He spoke some on the costs included with the body cameras for the storage and maintenance and was seeking funding to help pay for them.
Resolution/Ordinances: Ms. Smith said the committee had met April 17th, and that there is an agenda item that will be discussed. Urban chickens were discussed at the meeting and next meeting will have more discussion on the urban chickens.
Lights/Streets/Sidewalks: Mr. Beach said the committee met and discussed the trash receptacles on Mineral Ave. They looked at a couple of options and would have another meeting to have something for the next council meeting.
Building: None.
Water/sewer: Mr. Zimmerman said they were waiting for information so they could get started on the Nevada sewer. Mr. Hammons made a comment that he had received the information and that they would submit it to DEQ for review.
Mr. Fraser ask if this would be the proper time to bring up the water/sewer PER and the commitment for funding from the city. Mayor Teske said it would not because it was not on the agenda for a vote. The Mayor suggested it be brought up at Wednesday’s meeting when talking about the other resolutions. City Attorney Dean Chisholm said they could bring it up in the public comment for putting on the agenda.
Personnel: None.
Budget: Mrs. Williams said they hope to be working on the new budget by the end of the month.
Finance: Ms. McCollum mentioned she had put 2016 audit in everyone’s boxes.
City Administrator: Mr. Hammons mentioned the work being done around City Hall and that when finished the crews would be doing alley work, along with the guardrail near the (Riverfront) park. Mr. Hammons said there is sidewalk work being done around town.
KRDC: Mr. Zimmerman said there would be a meeting the following week.
City/County Health Board: None:
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items:
Sindy Filler, 336 Boulder Lane. Mrs. Filler said she was representing the DUI Task Force. Mrs. Filler was here to explain the Task Force and the many law enforcement agencies that were in favor of the new parking ordinance. Mayor Teske ask Mrs. Filler to hold up on her comments because the parking ordinance was on the agenda and she could comment then.
Denise Pepmiller, 507 Dakota, brought information from three communities that have chicken ordinances in place.
DC Orr, 1117 Nevada, talked about the IP funds and how the city has poor history of handling them. He would like to see the funds handled transparently and properly. He said the money is for the people affected by the groundwater from the mill. He said the city did not have a contract with attorney Allen Payne to negotiate for the City of Libby. He said they need to clarify how the funds are distributed and that the city was not managing the funds properly.
Mr. Fraser talked about the 4 water projects totaling 1.8 million dollars. He explained how the funding would work on the projects. He broke down the different projects and their costs along with the matching funds from the city. Ms. Smith made the comment that the council would of like to have this information two weeks ago. There was discussion about having more time to look into the funding options. Ms. Smith mentioned how important the projects are and how the process for these projects keep getting fowled up on. She then said she would entertain the motion for putting $200,000 matching for the projects. There was more discussion on how much work on projects could be done with $200,000 as matching. There was discussion on not using up all the IP funds for the projects. Mayor Teske then said the recommendation for $200,000 will be put on Wednesday’s agenda.
New Business:
Pay Raise for all Non-Union Employees.
Four non-union employees were not part of the union contract raises. Mrs. Williams pointed out that the Mayor and Council were also considered non-union employees and that in the past they have elected to not receive a raise. Mayor Teske asked that the vote for the raises be in two parts. One for the non-union employees and one for the Mayor and Council.
Mrs. Williams Made A Motion to approve the 1.6% raise to the non-union employees. Second by Mr. Beach. Mr. Dufficy recused as he was not present for the Union contract meetings.
Motion Passed.
Mayor Teske ask for a motion to not give the Mayor and Council a pay raise. Mrs. Williams commented that you can’t make a motion in the negative to not give a pay raise. Then Mrs. Williams said she would Make A Motion to freeze the wages of the Council and Mayor. Mr. Zimmerman Second.
Mr. Dufficy recused. Mrs. Williams, Ms. Smith, Mr. Beach, Mr. Zimmerman, and Mr. Taylor voted FOR:
Motion Passed.
Igniters Street Closure and Noise Ordinance Variance Request.
Mayor Teske introduced Mr. Gary Rantla from the Igniters car club, and turned the meeting over to Council President, Ms. Williams as Mayor Teske is a member of the Igniters. Ms. Williams asked Mr. Rantla to explain the club’s proposal to the council.
Mr. Rantla told the council that the Ignite the Nights event keeps getting bigger and bigger. The club has been working on a better route for the Friday night cruise. The club wants to change Mineral Ave, from a two-way street during the cruise to one direction. They put together a plan that would utilize Louisiana, Lincoln Boulevard, and other connecting streets to make the cruise on Friday night travel in one direction. The cruise will last 3 hours.
There was more discussion from the council on issues of alcohol during the event and if the club was looking for a variance for open container. Mr. Rantla said they were not going to allow anyone to have alcohol. If someone is seen with alcohol they will ask them to leave the cruise.
Ms. Smith Made A Motion to give the Igniters Car Club a street closure and to approve a noise ordinance variance request. Second by Mr. Taylor. Motion Passed
Approve Ordinance 1916:
An ordinance of the city council of the City of Libby Montana amending certain chapters of title 10-vehicles and traffic. First Reading.
Ms. Smith read the new ordinance and explained the changes to the council. She said the recommendation by the committee was to eliminate the restrictions on the parking from 2:30 am to 6:00 am. She said the city did receive complaint letters regarding the old ordinance. There was discussion on the snow removal ordinance, but Ms. Smith said this was still in place.
Mr. Zimmerman Made A Motion to accept the First Reading changes to Ordinance 1916. Mr. Beach Second.
During the Public Comment period, Mrs. Filler said the changes to the ordinance was very well received by the Lincoln County DUI Task Force. The Task Force received comments from the public in favor of the new changes to the ordinance.
All voted FOR:
Motion Passed.
Approve all renewal business licenses received to date:
Mayor Teske ask if everyone had a chance to look at the renewals, then asked for a motion to approve.
Mrs. Williams Made A Motion to approve all renewal business licenses received to date.
Ms. Smith Second.
All voted FOR:
Motion Passed
Approve all new business licenses received:
• Helping Hands House Cleaning Professionals
Mrs. Williams Made A Motion to approve new business licenses received.
Ms. Smith Second.
All voted FOR:
Motion Passed.
Approve Claims and Payroll for April 2018
Mrs. Williams Made A Motion to approve payroll and claims for April 2018.
Mr. Zimmerman Second.
All voted FOR:
Unfinished Business:
1. Resolution 1915
A Resolution of the City of Libby Montana providing for the amendment of the budget for the fiscal year 2017/2018. City Clerk/Treasurer Audray McCollum explained the budget amendment was for the two insurance checks for the Fire Hall roof. The amendment was to keep the books balanced as an insurance check came in and needed to be accounted for.
Mr. Zimmerman Made A Motion to approve Resolution 1915, budget amendment.
Mr. Beach Second.
During the Public comment period, Mr. Orr said he was confused about Resolution 1915 stating that he thought the amendment was to increase funding. Ms. McCollum explained that the amendment was to put the money into an account and then take it back out for the payment of the roof. It was to show where the money was to be spent.
There was more discussion from the Mayor and Council on the funding and it was explained that the money was not in the original budget and that it must be accounted for.
Mayor Teske asked for the vote. Mr. Dufficy recused himself, the remainder of the Council voted in favor. Vote Passed.
2. Libby Web Site Re-Design
Mrs. Williams said it was moving along slowly. Montana Sky setup a test account. This way they can change some things to see how they work, and how the site will look.
3. Council Rules and Procedures
Mayor Teske said he has turned over the update of the rules and procedures to Council President, Peggy Williams. Mayor Teske said he did not have the time to commit to doing the work. Mrs. Williams said she would go through the work that has been done so far and break it down into manageable parts.
General Comments from the Council
Mrs. Williams brought up issue of having things brought up at the Council Meetings that they didn’t have a lot of time to examine the content to be prepared. There was more discussion on this on having the items and information for the council and public to review.
Mrs. Williams talked about motion language from the council on the votes so in the minutes people will have a better understanding of what was voted on.
Mrs. Williams mentioned that she would like to see a monthly update from the trails person on the agenda.
Mrs. Williams would like the Council to be involve in putting together the committees. She mentioned the members should let her know what committees they are interested in being on.
Ms. Smith mentioned the new website, should have a deadline for when it will be operational. She commented on the website being consistent format for the agendas. Having council packet electronically. She also touched how she wants the site to be more transparent for the public.
Mr. Hammons mention how the Mayor is the driving force behind all the new and professional look to the City. Ms. Smith also shared that she agreed with the way things were moving with the City. She mentioned that there should be more communication in what is happening in the City. There was more discussion about the tree removal at the Police station. Everyone agreed that there should be better communication.
Adjournment
Mrs. Williams Made A Motion to adjourn the meeting.
Ms. Smith Second.
All voted FOR.
Motion Passed.
Adjournment was at 8:15 pm.
_________________ Attest; _________________________________
Mayor, Brent Teske Audray J. McCollum City Clerk/Treasurer
Transcribed by Jim Hammons.