THE 1276th REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Council Chair Charlene Leckrone called the meeting to order @ 7:02pm and led the pledge of allegiance.
Mr. Roll, Mr. McElmurry, Mr. Bothman, Mrs. Williams and Ms. Leckrone of the City Council were present. Glena L. Young, City Clerk/Treasurer, Mayor Berget, Dan Thede City Supervisor and Chuck Evans, City Attorney was also present. Councilman Bill Bischoff was not present.
Prayer was offered by Reverend Glen Gleaves, ST. Lukes Episcopal.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept the minutes from the Regular Meeting held January 7, 2008 and Special Meeting January 22, 2008.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion Passed unanimously
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Alley Abandonment, Tungston Holdings, Tim Rooney, still at Committee.
Police Social Security; The committee recommends that the City keep its portion of the Social Security paid toward the Police Officers Social Security and give the Police Officers portion back to the officers who paid into Social Security. It was decided that the final decision would be made and voted on during the next council meeting.
Water Bill, Fire Suppression; Still at committee; the owner of property involved has asked for the Fire Suppression water to be turned off. Dan Thede, City Supervisor commented that the Fire Suppression has been turned off per owner.
Trent Oleberg, River Front Park Pavilion, 12% money donated for park be used as administration fees; Trent stated that $51,000 dollars has been donated to the River Front Park Project so far and hopes to increase it another $5,000.
Mr. Bothman made a motion to grant 12% of the donations collected to administration costs.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion Passed unanimously
NEW BUSINESS
Emergency Resolution # 1695 to declare a disaster because of the severe snowfall in January 2008
Mr. Mc Elmurry made a motion to accept Emergency Resolution 1695.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion Passed unanimously
Igniters Car Club, Street Closure
Mr. Roll made a motion to grant the street closure to the Igniters Car Club, for August 15 & 16, 2008.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion Passed unanimously
COUNCIL ACTION/DISCUSSION
Mr. McElmurry made a motion to pay Claims and Payroll for January 2008
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
None
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Lloyd Miller of 940 Meadowlark Ln., Libby, Mt. Spoke for the public that was present. Mr. Miller took the stand and stated that there was new gambling establishment coming into the City of Libby and asked the council to refuse to let a new gambling casino come in.
Mr. Roll asked City Attorney, Chuck Evans, to look into the laws so the council could make a decision on whether or not to allow another gambling establishment in Libby and be within in the law doing so.
Phillip Erquiaga of 408 W Flower St. also spoke against a new gambling establishment in the City of Libby. Asking the City to refuse them a Business License.
At least 75 people were present to show support against a new gambling establishment coming into the City of Libby.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm by Council Chair, Charlene Leckrone.
Charlene Leckrone, Council Chair
Glena L. Young, City Clerk/Treasurer
SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008 @ 7:00pm
Meeting called to order at 7:08pm by Mayor Berget. The Pledge of allegiance was done.
Mr. Bischoff, Mr. McElmurry, Ms. Leckrone, Mr. Roll, Mrs. Williams and Mr. Bothman of the City Council were present. Mayor Berget, City Attorney, Chuck Evans and Glena L. Young City Clerk/Treasurer were also present.
New Casino Business License; Brad Fuller of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the owner of part of the Libby Shopping Center spoke first. Mr. Fuller spoke about his need to rent the space in the shopping center and spoke in favor of the Moose Lodge as to the help to the community it provides.
Mitch Fahland of 89 Quartz Rd., Libby spoke next. Mr. Fahland is the elected governor of Moose Lodge # 2671 that is proposing to move into the Libby Shopping Center. Mr. Fahland spoke of the many things the Moose Lodge’s do for the communities also.
A Parking issue was brought up on whether there would be enough parking for the Moose Lodge members without using some of the other businesses in the shopping center’s parking spaces. Mr. Fahland commented that not all of the members would be at the lodge at the same time and that the Moose Lodge meetings would be after the closing of most of the businesses in the center so parking should not be an issue.
Linda Gerard (Venture Inn), of 16 Edgewater Dr., Libby, spoke against the opening of a Moose Lodge in the Libby Shopping Center.
A show of hands was asked of the public present that was against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center. Most of the one hundred plus people raised their hands against the Moose Lodge. Then a show of hand was asked of the public for the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center. Less than 10 people raised their hands.
Tony Shaw of 500 Dawson, Libby spoke against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center.
Phillip Erquiaga of 408 W. Flower St, Libby spoke against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center. Mr. Erquiaga would like new zoning established to prevent any more gambling casinos in the City of Libby.
Arlen Magill of 801 Wisconsin, Libby spoke against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center.
Ted Werner of 84 Cherry Ck. Bluff, Libby spoke against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center, but announced that the City may not be able to stop it.
Mr. McReynolds of 921 Reserve, Libby asked the Moose Lodge if the community is being helped by the Moose Lodge will the Moose Lodge listen to the community when it says they don’t want a Moose Lodge.
Dale Stapinski of 6027 Kootenai River Rd. Libby brought to the public’s attention that a decision to keep out the Moose Lodge in Libby may bring a law suit from the owner or the Moose Lodge itself and that until new zoning is established the City of Libby may not be able to stop the Moose Lodge from coming into the Libby Shopping Center.
Council member Doug Roll asked the City Attorney, Chuck Evans what he has found out legally about letting the Moose Lodge come into the Libby Shopping Center.
Lenny Polik of 304 Spencer Rd. Libby spoke against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center.
Ramsey Foote of 450 McMillan Mdw. Rd. Libby spoke against the Moose Lodge coming into the Libby Shopping Center. She is concerned of the children’s needs when parents are drawn to gambling casinos.
Richard Lang of 512 Wisconsin Ave. Libby spoke against more casinos coming into Libby. Mr. Lang feels the City needs some kind of zoning but not like they have in Oregon.
Lonny Lieveot of 701 Obsidian Rd. Libby spoke against casinos in Libby and wants the community to think about what it wants to be known for in 5 years.
Christopher Beaks of 415 Dakota Ave. Libby spoke against more casinos coming into Libby.
Mayor Berget announced that the City was working on a planning and growth policy and that there are openings on the City Planning Board.
Mr. Roll, council member asked the City Attorney, Chuck Evans his opinion on what the city may do about this matter and if there is any recourse the city may have?
City Attorney, Chuck Evans took the floor and announced the last thing the City wants is a lawsuit. Mr. Evans said he would like to talk to Mr. Fuller, owner of the rental space in the Libby Shopping Center that the Moose Lodge wants to lease. Mr. Evans spoke of many statutes that pertain to this issue. Mr. Evans again mentioned that he would like to talk to Brad Fuller before the council makes its decision.
Mr. McElmurry made a motion to get Mr. Evans and Mr. Fuller together before the council makes a decision.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
Mr. Roll opposed.
Resolution 1694 to increase budget for River Front Park Pavilion; Mr. Bothman made a motion to accept the Resolution.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion Passed
Lincoln Blvd. house, for sale by Mrs. Wicka; Mayor Berget announced that the City is looking into the purchase of the Lincoln Blvd. house as a long term plan to extend the Blvd. through to the City Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Berget adjourned the meeting at 9:34pm.
Anthony Berget, Mayor
Glena L. Young, City Clerk