THE 1258th REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON AUGUST 7, 2006 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Mayor Tony Berget called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called. Council members Bischoff, Bothman, Leckrone, McElmurry and Roll, City Attorney Charles Evans, Supervisor of City Services Dan Thede and City Clerk Chris Erickson were present. Council member Crismore was absent.
Kevin Lindgren offered prayer.
Mayor Berget presented community announcements.
Due to lack of a quorum, the regular August monthly meeting was rescheduled for Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
COMMITTEE REPORTS
HEAR THE PUBLIC
The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
THE 1258th REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON AUGUST 9, 2006 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Mayor Tony Berget called the regular meeting to order at 6:42 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called. Council members Bischoff, Bothman, Leckrone, and Roll, City Attorney Charles Evans, Supervisor of City Services Dan Thede and City Clerk Chris Erickson were present. Council member McElmurry and Crismore was absent.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept the minutes of the July 10, 2006 regular meeting with one change and the minutes of the July 12, July 17, July 26 and July 31, 2006 special meetings as presented.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
The street committee met regarding the proposal from WGM Engineers for the Streetscape Plan. The committee is still working with the merchants. They would like to hold another public meeting with the downtown merchants regarding the project before a decision is reached to accept the proposal.
NEW BUSINESS
Charlie Wright from the Department of Commerce presented information on W2WA. This is an application that is completed once and submitted to the various agencies (TSEP, CDBG, etc.) when requesting grant money to fund projects.
Libby Nordicfest requested street closure for the annual parade and festivities that are scheduled for September 8, 9 and 10, 2006.
Mr. Roll moved to grant the street closure request for Saturday, September 9, 2006.
Ms. Leckrone seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Brian Wilkins came before the city council to request annexation into the city limits for his property located at 221 Mahoney Road. He was asked to submit a formal property description to the city in order for the city to complete the request with a resolution.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept the annexation of the said property.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Leroy Thom presented an update for CARD. Dr. Brad Black presented a $5,000 check to the City of Libby per the agreement of an annual payment and thanked the council for having faith in their endeavors.
Thomas Cook from CDM gave an update of the progress of the cleanup at the railroad tracks. Asbestos was discovered when the water line to the David Thompson Search and Rescue building was excavated. The cleanup will begin about August 28, 2006 after the award of the contract. He stated they have no plans to excavate outside the trench area.
Gary Huntsberger came before the council concerning a letter sent to the Kootenai Heritage Council regarding their LADC loan that was in arrears. He stated since there had been no formal disbandment of the LADC, the council should renegotiate the loan with KHC. Although Mr. Huntsberger was not formally representing KHC, he wanted to insure that some type of system was in place for any future LADC loans or grants that would be approved.
Wayne Hirst, representative for the Downtown Merchants Association, spoke to the council regarding to the Streetscape Plan. He did a survey of all the property owners and came up with the majority opposed to the project. As he stated, they had no opposition to cleaning up and improving Mineral Avenue but they felt the project was too large and Libby had too many other needs. He stated the association was in favor of sprucing up Libby, not transforming it.
The fiscal year 2006-07 preliminary budget was discussed briefly with a few minor changes made. The changes were to remove the verbiage of carpet in city hall and to cancel the MMIA insurance representative for a cost of about $2100 per year. Libby Revitalization also requested continuance for one more year utilizing the excess balance of $35,416.20 left in the grant.
Mr. Bothman moved to allow LRI to continue for one more year utilizing the balance of $35,416.20.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept the fiscal year 2006-07 preliminary budget as amended.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
There were no committee reports.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Peggy Williams requested clarification of the CARD payment of $5,000 to the city.
Gary Huntsberger restated he was not representing KHC but wanted clarification of the LADC situation.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIBBY WAS HELD AT THE CABINET VIEW COUNTRY CLUB AUGUST 11, 2006 – 8 p.m.
Mayor Berget called the special public meeting to order at 8:06 p.m. Present were council members Leckrone, Bothman, Bischoff.
The public meeting was held to inform the residents and property owners in Cabinet Heights of the possibility of annexation. Mayor Berget told the audience that there was a possibility a 30-notice of annexation letter would be submitted. He wanted to allow the property owners a chance to understand what the process meant and how it would affect them.
Other topics of discussion were financing, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and city verses county tax comparison.
The public was encouraged to participate in the discussion and allowed time to ask questions.
Meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.
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Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIBBY WAS HELD ON AUGUST 28, 2006 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Mayor Berget called the special meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. Roll was called. Present were council members Roll, Bothman, Bischoff, McElmurry, City Services Supervisor Dan Thede and City Clerk Chris Erickson. Also present were Corky Pape, Public Works Supervisor and Clay Coker, Chief of Police. Absent was council member Leckrone.
Mayor Berget asked City Clerk Chris Erickson to give a brief overview of the budget for fiscal year 2006-07. As she explained, the budget will be tighter this year due to lack of reserves in most of the funds. The Johnston Acres project required most of the reserve money. The projected revenues will not recognize much increase from the previous year. The mill levies for the fire department pension fund will be increased for this fiscal year. Due to a law change in 2001, which required a percentage calculation verses a mill levy, an actuary will be completed to replenish the pension funds over a three-year period. Plans needed to be put into place to begin reserving funds to repair the water and sewer plants and to replace equipment as needed.
Resolution No. 1664 Fixing the Annual Appropriations for the City of Libby, Montana as set Forth in the 2006-07 Preliminary Budget Approved by the City Council was read.
Mr. Roll moved to accept Resolution No. 1664.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Resolution No. 1665 Setting the Salaries and Wages of Elected Officers, Appointed Officers and City Employees was read.
Mr. Roll moved to accept Resolution No. 1665 with one change.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Resolution No. 1666 Making Tax Levy for the Year 2006 Upon All Real Property in the City of Libby for General and Special Purposes was read.
Mr. McElmurry moved to accept Resolution No. 1666.
Mr. Bischoff seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Mayor Berget stated the public meeting at Cabinet Heights, which was held on August 11, 2006, was received well. He said the next step was to mail a letter to the Cabinets Heights property owners regarding the impending annexation. He asked the city attorney to compose the letter. As one property owner stated he never received the public meeting notice, it was suggested signing and notarizing a certification of service to insure when the mailing was sent. An ad will also be posted in the Western News paper.
Mr. Bischoff moved to send the annexation letter to the Cabinet Heights property owners who reside within the sewer project.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
No public comment was offered.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
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Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk