THE 1286TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2008 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Mayor Berget called the meeting to order at 7:00pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Prayer offered by Robert Mast of the Amish Community Church.
Council members Mrs. Williams, Mr. Roll, Mr. Bothman, Ms. Leckrone, Mr. McElmurry and Mr. Bischoff were present. City Clerk/Treasurer, Glena L. Young, City Supervisor, Dan Thede and City Attorney Chuck Evans were also present.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept the minutes from the Regular Meeting July 15, 2008 with the paragraph concerning the Business License Ordinance stricken from the minutes.
Mr. Bischoff seconded the motion.
Motion Passed
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There were no Public Comments concerning the SID.
Mr. Bischoff made a motion to approve the Final SID Resolution # 1709 (Mineral Ave. Beautification Project)
Mr. McElmurry seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
Business License Ordinance # 1708 was read by Mayor Berget. It will be put on the August agenda for approval after public comment on August 19, 2008.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept Resolution # 1705; Economic Development Loan to City of Libby for new roof
Ms. Leckrone seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
Mr. D.C. Orr of 1917 Nevada Ave. asked what the payments would be for the loan from the Economic Development Fund to the City of Libby. Mayor Berget answered the question stating the payments would be ($7,409.77), Seven Thousand, Four Hundred Nine Dollars and 77/100, per year for 15 years.
There was an amendment to Resolution # 1706, Minimum water usage during the summer months, to strike out the increased water usage for the commercial users.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept Resolution # 1706 with the changes stated above.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept Resolution # 1707, to expend lighting fund monies in the amount of $52,342 to pay for the lighting on the Mineral Ave. SID
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
Barbara Turner of 1003 Main Ave. came before the Council to ask for a variance to keep her two Pit Bulls in the City Limits. Ms. Turner was asked to give the information she brought to the council to go to committee for revision review and a decision to be made at a later date. Kayrie Lippert of 711 Commerce Way apt#10 spoke for Ms. Turners Pit Bulls stating that she and her family had been around Ms. Turners Pit Bulls and they were well behaved and have never scared her or her family. Richard Devine of 2113 Hwy 2, spoke for Ms. Turners Pit Bulls stating they were very nice dogs and well behaved. John Myster of 1003 Main Ave. stated that unless they are able to keep their Pit Bulls in the City of Libby they will not be able to buy the house at 1003 Main Ave. Jordan Turner of 1003 Main Ave. stated that she loves her dogs and really wants to keep them. Dayton Myster of 1003 Main Ave. stated that the dogs are very nice and that he loves his dogs and wants to keep them.
COUNCIL ACTION/DISCUSSION
Mr. Roll made a motion to approve Payroll and Claims for July 2008.
Ms. Leckrone seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
Ms. Leckrone made a motion to accept the gas, diesel and propane bid from Moore Oil and the crushed gravel bid from Remp Sand and Gravel.
Mrs. Williams seconded the motion.
Motion Passed.
It was decided to have a Working Committee Budget Meeting on August 12, 2008 @ 6:00pm.
It was also stated that the new breakfast meeting place would be at the Venture Inn starting August 13, 2008 at 7:00am.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Trent Oelberg gave an update on the Fred Brown Pavilion.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Tom Wood reported on the Fire Department.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
There was no public comment.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm by Mayor Berget
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Mayor Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Glena L. Young, City Clerk/Treasurer
BUDGET WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2008 @ 6:00PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Meeting started at 6:00pm. All council members were present.
There was a discussion of the budget for FY-09.
The meeting ended at 8:15pm.
______________________________
Mayor Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Glena L. Young, City Clerk/Treasurer
THE 1287TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2008 AT 6:00PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Council president Charlene Leckrone called the meeting to order at 6pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council members Mrs. Williams, Mr. Roll, Mr. Bothman, Ms. Leckrone, Mr. McElmurry and Mr. Bischoff were present. City Supervisor Dan Thede and City Attorney Chuck Evans arrived at 7pm. Absent was Mayor Tony Berget and City Clerk/Treasurer Glena L. Hook.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept the minutes from the regular meeting of Monday, August 4th with the correction of changing the work revision to review (bottom paragraph regarding Ms. Turner).
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept the minutes of budget working committee meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.
Mr. McElmurry seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARING: 2nd reading of business license. Hearing no public comment the public hearing was closed.
PUBLIC HEARING: Sewer and water rate increase.
Ed Dutton, 1014 Mineral Avenue. Mr. Dutton recently returned to Libby and cleaned his lawn of stumps and debris. After receiving a water bill of $118.00 last month he feels that he is being docked because he has a nice lawn.
Valarie Parson, 186 Pioneer Rd. Ms. Parsons asks why there is another rate increase? Mr. McElmurry responded that the increase helps cover the increased cost of chemicals, shipping and costs of operating the water treatment plant. Our 26 year old wastewater treatment plan needs work and the city needs to build the reserve to accomplish that.
Verna Siebenforcher, 1401 Idaho (since 1958). Ms Siebenforcher wanted to know what happened to the sprinkling credit during summer months. Mr. Bischoff responded that the city had hired an attorney and was in negotiation with International Paper to restore the funds for those credits. She also questioned how the sewer charge is computed. Mr. Roll explained. Her next inquiry was why the information about the sewer and water increases were not mailed to users as in the past. No one knew why that had not been done.
Mark Schell, 304 West Larch. Mr. Schell moved to Libby in June, 2007. His bill had been $35.00 consistently, then jumped to $50.66. The increase could possibly be explained by the sewer charge being missing when the bill was only $35.00. He was advised to check with the billing clerk for a full explanation. As rates increase when can we expect to see some repair? The town is in terrible repair, the eagle area is a weed patch.
Ed Dutton, 1014 Mineral Avenue. Mr. Dutton asked what the reasoning is, when so few people keep their property looking good pay a price and felt the cost should be distributed more equally among everyone. He also commented that living on Mineral Avenue he sees the problems caused by the unmarked three lane intersection in which drivers make incorrect turns. He feels that it is an accident waiting to happen.
Valarie Parsons, 186 Pioneer Road. Ms. Parsons would like to get a mailing on future proposed increases, as well as notification of the extra 2,000 gallons. She does not buy the local papers, purchases the Kalispell paper instead. Ms. Parsons does feel that the city does a good job of maintain roads.
Hearing no other public comments the public meeting on water and sewer increases was declared closed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Resolution 1710, Resolution by the city council of the city of Libby, Montana approving a rate increase for the city’s water system and Resolution 1711, Resolution by the city council of the city of Libby, Montana approving a rate increase for the city’s sewer system.
Mr. McElmurry made the motion to accept Resolution 1710 and Resolution 1711.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
Resolution 1706 adjusting the base minimum gallon usage for the city’s water users during the summer months.
Mr. Roll made the motion to add back into the resolution the addition commercial increase to 10,000 gallons per month.
Mr. Bischoff seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
City Service Road Right of Way.
Mr. Bothman reported on the purchase of right of way on City Service Road. He asked the council to approve $6,500 to make the purchase from Joanne Newman. $4,995.00 is the asking price for the strip of property, $1,505.00 for any fees and costs of the purchase. The property across the road has 4 owners on the title, it will take a couple weeks to track them all down.
Mr. Roll made the motion to approve $6,500 for the purchase of right of way from Joanne Newman.
Mr. Bothman seconded.
Motion Passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Steve Schnackenberg, Schnackenberg and Nelson Funeral Home wants to build a niche wall at the city of Libby cemetery. The request was sent to committee for recommendation. The niche wall would hold up to 40 sets of remains and would allow for more flexibility at the cemetery. Current rule restricts 2 sets of remains per grave. Mr. Schnackenberg understands he will need to buy 2 lots. The niche wall will be a significant investment on his part and he is willing to do so. He has spoken with Mr. Thede and there seems to be adequate space between blocks 1 & 2. His understanding is the lots would sell at face value. He is looking at spending around $15,000. The wall would be double sided. To place it in the newer section would require 4 lots and a code change. The sidewalk comes with niche walks. He would like to do it this fall.
PUBLIC HEARING: Townsend Subdivision
Lisa Odewaldt, county planner presented proposed major subdivision “Townsend” with legal description SE 1/4 NE1/4
Section 4 Township 0 North, Range 31 West, PMM. The subdivision will create 2 commercial lots. One current is occupied by Napa. The second lot being created will become the home of a credit union.
Hearing no public comments the hearing was closed.
Kendra Lind presented proposed revisions to the current air pollution control ordinance. Those revisions are needed to allow for better enforcement of the current ordinance. A joint county/city public hearing will be October 1st at 10am in the Lincoln County Commissioners office.
Ms Leckrone read the proposed changes.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept the revisions to the current air pollution control ordinance.
Mr. McElmurry seconded.
Motion passed.
Mainstreet request for ED grant. Trent Oelberg requested the council consider a $39,000 grant to complete streetscape on Mineral Avenue.
It was decided to have a council working committee meeting on the streetscape project, Tuesday, August 26th at 6pm.
COUNCIL ACTION/DISCUSSION
Request for variance request to allow Ms Turners pit bulls in the city limits.
It was the recommendation of the Ordinance committee that the variance request be denied. It was recommended that the family be given 30 days to relocate. Mr. Evans then stated that the council could not grant a variance.
Mr. Bothman made the motion to grant the family 30 days to come into compliance with the ordinance.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion passed. The 30 days begins end as of September 20.
Mr. Bischoff made a motion to accept the preliminary budget with one amendment to increase legal fees to 33,000.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
It is the recommendation of the police committee that Chief Coker be allowed to attend the FBI academy, but he must use accumulated comp time, leave time etc to do so.
Mr. Roll made a motion to accept the recommendation.
Mr. Bischoff seconded.
Motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Council Chair, Charlene Leckrone
Attest:
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Council Person, Peggy Williams