THE 1226th REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 1, 2003 AT 7:00 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Mayor Berget called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called. Councilmembers Bauer, Bothman, Huntsberger, Leckrone, McElmurry and Roll, City Attorney Scott Spencer, Supervisor of City Services Dan Thede, Police Chief Clay Coker and City Clerk Heidi Morris were present.
Mr. Bauer moved to accept the minutes from the November 3rd regular and the November 17th and 20th special meetings.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Berget recognized Councilmember George Bauer and his many years of service to the City of Libby. This is his last Council meeting, Mr. Bauer has been on the Council since 1978. Mr. Bauer will be honored at the Mayor’s Banquet on Saturday, December 6, 2003.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The employee health insurance issue was tabled to the January 2004 meeting.
The LADC item was moved on the agenda to the end of the New Business.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Bauer made a motion to approve the 2004 liquor licenses.
Mr. McElmurry seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
The City Clerk presented the Council with a list of persons with delinquent water bills. The Council was asked to write off $1,086.53 and to turn these accounts over to the Credit Bureau for collection.
Mr. Bauer moved to write off $1,086.53 and turn these delinquent water bills over to the Credit Bureau for collection.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
Mike Frazer, engineer for Thomas, Dean & Hoskins, Inc., was on hand to give the City Council an update on the Johnson Acres project. T, D & H has sent a newsletter to the residents of the project area to keep them informed. The preliminary design should be finished around the middle of December, looking at a spring bidding. Discussion followed.
George Keck, TAG (Technical Advisory Group), updated the Council. Gordon Sullivan, technical advisor for TAG, was on hand for questions. Councilmember Charlene
Leckrone is the City’s representative on TAG. TAG is working with reports from the EPA. Discussion followed.
Rob MacDonald, LADC President, Earl Messick Sr. and Mike Munro, LADC Board members, presented a letter of recommendation to the Council. The LADC Board approved of the loan request for funds for a feasibility study for bringing affordable broadband to Libby and Lincoln County. Paul Rumelhart, Kootenai River Development, addressed the Council. Earl Messick Sr., LADC member and representative of the South Lincoln County Fiber optics Board, Spoke to the Council stating that economic development is the bottom line. Dana Bisaro, ZEROdB, was present to answer questions from the Council and audience members. The panel involved consists of Paul Rumelhart, Earl Messick, John Desch, Jeannie Gentry, Bill Bischoff and Dan Dedman. Councilmember Huntsberger expressed interest in being involved with the panel. Audience members Al Kelly, Frontier representative, Fred Weber, Sky Net, Rick Palagi, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, addressed the Council. The Council had received a copy of the Tasking Letter before the last council meeting on November 17, 2003 for review. The cost of Task Order #1 – Route Study is $113,600 and the cost of Task Order #2 – Feasibility Study is $210,934. Discussion followed.
Mr. Huntsberger moved to accept the LADC recommendation of a loan for the fiber optic/broadband project, the selection of Zero dB as the engineering company for our community fiber optic/broadband plan, referencing the “Tasking Letter” approach as presented by Zero dB. The loan will be for no more than $113,600 for Task One, Route Survey and for no more than $201,934 for Task Two, Feasibility Study.
Mr. Bauer seconded.
Mr. Bauer Yes
Mr. Bothman No
Mr. Huntsberger Yes
Miss Leckrone Yes
Mr. McElmurry Yes
Mr. Roll No
Motion carried.
Mayor Berget recommended Charlene Leckrone to fill the office of Council President.
Mr. Bothman moved that Miss Leckrone be appointed Council President.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Berget has been working on a new list of assigned committee chairs and members for the Council. Listing will be given out at the January 2004 meeting.
FIRE – Fire Chief Tom Wood gave the fire report for the month. There was 1 fire call for the city, 2 for the county and 4 for out of district, a total of 7 calls for the month of October.
POLICE – Police Chief Clay Coker reported 210 calls, 18 arrests, for the month of December. The new officer is now working on his own.
It was moved, seconded and carried to pay the claims as per the claims approval list.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Betty Jo Wood, Libby Revitalization, updated the Council, concerning the downtown arch, streetscape, funding, and grants. Councilmember Bothman is the City’s representative.
Mayor Berget reminded the Council of the Mayor’s Banquet on Saturday December 6, and the annual Christmas party for staff and Council on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 6 p.m.
Next regular city council meeting will be held January 5, 2004 at 7 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Mayor Anthony J. Berget
City Clerk, Heidi Morris
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A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 15, 2003 AT 5:30 P.M. IN THE PONDEROSA ROOM.
Mayor Anthony Berget called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance. Roll was called. Councilmembers Bauer, Bothman, Huntsberger, Leckrone, McElmurry and Roll, City Attorney Scott Spencer and City Clerk Heidi Morris were present.
Mayor Berget addressed the Council reviewing the history of the property and house owned by the City at 178 Glendora. This was a HUD house purchased for $1.00. Spring of 2003 the house was placed on the market for $45,000. Town and Country Realty was chosen to list the house from a drawing of all local realtors. The listing price was lowed to $39,000, after a review and recommendation from the all local realtors. The City has an offer of $32,000 at this time. Discussion followed.
Mr. Huntsberger moved to give a counter offer for the sum of $35,000 for the Glendora house.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
The next regular monthly council meeting will be January 5, 2004 at 7 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Mayor, Anthony J. Berget
City Clerk, Heidi Morris
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A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 19, 2003 AT 5:30 P.M. IN THE PONDEROSA ROOM.
Mayor Anthony Berget called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance. Roll was called. Councilmembers Bothman, Huntsberger and McElmurry, Supervisor of City Services Dan Thede and Deputy City Clerk Beth Burrell were present.
Mayor Berget presented the CARD draft to the Council. No action was taken.
Mayor Berget announced to the Council that the County would like to partner with the City on some of the parks in the area. The City has been asked to provide the water for the ice skating rink at Ski-Dale Park.
Mr. McElmurry made a motion to partner with the County on the local parks.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
Mayor Berget presented a buy/sell agreement on the Glendora house to the Council for approval.
Mr. Bothman moved to accept the agreement.
Mr. McElmurry seconded.
Motion passed.
The next regular monthly council meeting will be January 5, 2004 at 7 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Mayor, Anthony J. Berget
Deputy City Clerk, Beth Burrell