THE 1262nd REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 4, 2006 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Mayor Berget called the regular meeting to order at 7:02 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.
Mr. McElmurry moved to accept the minutes of the November 6, 2006 regular meeting and the minutes of the November 1 and November 13, 2006 special meetings as presented.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Resolution No. 1672 Approving CDBG Grant Application for Kootenai Industrial Park was presented. There was no discussion.
Mr. Bischoff moved to accept Resolution No. 1672 as read.
Mr. McElmurry seconded the motion.
Motion carried. Mr. Roll voted nay.
Resolution No. 1673 Approving a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for Cabinet Heights Annexation was presented. After discussion of the correct wording, it was decided to table the resolution until the December 12, 2006 special meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
Lincoln County Crisis Solutions has requested modification of the current lease with the City of Libby to include the option to purchase the property. They currently lease the facility for the monthly amount of the city’s loan with First National Bank. Upon purchase, they agreed to reimburse the city for all cost incurred in conjunction with the purchase and maintenance of the building and the amount of the current loan.
D. C. Orr, 1117 Nevada Ave., inquired whether the prior shelter tenants had been paid off for the monies they had invested. Mayor Berget stated they had been.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept the modified lease with Lincoln County Crisis Solutions, which included the option to purchase the property.
Mr. Bothman seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Neil Milner came before the city council requesting a lot line adjustment between two parcels of property he owns on California Avenue. The parcel measures approximately 65’ by 63’6” and each part contains a dwelling. The city council agreed it could easily be done but because these types of requests are few and far between, they felt they needed to do research the process. The item was tabled until the special meeting on December 12, 2006 at which time they plan to be prepared to grant the request.
Thirteen out of twenty-one 2007 Liquor License application renewals were received. The other eight need to be applied for before the end of the year in order to legally sell liquor within the city limits.
Mr. McElmurry moved to approve the thirteen applications.
Ms. Leckrone seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CEMETERY/PARKS – Ms. Leckrone reported all is going well with the parks.
CITY/COUNTY LIAISON – Rita Windom said Mines Management had received approval of the permit to begin drilling.
FIRE – Fire Chief Tom Wood presented the monthly report.
BUILDING/INDUSTRIAL PARK – Ms. Leckrone reported the LCCS lease had been approved.
INSURANCE – Tom Wood reported MMIA had approved two assistant fire chiefs to join the health insurance plan. He will gather the information and present it to the city clerk to process.
PERSONNEL – None.
POLICE – Chief Coker presented the monthly report.
RESOLUTIONS/ORDINANCES – None.
WATER – Mr. Bothman reported the water department had a difficult month with all the snow fall.
SEWER/LIGHTS – Mr. Roll stated with the amount of the monthly electric bill, Flathead Electric should be more on top of replacing the inoperable lights. The water line extension began today for the Search and Rescue building.
SIDEWALKS/CURBS – Mr. Bothman reported it has remained difficult to get merchants to clean the snow off the sidewalks. He felt it would be best to continue working with the Main Street program to encourage participation.
BUDGET/FINANCE – None.
JUDICIAL – None.
Ms. Leckrone moved to pay the claims as presented.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Mayor Berget scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 5:30 p.m.. He announced the Department of Commerce Tourism meeting was scheduled for December 5, 2006 in Kalispell. Mayor Berget plans to revise the committee lists for the upcoming New Year and asked for suggestions from the council members. He would also like to have more volunteers for the Planning Board.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Mike Frasier of TD&H Engineering announced his impending retirement and introduced his replacement, Ian Bailey.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIBBY CABINET HEIGHTS ANNEXATION DECEMBER 4, 2006
Mayor Berget called the public hearing to order at 6:02 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called. Present were council members Bothman, Bischoff, Leckrone, McElmurry, Roll and Williams. City Services Supervisor Dan Thede, City Attorney Charles Evans (6:25 p.m.) and City Clerk Chris Erickson were also present.
The public hearing was held to allow the residents and property owners in Cabinet Heights to speak for or against annexation. Mayor Berget briefly explained to the audience the area included for annexation, the reason for annexation and the process, which the city will follow. Mayor Berget addressed the issues that were in question at the previous public meeting held on August 11, 2006. City crews would be able to handle the additional snow clearing. The sewer and water plants would be able to deal with the additional flows. The city police have been patrolling the area for the last two months and see no problems continuing to do so after annexation.
Jim Rostorfer of Libby questioned where the city planned to find funding for the project. He was dissatisfied that the petition process for annexation was not being followed. Mr. Rostorfer was in favor of the annexation.
Burt Ward, 248 Highwood Dr. voiced his dissatisfaction on the annexation process being changed and felt the public had not been properly noticed. Mr. Ward was in favor of the annexation.
Gary Elwood, 425 Highwood Dr. asked for explanation of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding annexation. Mr. Elwood was in favor of the annexation provided the issues mentioned at the hearing were addressed properly.
Mayor Berget and City Attorney Charles Evans explained the annexation process the city is taking.
No other public asked to speak.
The public hearing was closed at 6:50 p.m.
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Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIBBY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL DECEMBER 12, 2006 – 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Berget called the special meeting to order at 5:36 p.m. Roll was called. Council members Leckrone, Crismore, Roll, Bothman, McElmurry, Bischoff (5:40 p.m.), City Attorney Charles Evans and City Clerk Chris Erickson were present. City Services Supervisor Dan Thede was absent.
Mayor Berget read Resolution No. 1673 Identifying an Urban Renewal Area, Approving the Creation of an Urban Renewal District, Appointing the Libby City Council as the Urban Renewal Agency and Approving the Creation of a Companion Tax Increment Financing District.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept Resolution No. 1673.
Mr. McElmurry seconded the motion.
Mr. Crismore asked several questions regarding what the next steps were going to be.
Jim Rostorfer asked what impact a TIF would have on the district.
Kirby Maki, Superintendent of Libby Public Schools, wanted assurance that once the project was paid off that the tax dollars would return to the proper channels.
Jerry Frament of 224 Neil Lane asked to be notified of any activity regarding this project as he is a property owner on Bowen Hill.
Motion carried.
Mayor Berget performed the first reading of Ordinance No. 1674 Extending the Corporate Limits of the City of Libby (Cabinet Heights).
Jim Rostorfer objected to the cost and the process of the annexation.
Ron Carter, 214 W. 4th St. objected to the cost of the project.
D. C. Orr, 1114 Nevada protested the annexation.
OLD BUSINESS
Neil Milner returned to the council to ascertain if he was able to do the lot line adjustment on his property on California. Mayor Berget said all he had to do was get it surveyed and go through the county for the legal lot line adjustment. The city had no issues with the request.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:22 p.m.
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Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIBBY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL DECEMBER 18, 2006 – 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Berget called the special meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Roll was called. Council members Leckrone, Crismore, Roll, Bothman, McElmurry, Bischoff and City Clerk Chris Erickson and City Services Supervisor Dan Thede were present. City Attorney Charles Evans was absent.
Ordinance No. 1674 Extending the Corporate Limits of the City of Libby (Cabinet Heights) was read.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept Ordinance No. 1674.
Mr. Roll seconded the motion.
Mr. Crismore had several questions regarding the area.
Motion carried. Mr. Crismore-nay.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.
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Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Chris A. Erickson, City Clerk
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIBBY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL DECEMBER 27, 2006 – 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Berget called the special meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Roll was called. Council members Leckrone, Crismore, Bothman, McElmurry, and Bischoff were present along with City Services Supervisor Dan Thede and City Attorney Charles Evans. Council member Roll and City Clerk Chris Erickson were absent
This special meeting was held to adopt Ordinance No. 1674. An attempt to adopt the ordinance took place on September 18, 2006, but an outdated version of the ordinance was mistakenly voted on.
Ordinance No. 1674 Extending the Corporate Limits of the City of Libby (Cabinet Heights) was read.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept Ordinance No. 1674 as read.
Mr. McElmurry seconded the motion.
All voted in favor of the motion except for Mr. Crismore who voted nay.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
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Anthony J. Berget, Mayor
Lee Bothman, Council Member