THE 1228th REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MARCH 1, 2004 AT 7:00 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Mayor Berget called the public hearing for Ordinance #1617 to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll was called. Councilmembers Bothman, Crismore, 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.
Mayor Berget read Ordinance #1617 – Police Jurisdiction, it was the second reading and public comment was opened. Councilperson Huntsberger asked for clarification. Jim Rostofer, Box 275, 576 Reese Court, Libby, addressed the Council asking about the wording. He stated he was against the ordinance. D.C. Orr, 1117 Nevada, Libby, commended on the ordinance and was in favor. Mayor Berget closed the comments.
Ms. Leckrone moved to accept Ordinance #1617 – Police Jurisdiction #1617.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Berget closed the hearing at 7:10 p.m.
Mayor Berget called the regular council meeting to order. Roll was called. Councilmembers Bothman, Crismore, 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. Roll moved to accept the minutes from the February 2nd regular and the February 18th special meeting.
Mr. McElmurry seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
TAG community letter was tabled. The Council will review and address at the special meeting on March 15, 2004 at 7 p.m.
City Attorney Scott Spencer gave a short update on condemned houses around the City. Discussion followed.
Wayne Haines addressed the Council concerning the Cabinet Heights petition update. A petition to annex the area around the golf course and Cabinet Heights has been assembled and distributed. There are 99 registered voters in that area. At the present time, forty(40) registered voters that are home owners have signed the petition, nine (9) registered voters that are renters have signed, and six (6) non-registered homeowners have signed. The committee is working with some others in the area for additional signatures. These signatures along with the petition will be brought to the City Attorney Spencer for review.
Mr. Spencer said that if the numbers are correct, they have fulfilled the requirements for presenting the petition to the Council. After review, City Attorney Spencer will report to the Council. Because of the grant deadlines, May 2004, for the possible sewer project in the Cabinet Heights area, Mayor Berget asked the Council to make a decision about allowing Bill Buxton representing the engineering firm Morrison Maierle, to start working on the grant application. Task Order #2 for $15,282 and Task Order #3 for $15,320 were explained by Mr. Buxton. Mayor Berget reminded the Council that the City still had approximately $15,000 remaining from the sale of the Glendora house. Discussion followed. Mr. Haines said he would bring in the petition with signatures for City Attorney Spencer’s review on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mr. Huntsberger moved to approve signing Task Order #2 and #3 from Morrison Maierle once the petition and signatures have been reviewed and approved by City Attorney Spencer.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Tiffany Bower addressed the Council concerning funding sources. Mayor Berget asked Bill Buxton, Morrison Maierle, to explain the grant process and the project costs of approximately $2.4 million. Tom Wood, Fire Chief, asked the Council to check with the Rural Fire District and the possible annexation. After discussion there was a call for vote.
Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Berget explained to the Council that every ten years the State of Montana requires local governments to have a Local Government Review election. The last one was in 1994. The question of whether to do a review must be put on the ballot in June by the County.
Mr. Bothman moved to ask Coral Cummings, Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder, to add the City’s review question to the election ballot in June 2004.
Mr. Roll seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PARKS – Gary Huntsberger – The skateboard park is owned privately and possibly looking for a new location. The building program at the college is interested in helping to relocate the park. Mr. Huntsberger will follow up. Russ Thompson, Babe Ruth (formerly Little League), updated the Council concerning the possible bathroom facilities at the City baseball park by the cemetery. He will be giving a presentation to the LADC. Discussion followed. Councilperson Huntsberger had met with the Parks Board and the next meeting will be Thursday at the Credit Union. Mr. Huntsberger informed the Council of the Libby School District’s acceptance of his proposal to tear down the old school building.
FIRE – Fire Chief Tom Wood gave the fire report for the month. There were 2 fire calls for the city, 4 for the county and 0 for out of district, a total of 6 calls for the month of February, 21 for the year so far. The Rural Fire Department will have a meeting on March 8, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fire Hall.
POLICE – Stu Crismore reported that he had met with Chief Coker. Police Chief Clay Coker reported 178 calls, 25 citations, 12 arrests, for the month of February. He announced the resignation of Officer David Bower, who is moving with his family to Alaska. The job opening has been advertised. Annie the drug dog is retiring, due to illness.
RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE –Stu Crismore asked the Council about reviewing the parking ordinance downtown concerning the two-hour limit. Mayor Berget suggested he meet with the Downtown Business Association.
WATER – Lee Bothman reported that his committee and Dan Thede have been working with the Port Authority concerning the water rates on the property next to City Hall.
SEWER/LIGHTS – Gary Huntsberger told the Council that the three new special-order streetlights had arrived and would be installed next to the Memorial Center in the next few days. The base and wiring had already been done. The police were asked to keep up the checking of street light outages through out the City. The cost of electricity for the streetlights should be reviewed with Flathead Electric.
STREETS/ALLEYS – Dan Thede explained maintenance policy for alley ways. Mr. Thede reported that a record is kept of troublesome road areas in the spring during frost changes.
BUDGET/FINANCE – Charlene Leckrone reminded everyone that budget time is coming fast. Stu Crismore asked that a copy of last year’s budget be given to new council members for review.
JUDICIAL – Stu Crismore asked his committee to pick a date, probably evening to set up a meeting with Judge Briggs. Mayor Berget reminded them to be sure to post the meeting.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS – Gary Huntsberger asked for a copy of the union contract. The contract will be up June of 2005.
KRDC – Paul Rumelhart updated the Council in the Port Authority and broadband.
TAG – Charlene Leckrone informed the Council that TAG is regrouping at this time.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS – Doug Roll – Meeting on a variance will be March 8, 2004 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
It was moved, seconded and carried to pay the claims as per the claims approval list.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Tiffany Bower asked questions about the LADC payments to Zero dB, concerning broadband.
Jim Rostofer addressed the Council asking questions concerning the petition that is circulating around Cabinet Heights.
Next regular city council meeting will be held April 5, 2004 at 7 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm.
A working committee meeting continued after the meeting, Mayer Berget relayed information he had gathered at a conference the previous week to the Council. Discussion followed.
Mayor Anthony J. Berget
City Clerk, Heidi Morris
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A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MARCH 15, 2004 AT 7:00 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, Crismore, Huntsberger, Leckrone, McElmurry, and Roll, City Attorney Scott Spencer, Supervisor of City Services Dan Thede and City Clerk Heidi Morris were present.
Mayor Berget read Resolution #1618 concerning election to provide a study commission and funding. Mr. Roll moved to accept Resolution #1618.
Mr. Bothman seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Berget presented the CARD community letter. The letter of support was reviewed. Discussion followed. Mr. Huntsberger moved to support the CARD community letter. A signature page will be obtained for all Council and Mayor to sign.
Ms. Leckrone seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Berget announced that as of June 1, 2004, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital (Rehab) will be terminating the lease contract with the City for office space in City Hall. At the present time, the City is working with the Assessor’s office to lease that space starting July 1, 2004. The building committee will work out the rent details with the Assessor’s office. Montana Athletic Club would like to lease the gym part of that space which is now closed off by a portable partition. MAC has been interested for some time in leasing more space and has asked for a commitment for the Council.
Mr. Roll moved to commit to working on a lease agreement with Montana Athletic Club to include the additional gym space.
Mr. Bothman seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Berget announced a MMIA informational workshop prior to the regular meeting on April 5, 2004 at 6 p.m.
The 2002-03 audit reports had been received from Daniel Parks CPA and distributed, the public notice will be published in the Western News. The public was reminded that a report is kept at the front office of City Hall for public review.
The next regular monthly council meeting will be April 5, 2004 at 7 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Mayor, Anthony J. Berget
City Clerk, Heidi Morris
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THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS WAS HELD ON MARCH 31, 2004 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE CITY OF LIBBY CITY HALL, 952 EAST SPRUCE AVENUE, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Mayor Anthony Berget called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance. Roll was called. Councilmembers Bothman, Crismore, Huntsberger, McElmurry and Roll, City Services Supervisor Dan Thede and City Clerk Heidi Morris were present.
Mayor Berget turned the hearing over to Bill Buxton, engineer for Morrison Maierle Inc., for a short presentation. Mr. Buxton distributed individual community assessment sheets to be filled out by all present. During the presentation, Mr. Buxton explained that the purpose of the meeting was to hear from the public to obtain public input concerning community needs. He gave examples of possible needs for the Libby community, reminding everyone of the consideration needed for low and moderate income levels, additional fee costs or increased rates. Possible available funding sources, such as grants and loans, were reviewed. Each person was asked to prioritize their own list on the assessment sheet each had been given. Potential list priorities could be reviewed using the following guidelines: compliance with the law, threats to public health and safety, benefit to low & moderate income, effects on entire community, strong community consensus, other state or federal assistance available, long term problem or solution and how competitive. Mr. Buxton closed his presentation by asking, “What are the needs of Libby?”
Councilperson McElmurry expressed that one of biggest needs would be to replace the old existing water mains in the City.
Mayor Berget said economic development, anytime we can bring in jobs.
Councilperson Bothman agreed that economic development was very important. We are in need of lots of good paying jobs.
Mr. Thede mentioned improving the City’s infrastructure status to accept some of the new businesses that could come in.
Councilperson Roll said infrastructure was important, but to bring in businesses first.
Paul Rumelhart, Kootenai River Development Council, spoke about the need for broadband and communication needs. Mr. Rumelhart informed the Council about the Port Authority property. Discussion followed.
Ideas were discussed on how to bring in new businesses.
Jim Mayo, Lincoln County Port Authority, asked the City Council for feedback and on what they would like to see happen and ideas on how to make it happen.
Bill Buxton, engineer for Morrison Maierle Inc., suggested a retreat with the three cities, county and port authority.
Councilperson Crismore asked questions on the demolition of the Strand building behind the new Town Pump building. Discussion followed.
The next regular monthly council meeting will be April 5, 2004 at 7 p.m.
Hearing adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Mayor, Anthony J. Berget
City Clerk, Heidi Morris