AGENDASPECIAL MEETING
MAY 2001
- Frank Hendrickson – Animal Control
- Tennis Court Proposal
- HUD Home – 1022 California Avenue
- Police Department – Proposal
- 2001 – 2002 Budget
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MAY 21, 2001 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Mayor Berget called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance. Council members Bauer, Baeth, Porter, Sorensen, Stephens and Thom, City Clerk, Kim Aarstad and Supervisor, Dan Thede was present.
Mrs. Thom made a motion to accept U-Serves proposal for installing tennis courts on city property.
Mr. Bauer seconded.
Motion carried.
Mrs. Porter made a motion to donate the property on 1022 California Avenue to the Libby Public Schools and Lincoln County Campus building program. Offer will be withdrawn if activity does not start within the next two years.
Mrs. Thom seconded.
Motion carried.
Police Chief, Clayton Coker, asked if the Police Committee had decided to hire the sixth officer. David Giffin left in April and a new officer was not hired at that time. Mr. Coker stated that the sixth officer was originally hired through a COPS grant and when the COPS grant was completed in 2000 the city kept this position in the 2000-2001 budget in order to fulfill the grants requirements. Mr. Coker asked for the council’s commitment in keeping this officer on for the 2001-2002 budget. Mr. Coker also asked that the council allow him to hire new officers off the hiring list that is established each year; this list is completed, submitted and approved each year by the Police Commission, this hire would be done without the going through the police committee.
Mrs. Porter explained that the city has tired to fulfill their commitment to the COPS grant requirements.
Mr. Stephens stated that he would like to keep 6 officers.
Mrs. Porter asked City Attorney, Scott Spencer, if the city had any obligation to have a police force.
Scott Spencer stated that under state law the city was not under any obligation to have a police force.
Mayor Berget, Mr. Bauer and Mrs. Thom explained to Mr. Coker that the city could not commit to keeping this position until the 2001-2002 budget was completed.
Mrs. Porter made a motion to have a six officer hired until June 30, 2001.
Mr. Bauer seconded.
Motion carried.
The decision to allow the Chief to have the hiring authority when an officer is terminated or resigns will be discussed at the June 4, 2001.
Gayla Benefield asked permission to have a memorial service for asbestos victims at the city cemetery on May 28, 2001.
Council was in agreement to allow this memorial service.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
THE 1195TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MAY 7TH, 2001 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
Mayor Berget called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance. Roll was called. Council members Bauer, Porter, Sorenson, Baeth, Thom and Stephens; Deputy City Clerk Beth A. Burrell and Supervisor Dan Thede were present.
Mr. Stephens moved to accept the April Minutes.
Mr. Bauer seconded.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
Mike Frazer of TD&H presented the preliminary engineering report on the water distribution system.
Mr. Frazer gave a brief history of the system. He explained that the water system was badly in need of repairs, amounting to $27,000,000. He went over the first of four priorities
PRIORITY NUMBER ONE:
Replacement of the transmission line from the reservoir to the treatment plant.
Survey and repair of leaks.
Replacement of all steel lines within the core area of the city.
Painting of the city’s 500,000 steel storage tank.
Construction of a loop to the west end of town for improved fire protection.
Aggressive pursuit of meter replacement.
Mr. Stephens asked about leak detection and the amount of water lost in the system.
Mr. Les Skramstad asked about the asbestos pipe and was reassured that it posed no hazard to the customers of the water system.
Mr. Stephens pointed out that the pipe was not designed to carry water.
Mr. Frazer also suggested the council implement an increase of 3 to 5 percent annually in water rates.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mr. Sorenson made a motion that the equipment (tables and chairs) be allowed to be removed from the Ponderosa Room if the room rental was paid and a damage deposit be made of $1000.
Mr. Bauer seconded the motion.
Motion passed.
Mr. Sorenson made a motion that placement of handicapped parking signs in requested areas, one for the sheltered workshop and two in front of the VFW be allowed.
Mr. Bauer Seconded the motion
Motion passed
NEW BUSINESS
Mrs. Thom brought up the medication for euthanasia of animals is no longer available. Mrs. Porter mentioned that a carbon monoxide gas chamber was not a viable consideration.
Mrs. Eileen Carney explained that there was a bill in the legislature to certify workers for the animal shelter to be able to euphemize the unwanted animals. It failed, and because of that, the medication is no longer available to anyone other than veterinarians.
Bob Tunis introduced Tim Sharnon, who presented the proposal for Turner Mountain Ski Area to fund the chair lift installation and lodge development with funds from the $8,000,000. He stated that the cost of the project is $440,000. They asked for half of that from the LADC. They are raising the other half themselves. They plan to do the chair lift this summer and build the new Lodge next year.
Mr. Stephens made a motion to provide Kootenai Winter Sports with $220,000 for the Turner Mountain Ski Area project.
Mr. Bauer seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Mr. Russell Barnes, president of the EDC explained a little about economic development, then introduced Mr. Bob Tunis, Executive Director of EDC.
Mr. Tunis gave an analogy comparing well drilling to the efforts of the EDC, aimed at getting the Council to help fund the efforts of the EDC. He explained that the plan was to attend trade shows and place a newspaper ad in the western addition of the Wall Street Journal. These efforts would target the desired business people. The EDC will also use part of the funds to subsidize one third of the personnel funds with the money they are asking for.
Discussion with the council followed.
The EDC is asking for funding in the amount of $57,000.
Mr. Stephens made a motion to allow the funding requested.
Mrs. Thom Seconded
Motion Carried with Council members Porter, Sorenson, Baeth, Thom and Stephens voting in favor of the motion and Councilmember Bauer voting against it.
The Lincoln County Campus Development Agreement is now in place between the county, the city and the college.
Mr. Spencer explained the changes in the agreement as follows:
The City would pay the second annual payment on the $500,000 dollar intercap loan for the next 10 years. The college would pay the first semi-annual payment. The City would pay out directly when need the $250,000 dollars. The City would still be committing $500,000. If the college should close, the property would be reappraised and the $8,000,000 fund would be reimbursed in the amount 2/3 of the appraised value.
Mrs. Porter made a motion that the modification of the document be approved.
Mr. Stephens seconded.
Motion passed.
Mrs. Thom reported on the proposed location for the tennis courts at City Hall Park. The U Serve organization is asking for a piece of land to be leased to them. They feel they could raise the funds to build the courts. They are asking for the use of property at the back of the City Hall Park, nearest to the Ponderosa Room. The walking track would be left intact. They want to know if there is a possibility they could use this land. If so, they would go to the next step. After some discussion, the council agreed that they would agree to allow the usage of this area if U Serve decided on this location.
Mr. Bauer made a motion to reappoint Doreen Gullingsrud to the Board of Adjustments.
Mr. Sorensen seconded.
Motion carried.
Mr. Thom gave Mayor Berget a list of the new appointments to the Shade Tree Committee, They included: Mitch Reichel, Bob Zimmerman, Charlie Lawrence, Etta Doubek and Bob Parker.
Mrs. Thom made a motion that these people be accepted as the Shade Tree Committee.
Mrs. Porter seconded.
Motion passed.
Bids were opened for Propane and gravel
GRAVEL
Remp Sand & Gravel 4.14 ½” Crush
16.85 3/8” Crush
Ward Crushing 4.32 ½” Crush
4.15 ½” Crush
13.75 3/8” Crush
PROPANE
Amerigas .968
ASPHALT & CHIP SEAL
T BAR S
CRS-2 FOB Libby 148.46 per ton
CRS-1P FOB Libby 168.41 per ton
HF150S FOB Libby 173.40 per ton
HFE300-HP FOB Libby 194.84 per ton
MC-250 FOB Libby 234.08 per ton
0.829 psqy CRS-2
0.875 psqy CRS-2P
0.902 psqy HF150S
Bids were put into committee.
Approval for the Commerce Flats subdivision was placed in committee. Mr. Spencer will assist the committee in coming to a decision.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mrs. Thom reported that Fireman’s Park is now open. The host is in attendance. Mrs. Thom is in contact with the Forest Service in the event that a replacement hose is needed.
Mrs. Thom announced that Tom Horelick would no longer be the chairperson for the Shade Tree Committee. It has been reassigned to Jerry Bennett.
As City/county liaison, Mrs. Baeth reported on the following committees: Airport: The overlay on the runway has been completed, along with taxi extension, the animal control fence and the hangar access. The Kootenai National Forest is going to have air center at Libby. That will include three helipads and an administration building. Animal Control: will still pick up stray animals. Air Quality: No problem since freeze guard is being used, there us no longer a dust problem.
Mr. Sorensen asked Tom Wood to report on the planning meeting held last Saturday. He also gave the fire report for the last month. Mr. Woods also informed the council that the fire department was looking for a place to store the old fire trucks, either at the museum where they would be on display, or down by the sewer plant in a building built for their storage, where they would be better protected from rodents.
Mr. Spencer is to coordinate a meeting with W.R. Grace and the EPA regarding the building at Industrial Park. Mr. Sorensen reported that the buildings were still contaminated.
Mrs. Thom commented that Mr. Beagle, the insurance agent, is starting to work with City Clerk, Kim Aarstad on the budget and looking for other insurance companies.
Mr. Stephens reported that union negotiations had been set back. There is a hearing set for the end of May regarding supervisor status.
Mrs. Porter announced that the committee was not ready to make a recommendation regarding the hiring of a new police officer. Mr. Stephens commented that due to the union negotiations the city had to remain status quo. No changes could be made that would change the status of any department. Mr. Teske gave the monthly police report.
Mr. Spencer commented that he has been working on an ordinance to repeal some of the out of date laws in the codebook. Mr. Spencer stated that random drug sampling for the council would fall under a resolution. Mrs. Porter asked about reduced lighting and sprinkling for properties with larger acreage.
Mrs. Thom reported that the water plant is working well. The transmission crew is in the process of metering non-metered accounts and three water leaks have been located and repaired.
Mr. Bauer announced that the infrastructure study on the sewer plant is in. The street crew has finished taking out the trees in Lincoln Blvd and planted the replacement trees. The sprinkler system is in place.
Mrs. Porter stated she had received a letter from Mr. Maki, stating that he and the college are willing to meet the requests of the city council regarding the burned out house at 1022 California Avenue being turned over to the college for a project. Proceeds from the project would be used to fund future projects. Future projects would be located inside the city limits when possible. If the program ends, proceeds from the last project will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and the city will be released from all liability associated with the building and the property. This item will be added to the agenda for the May 21st meeting.
Mayor Berget reported on the meeting held for mayors and council at the Dam.
Mr. Stephens reported that the budget and finance committee was gearing up for the new budget. Mrs. Porter commented that the committee heads needed to get wish lists from their departments.
Mr. Bauer made a motion to pay the claims.
Mr. Sorensen seconded.
Motion passed.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Beth A. Burrell, Deputy City Clerk