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
-------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------
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
|
