Council Minutes: February 2017

Eureka Town Council Meeting

Eureka Town Hall — Eureka, Montana

Monday, February 13, 2017

 

Present AND Constituting a Quorum:

Mayor                                      LeeAnn Schermerhorn

Council Members                         Rosalie Adauto, Bill Savage, Kevin Jefferies

Clerk                                         Lisa Flynn

 

Visitors:           Nikki Meyer, Naomi Wheat, Tracy McIntyre

Mayor Schermerhorn called the council meeting to order at 7:00 pm

PUBLIC COMMENT on agenda items.   None

Rosalie Adauto made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.  Bill Savage made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Rosalie Adauto, carried all ayes.

Reports.  There were no questions on the reports.

OLD BUSINESS:

Water Filtration Project.   Tracy McIntyre said she has the most recent budget for the project.  We are finalizing the SRF loan for $175,000.  We are still awaiting final DEQ approval and there is a conference call scheduled for Wednesday. A resolution will be needed for the SRF loan application.  The town is talking to SRF about any possible loan forgiveness.  Rosalie Adauto made a motion to approve an amendment to the town contract with The Dyer Group for an additional $10,000 for the filtration project, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.  The amendment was needed due to the additional time and work needed on the filtration project.

 Wastewater Project.  Tracy McIntyre said a letter has been sent to legislators in support of funding for infrastructure projects.  The Town of Eureka is ranked 9th for funding Phase 1b wastewater project with SRF.

Midvale stop signs.   Mayor Schermerhorn had the first reading of Ordinance 2017-329 which amends the Eureka Municipal Code by designating additional stop signs in Midvale.  Bill Savage made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2017-329bamending the Eureka Municipal Code Regulating Vehicle Traffic by Designating Additional Cross Streets and Avenues for Stop Sign Control, seconded by Rosalie Adauto, carried all ayes.

Lions Club – Memorial Park play equipment.  Mayor Schermerhorn said that Town Attorney Clif Hayden is working on the MOU.

Town Hall repair update.  The bid from the contractor has been submitted and we are waiting for the insurance company to give approval.

 NEW BUSINESS:  

Rendezvous Parade.  Naomi Wheat said the parade will be on April 29th.  There will be more people involved in parade set up this year, and the police have already been spoken with regarding their involvement.  Rosalie Adauto made a motion to approve the Rendezvous Parade on April 29, 2017, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.

 Riverside Park gazebo.  Mayor Schermerhorn said that Rita Collins has been in touch with her regarding building a gazebo in Riverside Park.  Ms. Collins said that the Sunburst Foundation has funds they would be willing to contribute to the project.  Mr. Rubble, a teacher at the high school, has a student interested in designing the project.  Mayor Schermerhorn said that improvements to Riverside Park are in the strategic plan.  Kevin Jefferies said a gazebo would be a nice addition to the park.  The mayor said power would need to be run to the gazebo.  Naomi Wheat said the Chamber of Commerce would contribute some funds to the project.  Tracy McIntyre said a MOU would be needed between the Town of Eureka the Sunburst Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce.  Rosalie Adauto made a motion to approve Jennifer Hannay to speak with the Sunburst Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce regarding the project to construct a gazebo in Riverside Park, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.

 MOU with Lincoln County Fairgrounds sewer engineering.  Tracy McIntyre and Mayor Schermerhorn met with the Forest Service and Commissioner Mike Cole regarding getting sewer to the county fairgrounds.  There is a draft MOU that would get the engineering services started that town attorney Clif Hayden needs to review.  Town engineer Dick Dyer will do the work and Lincoln County will pay for it.  Bill Savage asked how many sewer services would be added and Tracy McIntyre said the project would result in an additional 8 or 9 sewer services.  Rosalie Adauto made a motion to accept the MOU with Lincoln County based on approval by town attorney Clif Hayden, seconded by Bill Savage, carried all ayes.

Union agreement extension.  Mayor Schermerhorn said the Teamsters Union would like to extend the agreement with the town until July 1, 2017.  Kevin Jefferies made a motion to agree to extend the Town of Eureka’s agreement with the Teamsters Union until July 1, 2017, seconded by Bill Savage, carried all ayes.

 Resort Tax open house.  Mayor Schermerhorn said she would like to co-host an open house with Lincoln County and the Chamber of Commerce to receive public input regarding a resort tax.  Tracy McIntyre said Lincoln County would cover the cost of bringing in a facilitator.  Rosalie Adauto made a motion to approve co-hosting an open house on the topic of a resort tax, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carries all ayes.

 Online Banking authorization.  Bill Savage made a motion to authorize LeeAnn Schermerhorn, Jennifer Hannay and Lisa Flynn to have access to online bank account information and to have the ability to pick up bank materials and information, seconded by Rosalie Adauto, carried all ayes.

 Water meters/estimated readings.  Mayor Schermerhorn said that due to snow, 168 meters were not read last month.  New meters that can be radio read would stop that from being a problem, but it would be a large investment.

 Resolutions for heavy snow emergency.  Mayor Schermerhorn said the town spent $5,000 for additional snow removal, blading roads, and snow blowing to the sewer ponds.  Kevin Jefferies made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-731 to Authorize the Mayor to Declare a Winter Snowfall Disaster, seconded by Bill Savage, carried all ayes.  Rosalie Adauto made a motion to approve Resolution 2017-732 to Authorize the use of Emergency Reserves & Engaging an Additional 2 Mill Emergency Levy, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.

COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS.  Rosalie Adauto asked if residents are responsible for their frozen service lines, and Mayor Schermerhorn said that, according to town ordinance, residents are responsible for their service lines from the main to the residence.  Kevin Jefferies asked if the town clears alleys of snow. Mayor Schermerhorn said Public Works first responsibility is for the roads.  Only after the roads have been cleared and sanded are alleys plowed.

PUBLIC COMMENT on non-agenda items.   Tracy McIntyre said she has been receiving questions regarding website updates, and most Facebook comments regarding Public Works snow removal during the storm were very positive.

With nothing further to come before the council, Mayor Schermerhorn adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

__________________________________

LEEANN SCHERMERHORN, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

________________________________

Lisa Flynn, Clerk/Treasurer