Eureka Town Council Meeting
Eureka Town Hall — Eureka, Montana
Monday, March 13, 2017
Present AND Constituting a Quorum:
Mayor LeeAnn Schermerhorn
Council Members Jennifer Hannay, Rosalie Adauto, Bill Savage, Kevin Jefferies
Clerk Lisa Flynn
Visitors: Nikki Meyer, Tracy McIntyre, Miles Plemons, Neil Duram, Rita Collins, Gretchen Lancaster, Michael Lancaster, Linda Lord, Duane Martin, Cannan Smith, Kevin Ruble
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 Jennifer Hannay, carried all ayes. Rosalie Adauto made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.
Reports. There were no questions on the reports.
Mayor Schermerhorn decided to cover New Business first.
NEW BUSINESS:
Creekside sewer hookup agreement. Mayor Schermerhorn said the agreement is not finished. A letter has been prepared that states Creekside Trailer Park will be allowed to connect to the Town of Eureka sewer system. Bill Savage made a motion to approve the letter that states Creekside Trailer Park will be allowed to connect to the Town of Eureka sewer system, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes.
Budget amendment. Mayor Schermerhorn said that as part of the filtration project a water rate analysis was conducted and a rate increase appeared to be necessary. The conservative estimate of revenues was found to be short of actual revenues by about $52,000. There was found to be unused funds in water funds for payroll and a dump truck. These findings have made it possible to not have to raise water rates. Mayor Schermerhorn read Resolution No. 2017-733. There is a Public Hearing scheduled for March 16, 2017 at 9:30 am on Resolution No. 2017-733 to Amend the 2016-2017 Budget to reflect these changes.
Fireworks ordinance update. Mayor Schermerhorn told the council that the ordinance dealing with fireworks allows the sale of fireworks, but not the use of fireworks in town limits, which is a conflict that needs to be addressed. It was agreed to discuss the fireworks ordinance at a work session on April 4, 2017 at 6:00 pm.
OLD BUSINESS:
Water Filtration Project. Tracy McIntyre said SRF is granting the Town $87,500 in loan forgiveness. There is no projected rate increase with this project. Ms. McIntyre said the council needs to approve the filtration project budget to include the loan forgiveness and an extension of the warranty on the filtration equipment from 18 to 30 months. Town attorney Clif Hayden has reviewed the warranty extension. Jennifer Hannay made a motion to approve the filtration budget to include the warranty extension to 30 months and the loan forgiveness of $87,500, seconded by Kevin Jefferies, carried all ayes. Tracy McIntyre said that bid opening is set for March 27, 2017 at 7:00 pm and a special meeting would need to be scheduled for bid approval.
Wastewater Project. Tracy McIntyre said our application for funding to TSEP for the Wastewater Project Phase 1b is looking very positive. Rural Development has sent a letter saying our application looks good.
Midvale stop signs. The second reading of Ordinance No. 2017-329 was waived. Rosalie Adauto made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2017-329to Amend Eureka Municipal Code by Designating Additional Stop Signs in the Midvale Water and Sewer District, seconded by Jennifer Hannay, carried all ayes.
Lions Club – Memorial Park play equipment. Mayor Schermerhorn said the preliminary agreement was received today but has not yet been reviewed. Approval of the agreement will be put on the agenda of the special meeting on March 27, 2017.
Town Hall repair update. Mayor Schermerhorn said that repairs on the Town Hall building started last week.
MOU with Lincoln County for fairgrounds sewer engineering. Mayor Schermerhorn tabled the topic.
Riverside Park bandstand. Rita Collins said the Sunburst Foundation received a $2,500 donation to be used for a project in town. They would like to see it used toward a bandstand in Riverside Park. Lincoln County High School student Cannan Smith and his teacher Kevin Ruble worked on a design for the bandstand and presented it to the Mayor and council. Ms. Collins said they asked Western Building Center for an estimate for the cost of materials and were told about $6,300. There will also be costs for moving in ground sprinkler lines and running electrical lines from the pole to the bandstand. Volunteer labor will be used for construction. Mayor Schermerhorn said there will need to be a user fee for electricity. It was decided to put this topic on the agenda for the working session on April 4, 2017 and the Mayor will speak with Clif Hayden regarding any agreements that will need to be completed for the project. Neil Duram said there was a Boy Scout who was in the process of deciding what his Eagle Scout project would be and he would mention the bandstand project to him.
COUNCIL AND MAYOR COMMENTS.
Bill Savage asked what was happening with the little library in Riverside Park that the council had approved. Mayor Schermerhorn said they were probably waiting for spring to get started. Nikki Meyer said they just had a fundraiser for the project. Mayor Schermerhorn said town engineer Dick Dyer will be looking at the intersection of 1st Avenue East and 8th Street when he is here. The Mayor submitted a claim to the state for $26,000 in emergency funds for snow removal and the water main leak but it is not known how long it will be before we have a response.
PUBLIC COMMENT on non-agenda items. Boy Scout Miles Plemons gave a report to the Mayor and council about how the Boy Scouts are organized in Montana and what their functions and purpose are. Mr. Plemons also reviewed projects scouts have done in the town that added value to the community. There was discussion on the various projects, such as the Veterans Memorial and visitor kiosk in General Pershing Veterans Memorial Park.
With nothing further to come before the council, Mayor Schermerhorn adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
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LEEANN SCHERMERHORN, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Lisa Flynn, Clerk/Treasurer