city of choteau PO BOX 619 CHOTEAU, MT OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MARCH 05, 2019 MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

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1 city of choteau PO BOX 619 CHOTEAU, MT OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MARCH 05, 2019 MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL Council present were: Mayor Dan Lannen, Council Member Stewart Merja, Council Member Steve Dogiakos, Council Member Mark Major and Council Member Jill Owen. Staff Present were: Finance Officer Jodi Rogers and Public Works Director Mike Maples. Citizens present were: Tom Frownfelder of TBID & Chamber; Melody Martinsen from the Acantha; Community Member Rich Lusky; and representing the Choteau Elementary 4 th Grade Class: Nylessa Peters, Kelly Johnson, Paula Gunderson, Cody Blanchet, Kelby Blanchet, Dawn Gunderson, Rachel Christensen, Aylacia Peters, Halli DeShaw, Zabrielle Merja, Ava Gunderson, Kadence Blanchet, Addi Christensen, Claire Long, Emily Thompson, Kale Gunderson, Briana Cascell. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Lannen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes of the February 05, 2019 meeting was made by Council Member Dogiakos, seconded by Council Member Merja. The motion passed with all in attendance voting aye. A motion to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2019 meeting was made by Council Member Owen, seconded by Council Member Major. The motion passed with all in attendance voting aye. REQUESTS TO BE OUT OF STATE There were no requests to be out of State. UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Council March 05, Page 1 of 6

2 DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL MEETING TIME CHANGE It has been previously brought up that there have been requests to move the City Council meeting time from 7pm to an earlier start time. Council Member Dogiakos stated that it would work better for his schedule if the meetings started at least a half hour earlier. Other Council Members thought they would be able to accommodate a 6:30pm start time. We will draft a resolution and have it on the next meeting s agenda. NEW BUSINESS CHOUTEAU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4 TH GRADE CLASS 7 TH AVE NW SPEED ISSUE The 4 th Grade Class from Choteau Elementary has been doing a school project to promote safe driving on the street in front of the elementary and high school (7 th Ave NW). They came to the City Council meeting to approach the council with their concerns. Rachel Christensen, teacher of the 4 th grade, gave an introduction. The 4 th grade class started with a writing project to be part of the solution, rather than just complain about the traffic. The children took turns speaking at the podium about their efforts: Claire Long, Zabrielle Merja, Haley Deshaw, Kale Gunderson, Ava Gunderson, Emily Thompson, Candice Blantchet, Brianna Cascell, Addi Christensen and Haley Deshaw. They all spoke about their project including: writing letters/ s to Google Maps to help redirect traffic away from the school, letters to the Acantha newspaper, slide shows to the Choteau High School students to educate them about dangerous driving, the need to add more speed bumps and barriers in front of the school, putting up posters around town and businesses, and their Penny War fundraising efforts. They asked the Council if the City would display a poster in their front window. They also approached the Council about the possibility of adding more speed bumps in front of the school along 7 th Ave NW. Their last Penny War fundraiser brought in approximately $300. It cost approximately $2,500 to install the original 2 speed bumps currently in front of the school. City Council agrees that there is a problem with too much traffic, and speeding vehicles, along 7 th Ave NW. Mayor Lannen spoke about current efforts to add more signs along the highways to help direct traffic down Main Street. VOTE ON CORLENE MARTIN S PORT AUTHORITY BOARD RESIGNATION REQUEST A motion to accept Corlene Martin s resignation from the Choteau Area Port Authority (CAPA) was made by Council Member Dogiakos, seconded by Council Member Merja. The motion passed with all in attendance voting aye. Mayor Lannen asked Council Members to send anyone interested in being on the CAPA board to talk to him. VOTE ON RES. NO. 834 GAS TAX DISTRIBUTION REQUEST City Council March 05, Page 2 of 6

3 A motion to approve Resolution No. 834 was made by Council Member Dogiakos, seconded by Council Member Major. The motion passed with all in attendance voting aye. CLAIMS A motion to approve the claims, check # , with a total of $22,063.81, was made by Council Member Owen, seconded by Council Member Merja. The motion passed with all in attendance voting aye. REPORTS PARKS AND REC TAST FORCE Not in attendance. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR See attached report. In addition to the report, he talked about the leaking roof at the City Pavilion. This Thursday, they are fixing insulation in the kitchen roof. They also have a plan to fix some heating vents and insulation for the remaining parts of the roof. FINANCE OFFICER S REPORT She recently went to funding classes at Rural Water in Great Falls. There she learned about 4 different planning grants that the City may be able to use. She also spoke about future budgeting issues in the next year for replacing computers and software licensing for City Hall and the Sewer Treatment Plant. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Dogiakos: He reminded everyone about the upcoming Education Foundation fundraiser on March 15 th, and the Scout fundraiser on March 22 nd. Council Member Merja: Mentioned that the 15mph electronic speed limit sign was not working possibly due to snow on the solar panel. He also thanked the public works crew for the continued snow removal efforts. Council Member Owen: She mentioned that there were some sidewalks along Main Ave North where snow removal was not being maintained by home/business owners. Council Member Major: None City Council March 05, Page 3 of 6

4 Mayor Lannen: Thanked the public works crew for clearing snow at the Pavilion for the recent event for the St. Joseph s Pancake Dinner. He also gave an update on the playground equipment. The Kawanis approved $8,500 for the new equipment, possibly more. He is also asking local people for a few more donations. We hope to have the new equipment installed by the 4 th of July, He also thanked the public works crew for their hard work. TREE AND SIDEWALK Not in attendance. ZONING PERMIT REPORT for JANUARY 2019 Donald Baumgartner, 31 3 rd Ave SW, Wheel Chair Ramp PUBLIC COMMENT Rich Lusky thanked the public works crew for doing a great job with snow removal. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm. Daniel J. Lannen, Mayor Jodi L. Rogers, Finance Officer City Council March 05, Page 4 of 6

5 Public Works Progress Report March 5, 2019 Wastewater: 1. Influent flow: Good News, influent flow is slightly lower than last year: 2. The bug crisis at the treatment plant is improving. We are doing about everything we can control-wise to assist the favorable biology. The primary contributing factors, cold temperatures and weak strength influent (low BOD) are factors we cannot control. We are investigating alternative sources for augmenting BOD concentration. 3. The bug crisis has caught up to us in regards to effluent quality and treatment ability for BOD, TSS and E. coli.: Date Effluent BOD (mg/l) % R emo val B OD Effluent TSS (mg/l) % R emo val T SS Effluent E. coli 2/4/ ND mpn/100 ml 2/11/ ND mpn/100 ml 2/19/ ND mpn/100 ml 2/25/ ND <1.0 mpn/100 ml These lab results are below our current permit values; however, we might receive a violation for percent removal. Our influent has been so dilute with ground water that maintaining adequate percent removal requires essentially removing all of the BOD and TSS with dilute sewage we need to produce Non Detect results in our effluent. We have not been able to do that with the bug crisis. 4. We have submitted a proposal to use grant money to purchase a new sewer camera, which would enable us to identify ground water infiltration sources in the collection system. The primary funding agency is noncommittal at the moment. We have asked for a decision by Friday, March 8, 2019, so we can move forward either in purchase of the equipment or further pursuit of funding with other agencies. Public Water System: 1. Water tests for January 2019 came back good. 2. We submitted a proposal for a planning grant with the DNRC for the Water Preliminary Engineering report revisal. We are working on another planning grant proposal for the Montana Treasure State Endowment Program. City Council March 05, Page 5 of 6

6 3. Water audit for the system indicated an increase in lost water for February (47%). 4. Due to the severe cold temperatures during February, several water users have encountered freezing of service lines. As of today, we know of 9 service lines that have froze in the ground between the main line and the home/business. To my knowledge, this is fairly unprecedented. It appears likely that the trend will continue and could possibly increase, as the frost penetrates deeper into the ground. Streets/Sidewalks: a. February was a busy month for snow removal. b. The old General dump truck repairs are complete and it is back in operation. c. The trailer project for storage/transportation of signage and barricades has been stalled due to snow removal. Hopefully get back to this project next week. d. Planning/budgeting for chip sealing is stalled due to snow removal. Hopefully get back to this project this week. e. Public Works has asked for a meeting of tree and sidewalk board to obtain input on potential tree and sidewalk issues. Details are available in the Tree and Sidewalk packet. We have had the normal mix of everyday tasks like recycling, water shut offs, water meter repairs, water sampling, waste water sampling, garbage collection, line location requests and mechanical repairs. City Council March 05, Page 6 of 6