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Home  News Latest City, county reach accord on judge position
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City, county reach accord on judge position |
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Wednesday, 08 November 2006 |
Saying, “We’re trying to save the city some money,” Councilman Gary Brown talked about why Justice of the Peace Audrey Brown should take over the duties of city judge Monday evening.
The city came to a general agreement with Brown and the county in which the county will allow the use of the JP chambers, not charge for school training and compensation. She will be paid $16,200 a year and out of that her clerk will also be paid.
There will be a one-year contract for her services. Attorney Mary Ann Ries noted that, “Instead of two-day availability you will have five-day availability, that’s important.”
Councilman Sandy Syvertson asked Brown how much time would be devoted to city work, and Brown said, “At least eight hours a week, it could be more.” Mayor John Shevlin commented, “This is a good package.” With that the council voted 4-0 to retain JP Brown.
In other business the council had a quote opening for a pickup truck.
Only one quote request was returned and that came from Courtesy Ford. Their price was $23,795 less $6,520 allowed for a trade-in for a final cost of $17,260.
Discussion followed on why there was only one quote request. Richard Anderson, Public Works Director, didn’t have an answer, saying he had hand delivered requests to both dealerships in town. It was suggested that the quote from Courtesy Ford be tabled and then ask Van Motors why they didn’t offer a pickup quote. However, Agnes Fowler said the price offered by Courtesy Ford was now out in the public and Van Motors could make a lower offering.
Asked about the pickup being traded in, Anderson said, “I wouldn’t pay a $1,000 for this pickup.” With that, the city council voted 4-0 to accept the quote from Courtesy Ford for a pickup truck.
On a related vehicle topic, the council moved to get a new engine for a back-up police car. It will have a two-year, 24,000-mile warranty and cost $3,547.70 installed.
In other news from the police department, the council accepted a recommendation from the police commission and Chief Gary Dent and hired David Scott Buennemayer. He takes over for officer Troy Anderson who recently resigned his position.
He has seven years experience as an officer and is presently working at a pre-release center in Great Falls. He has also been through basic training in Helena. The council moved to approve the hiring. It is expected that he will come on board right after Thanksgiving.
Cheryl Curry from the Port Authority was on hand to see about the granting or a loan to the P.A. of $6,000. That money comes to the city from Horizon Lodge, Blue Sky Villa as a payment in lieu of taxes.
Those funds have already been locked into the Industrial Park fund and with the budget already set and passed, there is no funding for the P.A.
A motion was made to check with auditors to see if a loan can be taken out of Industrial Park funds, but it was withdrawn before it could voted on. The council will check with the auditors however, to see if this is possible.
It was noted that the P.A. needs to make their request in writing in the latter part of April when department heads begin to make up their budgets. The P.A. was under the impression that receiving the $6,000 BSV payment was going to be automatic.
The comment came out that the county had kicked in $14,000 for the P.A., and in the past, the city has kicked in the $6,000 from BSV. Councilman Syvertson, who is also the city representative on the P.A. board asked, “What has Valier put in?” He did not get an answer to his question.
The funding matter for the P.A. was tabled until the Nov. 20 meeting of the council.
Two building permits were approved, one at 407 S. Indiana for a storage shed and another for a new home at 1001 6th Ave. SW.
The city signed a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Valier and accepted a bid for $3,000 for the SPCC plan for oil containment.
Freyja Swanson, a CHS student, was on hand to see about getting bins for recycling. Cost of the bins would depend on the number of bins and a location is yet to be determined.
The city approved one of their 12 uses of Norley Hall at Blue Sky Villa for a blood drive on Dec. 14.
It is anticipated that more room will be needed for this blood drawing because of a mayor-to-mayor challenge between Shelby and Conrad to see which city can have the highest participation and collect the most blood.
The city still has five uses of Norley Hall to used before the year is over.
Regular reports were received from Ries, Dent, and Anderson.
The next regular meeting of the council will take place on Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. in city hall. |
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