No council action on city judge position PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 19 October 2006 06:36
Council members Monday evening deferred any action on the city judge position, needing more time to negotiate a salary with the Justice of the Peace.
To date one person has written a letter of interest for the vacant position, due to Judge Shannen Rossmillers’ resignation.
Mayor John Shevlin put out some facts for council members, noting the present salary is $22,232.44 with supplies budgeted at $97.19 and travel expenses of $1,328.28.
Incoming revenue is $21,631.10. However, it needs to be noted that the position is not meant to generate revenue. The judge works two days a week and processed 602 cases last year.
The mayor noted that some advantages to negotiating a contract with the JP would be that prisoners would not have to be transported to city hall. Violators would appear at the courthouse, not city hall.
The city could also negotiate a contract to the end of the Fiscal Year, which would give them the chance to analyze the court and see if they want to continue with the JP court or go back to the city judge program. A decision will be made at the next council meeting.
On the matter of several requests by the management company of Blue Sky Villa, the council took action.
Concerning the removal of privacy wood wind breaks at the residents, Alderman Wendy Judisch commented, “I would like to see the wind breaks replaced as needed. I want it to remain in its present condition. Councilman Sandy Syvertson agreed with her. The mayor noted that the Horizon Lodge should replace them as they take them down, “it’s their responsibility to maintain them.” A motion passed to allow wind breaks to be replaced.
On the topic of the cedar fence by the 300 building, Councilman Gary Brown said the fence didn’t seem to serve any purpose. He made a motion to have the fence removed and it passed.
On the subject of the basketball courts, Rich Anderson, Public Works Director said he would hate to see them removed. He noted there was no water problem under the courts, the Air Force just allowed a poor job of compacting to be done and over the years the ground settled causing a couple sinkholes. “As long as it’s locked it won’t hurt anything,” he said. A motion passed to leave the basketball courts locked.
The city will look into damage to the curbs. A committee was formed to work with the management company to see about future expansion of housing at BSV. Presently there is a waiting list of 14 to move in out there.
Resolution 930 was signed, allowing Tom Collins a conditional permit to put up a covered carport close to the property line.
A letter of resignation was read from officer Troy Anderson effective immediately. He cited personal reasons for leaving the police force. Chief Dent was given permission to take applications for a new officer. There was no discussion of the resignation.
The council revisited the Public Works Department employee’s request for new permanent working hours. It was decided to leave any decision up to Rich Anderson, the department head.
Ted Kronebusch from the Port Authority was on hand to request that a $6,000 payment from BSV go to the PA, either as a grant or a loan for economic development. Any decision about turning funds over to the PA was tabled. The mayor said, “We have to find out if any money is available. Money is already budgeted, but not for the Port Authority.”
Council members voted to close the city office on Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving. Employees can take the day off without pay, take a vacation day or work. The motion to close on Nov. 24 passed.
The city received two bids for a spill containment control plan (SPCC) for the city yards. An SPCC is a written document that describes the measures taken by a facility to reduce the risk of spilling oil, diesel or other similar type fuels.
The plan has to be certified by a Montana licensed professional engineer, reviewed and approved by the EPA and recertified every five years.
One bid was received from Morrison Maierle, Inc., for $7,500 and another  $3,000 from KL&J engineering. No action was taken because it was listed as a discussion item on the agenda. It will be addressed at the next council meeting.
The council moved to stay with Morrison Maierle engineering for the current wastewater project.
The next regular council meeting will be Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. at city hall, 411 ½ S. Main Street.
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