Harlem City Council hears progress report

Mayor William Taylor presided over the Harlem City Council December meeting held on Friday afternoon, December 11. Council members present were Kim Hansen, Ralph Schneider and Marc Arensmeyer. Council member Eva English was absent. City Clerk Rebecca Skoyen and Public Utilities Supervisor Richard Mohar were present.

Mayor Taylor with approval from council changed the agenda to allow Fred Phillips, an engineer with Great West Engineering, to present a progress report on Harlem’s wastewater system improvements. Prior to the regular council meeting Phillips met with Mayor Taylor, City Clerk Skoyen and Supervisor Mohar to get input on the proposed wastewater treatment facility changes and new equipment. Phillips described the changes from the earlier meeting as he made his presentation.

Phillips explained the changes incorporated projections for future needs as well as current needs. The project is being designed to anticipate needs through 2035. Using a slide show, he showed plan drawings as well as photos of proposed equipment to be used in the upgrade. Some changes to the original plan resulted from geotechnical recommendations recently completed, one major change will require the project to be completed over a two year period rather than the one year construction schedule first proposed.

Phillips said, “We have a budget and anticipate no change in the original cost. After revising the engineering design, based on input from the city committee and geotechnical data, the project should be ready to bid by April or May of 2016. The first year’s construction could be started as early as July with the remainder to be completed by summer of 2017.”

Regular council business

Michelle Turville, with Bear Paw Development, was participating in the council meeting via conference call. She explained the need for a motion to approve Dorsey & Whitney LLP to be retained as council for the loans for the wastewater project. A motion was made and approved. Council also motioned and approved Turville’s recommendation to start the application process for a Montana INTERCAP loan—to pay initial costs of the wastewater upgrade until Rural Development funds were available. The Rural Development funds are already approved.

There were no new meetings scheduled or information regarding the ongoing housing study—a three-city project with Malta and Chinook. Turville said that study was still in the data gathering stage but “moving along.” On the Brownfield study involving the old Equity co-op, sampling was still being done and there was no final report.

Turville then gave an update on the drain ditch. She had some ideas about funding for a planning grant that could lead to grant funds to clean the ditch and improve the flow. Council encouraged her to pursue the planning grant application.

Council motioned and approved a consent agenda for the meeting. Current claims and payroll reports were also motioned and approved. There was no public comment.

Council, after some discussion, motioned and approved a Christmas bonus for city employees—a jacket with the employees name with the city logo on it and a $100 cash bonus.

Richard Mohar, Public Utilities Supervisor, shared some concerns about the status of the burn pit. He said there was nothing in city ordinances that cover the burn pit. Council said the pit is currently on private property, no action was taken.

Mohar also related a problem with a computer used at the water treatment facility. He said the computer was old and needed to be replaced as well as the software. He presented a cost, based on contacts with suppliers, of about $20,000 for the software and computer. Council discussed a source for funding and will put the issue on the January agenda.

Council member Kim Hansen gave an update on the City/County Planning Board, of which he is a member. The board met in November and will meet again in December. He said the board has completed most of the sections of the study for a “first go round.” The board is working to complete an accurate description of the economic status of Blaine County and the cities.

There was a brief discussion about two complaints regarding private property cleanup efforts in the city. One complaint, per the city policy, has been referred to the city attorney.

Meeting was adjourned. Next meeting will be Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.