We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Information for this article from unapproved minutes of the council.
In addition to handling routine city business during its August regular meeting, the Harlem City Council learned that additional funding for the wastewater treatment project was secured from USDA’s Rural Development. There were public discussions regarding where to house a fire engine and some logistical issues with enforcing the current decay ordinance. Those latter items were added to the regular September meeting’s agenda.
The August regular monthly meeting of the Harlem City Council was called to order by Mayor Bill Taylor on August 8. Council members present were Ralph Schneider, Eva English and Marc Arensmeyer. Councilman Kim Hansen was absent.
Council motioned and approved the minutes of the regular July meeting. The minutes were also approved for the special meeting held on July 27. July claims and payroll were motioned and approved.
Public Forum
There was discussion about ways to deal with a shortage of space in the fire hall. Candus Scheffelmaer, speaking on behalf of the Harlem Volunteer Fire Department, and County Commissioner Charles Kulbeck, representing the county, posed the idea of sectioning off one of the stalls in the city garage for use as a secure space for a fire truck. Public Works Director Mohar expressed concerns that the city employees would be locked out of their facility. Mayor Taylor asked Clerk-Treasurer Rebecca Skoyen to put the item on the agenda for the September council meeting. Other options for securing the fire truck will be presented at that meeting.
Fiscal Year 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget. Council motioned and approved the 2016-2017 preliminary budget.
Bear Paw Development. No Bear Paw representative was present but updates on relevant topics were made. Wastewater treatment project. Clerk-Treasurer Skoyen announced that additional funding needed for the wastewater treatment project was secured through Rural Development with an increase in the amount of the grant. There was still a question if the council needed to act on the rate increase before the September council meeting.
Drain Ditch. Mayor Taylor explained that more cleaning of the drain ditch has been done and the city was granted the permit necessary to clean the portion of the ditch that follows Lincoln. The irrigation ditch will be shut off soon and the problem areas of the ditch can be dealt with. Brownfields. It was determined, in response to a question at a prior meeting, that the state right of way is the only portion of the former Equity Coop that belongs to the state. The city will continue to work with the Civic Association and Youth Baseball on the possibility of creating a baseball diamond on the site.
Decay Ordinance. Clerk-Treasurer Skoyen explained a logistical problem with the enforcement of the decay ordinance. There is a problem, with the council only meeting monthly, for getting updates on the status of decay ordinance violations and whether the cited problem is solved or still an issue and requires further action. The enforcement process has various 10-day time intervals that require direction to the Clerk-Treasurer on how to proceed. The item will be placed on the September agenda and options for amending the ordinance to solve the timing issue will be considered.
Highway 2 Association. Bob Sivertsen, head of the Highway 2 Association, updated the council on the association’s current campaign to ask the Director of the Montana Department of Transportation to revisit the Environmental Statement which limits Highway 2 from ever being anything but an improved two lane highway. The association is seeking support for the requested review from Hill and Blaine County commissioners, the city councils in the two counties and the two tribal governments.
There were no committee reports. Public Works Director Richard Mohar reported that the air compressor has been replaced at the water plant and the filters are on their way. The next city council meeting will be a special meeting scheduled for Friday, August 26, at 1 pm in council chambers.
