PHILIPSBURG TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
May 2nd, 2023
7:00 P.M. Philipsburg Town Hall
Council in Attendance: Mayor Daniel Reddish, Gary Fujinami, Carl Sundstrom, Jason White, Scott Lyons, Lorraine Dell-Bishop (video), and John Laigaie. Others in attendance: Town Clerk Reed Speegle, Grant Writer Maureen Conner (video), Ed Roseboom, Barbara Cahill, Tom Rue, Larry Holmes, Elena Gagliano (video), Gwyneth Hyndman (video), and DuWayne Ulrich (video).
STANDING REPORTS
Sheriff
Report submitted. Councilman White spoke briefly about staffing issues that the department was having.
Library Board
Report submitted. Barbara Cahill talked about a $10,000 grant that the library had received that was to be used towards providing ADA access to the building. She then talked briefly about upcoming programs and events.
Parks Board
No report.
Fire Department
No report.
Grant Writer
No report.
Director of Public Works
Ed Roseboom gave an update on how the department was functioning without a public works director. He stated that the upcoming focus was on road maintenance which included grading roads, clearing out culverts, road improvements, and then dust abatement in early June. He talked about water line projects, sprinkling schedules, the well pump at the park, storm drains, the Blackfoot fiber project, and mentioned that the lagoon was now discharging.
Town Attorney
No report.
Town Clerk
Reed Speegle gave an update on the audit.
Chamber of Commerce
Tom Rue said that the brewfest and chili cook-off was a success. He also said that the Chamber had partnered with the Rotary Club to run the silent auction at the next Rotary concert.
Minutes of Prior Meetings
Councilman Sundstrom made the motion to approve the minutes from 4/18/23 with an edit from Councilman Fujinami, Councilman Laigaie seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Payroll and Bills Payable
Councilman Lyons made the motion to approve the payroll, Councilman Fuijinami seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Councilman Lyons made the motion to approve the bills payable, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Water and Sewer Adjustments
Councilman Lyons made the motion to approve the water and sewer adjustments, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Project Request Payments
None.
OLD BUSINESS
Sewer Lagoon Update
Mayor Reddish said the Town was still waiting on DEQ review of final design. Maureen Connor talked about a meeting with the Army Corp of Engineers that was held to discuss WRDA funds.
Growth Policy Planning Board Recommendation
Mayor Reddish read the letter that was submitted to the Town from the Planning Board recommending that the Town adopt the addendums in to the Town Growth Plan.
Growth Policy Resolution
Mayor Reddish read the resolution. Councilman Lyons made the motion to approve the resolution, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
Update Preferred Contractor Lists (Engineering/Construction)
Mayor Reddish stated that the Town would be readvertising for the construction list. Reed Speegle listed the companies that had submitted for engineering services. They were WET, Stahly, Pioneer Technical, WGM, Great West, HDR, Triple Tree, Paradigm Architecture, and SCJ Alliance. Maureen Conner talked specifically about services that Stahly and WET provided as the Town had not previously worked with them.
Public Works Director
Mayor Reddish gave some background on the topic. Councilman Lyons talked about amending the job description. A working meeting was scheduled for May 9th at 10:00 to discuss the issue further. Mayor Reddish talked about the difference between a foreman and public work administrator.
Deer Management Plan
Councilman Laigaie said he was ready to send the plan to FWP. Councilman Laigiae made the motion to accept the action plan and to send it to FWP, Councilman Sundstrom seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
County Dump Lease
Mayor Reddish had spoken with Blaine Bradshaw about the details of the lease. He said he was planning to attend the next Commissioners meeting.
Maureen Conner talked about closing out the RDG sludge grant. She said she was working with the State to get the Town under contract on the ARPA water project and that there was a meeting with HDR on May 9th at 9:00 a.m.
NEW BUSINESS
Updated NX Filtration Contract
Mayor Reddish said that they had made a few tweaks to the contract and that he had gone on–site with the public works employees to figure out where the project would be staged. There was a brief discussion about the organics in the water and DBP’s. Councilman Fujinami made the motion to approve the updated contract, Councilman Lyons seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
CTAP Response
Maureen Conner gave an overview of the program. Mayor Reddish talked about the process with the Department of Commerce and mentioned that it pertains to planning/inventory and land use.
NON AGENDA ITEMS
Council
Councilman Lyons mentioned that the Town should be proactive having resident remove private property from Town property when the public works department is improving roads. He also thanked Councilman White and Councilman Laigaie for their work on the mapping.
Ed Roseboom reminded the Council to look in to the CAT leases for equipment.
Councilman Sundstrom said he would like a picture of wipes that clogs sewer lines to be published in the paper.
Public Comment on Matters within the Town Council’s Jurisdiction
No comment.
Councilman Lyons made the motion to adjourn at 9:03, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.