PHILIPSBURG TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES
October 17th, 2023
7:00 P.M. Philipsburg Town Hall
COUNCIL IN ATTENDENCE: Jason White, Gary Fujinami, Mayor Daniel Reddish, Lorraine Dell-Bishop, and John Laigaie. COUNCIL ABSENT: Carl Sundstrom. OTHERS IN ATTENDENCE: Clerk Rachel Parret, Special Projects Maureen Connor, Public Works Foreman Ed Roseboom, Jim Lockridge, Matt Mead, Micheal Evans, DuWayne Ulrich (online), Amelia Wood (online), and Tyler Gentry (online).
Call to Order: Mayor Reddish called the Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLIAGENCE
Meadow Creek Presentation
Mayor Reddish introduced Mike Evans from the Meadow Creek Group. Meadow Creek bought the old high school. The closing finalized a couple of weeks ago. Meadow Creek wants to restore and preserve the building as historically as possible to the original building in 1918.
The building will have 18 units and 29 parking spaces. There will be 15 single units, 3 units with 2 bedrooms, 4 units with lofts, 2 units ADA compliant, and the basement will have storage lockers for each unit.
Mayor Reddish discussed the town’s infrastructure and explained the school will run all 18 units on one meter.
Foreman Ed Roseboom explained that the meter is one master meter for the at 18 units and each unit is charged a base rate. The meter will be placed in a vault on the property.
Mike Evans talked about the 2” meter being large enough to maintain the building’s water.
Mayor Reddish asked Mike what the timeline is for Meadow Creek to finish the building. Mike estimated 1 ½ to 2 years for completion.
Mayor Reddish spoke about the meeting that Governor Gianforte had that morning on Workforce Housing. Mayor Reddish is in support of what Meadow Creek is doing and is especially happy with keeping the aesthetics of the building.
Foreman Roseboom explained that Meadow Creek had bought the gravel for Pearl and Carter Streets, and he said this showed a good faith that Meadow Creek is willing to work with the Town.
Mayor Reddish invited Meadow Creek back to the next Council meeting November 7th, 2023.
Minutes of Prior Meeting
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the minutes from 10/3/23 with corrections, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Minutes from Revised Budget Resolution
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the minutes from 10/6/23 with corrections, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Minutes from Pre-Construction Conference
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to approve the minutes from 10/11/23, Councilman Lyons seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Bills Payable
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the bills payable with added receipts from the MT Leagues Conference, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Financials
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the cash report 10/23, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Journal Vouchers
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the JV’s from 10/23, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to approve the utility billing JV’s from 10/23, Councilman Lyons seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Sewer Lagoon Update
Special Projects Maureen Connor explained the Lagoon Project is expected to go back out to bid by the end of November 2023 and will be advertised.
Foreman Ed Roseboom asked Maureen if she had heard if the engineers had the specification of the rock for the project. Ed would like to start hauling the rock and stockpiling it to help save some money.
Water ARPA Update
Pre-Construction Conference and Notice to Proceed - Alley
Tank inspection was done 10/17/23 from HDR. The inspector will send a report in about a month on the inspection of the tank.
Foreman Ed Roseboom had never seen the tank drained while his time working with the Town. The tank is 32 years old.
The tank had some concerns with the covering on the bolts.
The tank will go through a process to refill to make sure it is ready to be used again.
Maureen thanked Public Works and said they did a great job in draining the tank.
The Pumps at the Silver Springs is the next project to go out to bid. The pumps will help the Towns drinking water supply.
Councilman Fujinami asked how much the pumps cost. Maureen replied about $60,000.
Councilman Lyons explained that the Town would be able to pump more water to the Town without filtering the water.
Foreman Roseboom explained that the Town had ran both pumps at 150 gallons per minute for a 24-hour period and had to drop down to 140 gallons per minute due to the Brewery’s reserve being affected.
Maureen Connor suggested that we need to document the water rights at the Silver Springs for future use.
Broadway Duffy Project is going to cost $192,000. The Town has a grant for $125,000, should be getting an RRG for $15,000, ARPA $48,000, and water fund $100,000 to cover the cost of the project.
Stormwater PER is going to be expensive. DNRC told Maureen to put in for a $75,000 RDG. The Town has $15,000 in the bank to pay Great West.
Maureen is putting in for an MCEP grant $40,000 with a match of $20,000. RDG said the Town can use $20,000 out of the $75,000 to cover the MCEP match.
The storm drain has 3 Creeks that flow into it: Camp Creek, Frost Creek, and Douglas Creek. The Creeks are washing sediment down the storm drains.
Maureen would like to take the Council on a Storm Drain Day.
NEW BUSINESS
Annual Financial Report – Reed Speegle/Magda Nelson
Reed Speegle asked if the Council would like him to do the financial annual report for the Town. Magda Nelson said she could continue to do the report, but it will not be done until February 2024. This would make the report late. The Town would pay $95 per month for late fees.
Magda said she would be sending the Town a contract by the end of November.
The Council wants to make sure that the report will be submitted to the auditor on time.
The decision will be made after Rachel Parret contacts Magda to see if she can get the report to the auditor in time.
Cash Reconciliation – Monthly Schedule
Cash Reconciliation needs to be done monthly so the Town does not get dinged on the audit for it. Councilman Lyons is going to speak with Reed Speegle on this matter.
Resort Tax – Discussion Next Steps
Maureen Connor and Mayor Reddish added a meeting at the MT League of Cities and Town on Resort Tax.
The Town has submitted a request to the Department of Commerce to see if the Town would qualify for the Resort Tax. The basic tax can go up to 3%, Special Tax up to 1%, with a possibility of 4% Resort Tax.
County Clerk Sarah Graham said that she thinks the Town will not need a petition but just needs a resolution done 90 days prior to the election to be approved by Sarah Graham and Attorney Blaine Bradshaw. In November the Council needs to talk about what type of Resort Tax to implement. There will need to be public hearings and if the Resort Tax passes at the ballot, the Council will need to pass a new ordinance.
If the County also gets approved for the Resort Tax, then the Town will coordinate with them.
Maureen said that the Town will need a Citizens Committee and they will have to file with the Commission of Political Practices.
Veteran’s Day Parade and Ceremony 11/11/23
Councilman Laigaie, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop, and Clerk Rachel Parret have been planning the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony for the Town.
Parade will start at 11:11 am on November 11, 2023, Followed by a Ceremony, and BBQ.
A request for a fly by the Army National Guard has been submitted.
A request for the National Guard to bring a field kitchen to help with BBQ.
Montana League of Cities and Towns – Reports
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to table the Reports, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
RDG Planning Grants
Discussed in Water Update.
Alley Project Finance Report
Discussed in Water Update.
SPECIAL BUSINESS
HDR Montgomery Plan Review 10/17/23 at 6:30 PM, Philipsburg Town Hall
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Council
Councilman Fujinami will be in AZ for awhile and not sure of his return date.
Councilman Lyons announced that Trivia Night will start on Wednesday the 18th at 6:00 PM.
Councilman Laigaie spoke about his meeting with the Helena Police Chief. Councilman Laigaie has a power point available on the Deer Traps.
Public Comment on Matters within the Town Council’s Jurisdiction
ADJOURN
Councilman Lyons made a motion to adjourn, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.