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12/17/84 City Council Minutes270. THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT 7:30 P.M. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1984 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL. MAYOR MCDOWELL PRESIDED, ALL COUNCILMEN PRESENT. APPROVE MINUTES Councilman Manning corrected the wording of Resolution No.3554 to read "Intention to Adopt,Revi-se or Reject". Councilman Manning moved to approve the minutes of December 3, 1984 as corrected. Seconded by Councilman Nystul, Motion carried. CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS City Judge for November 1984 Police Chief for November 1984 Building Official for October 1984 -- Councilman .Palmer moved to accept city official reports. Seconded by Councilman Schindler. Motion carried. OPEN BIDS - Backhoe/Loader Day Equipment Cashier's Check 1 - Ford 555 TLB Unit Complete $35,990.00 Less Trade Case 530 TLB 3,200.00 TOTAL BID $32,790:'00� Davies, Inc. Bid. Bond John Deere 510-B $45,350,00 Less Case 530 Trade-in 3?500.00 .41,850.00 John Deere 410-B $39,525.00 Less Case 530 Trade-in 3,500.00 $36,025.00 Councilman Nystul moved the bids be referred to the-SGWe±_Sc WaitL-r Committee with power to act. Seconded by Councilman Palmer. Motion carried. ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL Mayor McDowell made three calls for anyone wishing to address the Council. No one responded. COMMITTEE REPORTS CITY DEVELOPMENT Councilman,;Saverud reported that the committee reviewed..the Mall plans as directed. They were correct and complete and`have.been signed by Mayor McDowell and mailed:,on December 14th. Councilman Saverud reported that.bond counsel for the Mall Industrial Development Revenue Bonds was in Kalispell on the 14th. All papers were signed and then'flown by bond counsel. to Spokane to complete the signing. EMPLOYMENT On request of DPW Hammer and recommendation of Mayor McDowell, Councilman Grainger moved to:.hire a secretary for Hammer. Seconded by Councilman Palmer. Motion carried. Councilman Grainger announced a meeting for January 7th to discuss the Clerk -Treasurer position, with interviews to begin after that, Councilman Ruiz objected to waiting that long. We have advertised,have five good can- didates and we need to interview them now so we have more than 30 to 60 days for train- ing. Ruiz aiso!.stated that he did not.l.ike the letter from Councilman Nystul to the Council stating his concern with the present structure of the Clerk -Treasurer's office and asked for the motive. Nystul replied that the memo was a way to communicate to each of them after he had talked to at least 4 members and was intended to be kept in-house and confidential. A meeting would be an epportunity to decide what kind of Clerk -Treasurer we want. Councilman Ruiz stated that the door to the Mayor's office has been open and any of the members could have voiced.their opinion, but you continually come in the back door. This is not the way we operate - with innuendoes - call,a.meeting and thrash it out. We are here -do it now. Mayor McDowell stated emphatically that he has no friends for the job and has made no promises. He has talked to several candidates and is anxious to set up the inter- views and get on with business. Councilman Ruiz reminded them that they acted this way over the present employee's appointment and there has been no problem -'I do not know where we are going. We do not need 9 mayors - some people do not belong in city.government. Councilman Saverud stated that we decided 2 or 3 years ago on a hiring policy. It was correct to advertise:. Now it is important to go over what we want before hiring a new person. Do we want an administrator,a finance director or what is primary? Councilman Ruiz replied that is the Mayor's prerogative. Mayor McDowell stated that -there are two things in the job description: a knowledge of BARS bookkeeping and a computer person, some one strong in both areas. We have some 271. fine applicants and we are searching for the best. Councilman Schindler stated that you cannot lower the salary or change the job classi- fication, but it is a chance to look at the position. Some of us on the Council are new and we are looking at a new person and should discuss what we want. Councilman Palmer stated that without researching, it seems a natural to have the finance director be the treasurer and the clerk the administrator. We do not want to train and from the three outstanding applications we -have, there should be a smooth transition. Councilman Manning stated that we should pursue a joint meeting, address problem if we have one and lay it to rest. Tired of hearing the way things should be run rather than how they are run. Councilman Grainger stated that it was satisfactory with him to go ahead with the interviews as scheduled for next week and still hold the meeting at 4:00 P.M. on the 7th of: -January. Councilman Springer moved to accept the present concept of the Clerk -Treasurer position. Seconded by Councilman Palmer. Councilmen Schindler and Saverud voted no. Motion carried. Councilman Grainger moved to go ahead with interviews. Seconded by Councilman Springer. Councilman Saverud stated he wanted to go through committee. Councilman Ruiz stated that the selection is the Mayor's decision. Councilman Saverud stated he would suggest to the Mayor that they review the flow chart in 6 months. Motion carried. Councilman Grainger stated that a job description is being written for the position of City Court Clerk. Discussion about the responsibility of the elected official in a case Like this where there has been a misappropriation of funds. Councilman Grainger reported that the committee recommends the hiring of a combination lab technician and waste water treatment plant operator. .COnSenSUS of the Council was FINANCE to go ahead with hiring. Councilman Ruiz reported a joint meeting of the Finance and Safety Committees with a recommendation to raise ambulance fees from $80.00 minimum to $100.00. Councilman Ruiz moved to increase ambulance fees from $80.00 to $100.00 minimum. Seconded by Councilman Palmer. Councilman Nystul stated that if we are making a net profit of $12,000 per year, we do not need an increase. Discussion on better methods of collecting delinquent accounts. Councilman Schindler stated that we are operating in the black but do not make enough to purchase a new ambulance next year. Councilman Ruiz stated that our rates are the lowest in the state. Question called.; Councilman Springer and Saverud voted no. Motion carried. SEWER & WATER Councilman Nystul had no report. ANNEXATION RESOLUTION #3551 Councilman Manning moved to adopt Resolution #355-0ja resolution to approve the Prelim- inary Plat of the Resubdivision of a portion of Lot 1, Block 1,.Lewis & Clerk Second Addition - Addition No. 169, subject to certain requirements. Seconded by Councilman Springer. Roll call vote. All voted aye. STREET & ALLEY RESOLUTION #35&0 Councilman Palmer moved to adopt Resolution #356Q a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an agreement with the Montana State Highway Department for street striping. Seconded by Councilman Springer. Roll call vote. All voted aye. RESOLUTION #35fol Councilman Palmer moved to adopt Resolution #350 a resolution to provide that the City maintain traffic signals with reimbursement by the State Highway Department. Seconded by Councilman Schindler. Roll call vote. All voted aye. SAFETY Councilman Schindler asked that the Council provide emergency funds in the amount of $1,600.00 to build a barrier fence for the M&M Building. The owners have contracted for demolition of the building, but cannot get a demolition permit without the fence. 272. The owners have declared�',that they cannot afford the fence. The City will provide the fence before and during demolition and then use it as a safety precautionuntil the hole is filled. If the owners do not -pay for.-the`tence-i.t will be assessed on their taxes. Councilman Grainger asked if they had Looked to the insurance companS7 for funds for the fence. Building Official Petersen stated that there are 3 insurance companies, but too many entanglements because of the arson charge for help from them. Discussion on abatement procedure which has now been dropped-la0suits if the streets are closed -etc. Nystul stated we should appropriate the money for the fence and then sue to recover the cost. Councilman Springer moved to table until the regular meeting of January 7th. Seconded by Councilman Manning. Councilmen Schindler_ and Palmer voted no. Moti6n carried. PARKS Councilman Springer had no -report. MISCELLANEOUS Councilman Grainger recdived "perisslon to'r be';out-,6f•-:-E.he� state, -"until, January 6bh'� Councilman Grainger". -moved to adjourn. Approved as corrected January 7, 1985 ATTEST. V Marjorie iermann, City Clerk -Treasurer