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01/23/78 City Council Minutes2 7 1. THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL MET AT 7:30 P.M., MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1978 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL. MAYOR HAPP PRESIDED. COUNCILMEN GRANMO AND DALEY ABSENT. ALL OTHER COUNCILMEN WERE PRESENT. Councilman Grainger moved that the Minutes of the regular council meeting of December 19, 1977 be approved as presented. Seconded by Councilman Allen. Motion carried. Councilman Allen moved that the Minutes of the regular January 9, 1978 meeting of the council be approved as presented. Seconded by Councilman Grainger. Motion carried. OFFICIAL REPORTS City Clerk and City Treasurer for November 1977. Director of Public Works, Police Chief, City Judge for December 1977. Councilman Williams moved acceptance of city officials reports. Seconded by Councilman Grainger. Motion carried. ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL Mack Armstrong, 1140 6th Ave. East presented a petition signed by 21 property owners in his vicinity to have Robert Rapp tear down his gutted house and remove his fence from the alley right of way. This property is located on Lots 11-12, Block 209, Kalispell Addition #3, and the street address is 1103 5th Ave. East. The petition stated that this property is a health and safety hazard, unsightly and a public nuisance. Mayor Happ stated for the record that she has no monetary or other interest in this property. Councilman Williams moved to refer the matter to the Safety Committee. Seconded by Councilman Allen. Motion carried. Gary Rose, representing Citizens Against Pornography, addressed the council concerning the Community Standards Poll on Obscenity which they presented at the last council meeting. He asked if the council would like any changes in the form before it is presented for signatures. Councilman Allen questioned the portion at the end which states, "The law allows us to protect the names of those who sign this. Therefore, your name will remain confidential and will never be publicized." It would seem that whoever counts the poll will know the name of the person signing and who will guarantee that your name will not be publicized. Mr. Rose stated that the committee will study this sentence and perhaps omit or change it. The general feeling of the council was to go ahead and present it to the people. Stephen Sabol, 475 6th Ave. W. N., addressed the council concerning the ordinance on snow removal from the sidewalk. Mr. Sabol is a teacher at Flathead High School. Because of a heart condition he walks to work and tries to walk 20 to 30 blocks a day. He stated that between his home and the school there are many businesses and home owners who do not shovel their walks. He stated that at the places where you must push a button to change the traffic light to 'walk' the snow has been pushed up so that you cannot reach the button. He asked the council to enforce the ordinance and make it possible to walk on the sidewalks. Be pointed out that sometimes there are widows or older people who find it hard to remove their snow, but they are not the main offenders. Businesses are the offenders and some do not remove the snow at all. Others push it off their property onto the sidewalks. Police Chief McDowell was instructed to look into the problem. RESOLUTION #3151 Councilman Allen moved adoption of Resolution #3151 a resolution to assess and levy Sidewalk & Curb construction costs for 1977. Seconded by Councilman Williams. Roll call vote. All voted aye. COMETTEE REPORTS SEWER & WATER Councimman Williams reported that the Sewer & Water Committee met, with power to act, and awarded the bid for Water Well Improvements to Robert W. Ross, Schedule I and to Lyford Plumbing & Heating, Schedule II, low bidders. Mayor Happ is directed to inform Thomas, Dean & Hoskins to make the recommended change order and sign contracts. 272 FINANCE The Finance Committee met last Friday noon. One item discussed was the ambulance accounts to be adjusted out. Some of these accounts are at the Credit Bureau for collection with no results. Councilman Williams stated that the committee will give further consideration to the collection of these accounts before adjusting out. The other item discussed was the $1000 bond required of; -electrical contractors. This will be studied and a report made later as to their decision. ►� �i�_SyiII�I\I Councilman Griffin moved to deny the resubdivision of Lot 6, Blk 121, at loth and 5th Ave. East because it would make 2 pieces of property too small to be useful. Seconded by Councilman Williams. Motion carried. STREET & ALLEY Councilman Allen moved to allow the request of the Kalispell News Agency for a curb out at 1131 South Main contingent on approval of the State Highway Department. Seconded by Councilman O'Boyle. Motion carried. Councilman Allen reported that snow removal for December and January will cost over $10,000 for overtime and truck expense. The overtime budget for the entire year is $6,000. SAFETY Councilman O'Boyle reported that he received a letter from the Flathead Safety Council which stated that Mr. Jim Keithley, Highway Department, has informed them that the bids will soon be let for a traffic light at llth Street and South Main. Councilman O'Boyle moved that the Police Department transfer their detectives van to Surveyor Pauli. The van is not being used at the present time and Surveyor Pauli has very poor transportation. Seconded by Councilman Grainger. Motion carried. HEALTH & SANITATION Councilman Saverud had no report. CITY DEVELOPMENT Councilman. Grainger had no report. is5r • aia��uY Councilman Grainger had no report. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor Happ reported that the sewer report done by Tom Flynn is ready and has been reviewed by herself and Water Supt. Longpre. RESOLUTION . #3152: Councilman Williams moved adoptidn of Resolution #3152:, a resolution authorizing Mayor Happ to sign a change order in the Water Well Improvements Project, Schedule II, which will delete $19,630, and still be satisfactory. Seconded by Councilman Grainger. City crews will do some of the work instead of the contractor. Roll call vote. All voted aye. Mayor Happ reported the following letter from Kalispell Public Schools: - TRUMEULL KEITX L TOM IMALLEW BUVEPINTEI®ENT KEN SI M KEN SIOEPIUE PATRICK J. CONROY owee:PEw aTPE«.. 6azzul. A5 .EUPEXINTEH ` R JIIMME S �O��STCASTE 4ER -- ispe. S�" LrbliN. Schools 13 �n Phone 755-50155 - P 0. BOX 788 - KALISPELL, MONTANA 59901 YNIXEPO X�GX 6CXUOL � - uusrcu n"mx wax "^ "°•"4"" January 20, 1978 YNOENMA"9CNaOL SMODSCNOOL ..6 EUSC.a Mayor Norma Happ EETMO"SExOOE - City of Kalispell NEOOESs HGOE P.O. Box 1035 EWExTOMFCNOaE Kalispell, Montana 59901 Dear Mayor Happ: Thank you for your reply to my letter concerning snow- plowing in and around school areas. I can certainly appreciate the problems created for the City by the excessive snowfall this winter. The School District is most appreciative of the. priority you have given to the schools in this community. Schools do bring lots of folks to one spot and concentrate the problem. We have removed the snow piles at the FHS parking lot and at Russell and Elrod Schools. We hope this will cut down on our snow related problems. If you or the City's staff see other problems, please get in touch with me. Best wishes. Sincerely yours, fiEl�� Keith L. Allred Superintendent KLA/pw Mayor Happ reported the following letter from Kalispell Public Schools to Street Foreman Clements: MTNIOONxEx NJgW January 20, 1978'; Mxoexww,cxonE - - 1 EExaO eaMOOI xxa.Eµeexom Bill Clements, Street Foreman City Qf Kalispell wEnaeeecxooE P.O. Box 1035 EOOax:aMacxom _ Kalispell, Montana 59901 Dear Bill: During these trying times when snowfall is excessive, I'm sure that you, or your crew, don't receive too many comments of appreciation. On behalf of the School District, I'd like to thank you and your crew for the tremendous job you are doing with your limited resources. All in all, you are doing an excellent job. Also, I'd like to extend a personal thanks to you for the extra effort you.have given to Meridian Road in order that KJHS students have room to walk up and down the road. I understand that you have personally plowed Meridian prior to school on Mondays. I, for one, think that is commendable. Best wishes. Sincerely yours, K th L. Allred Superintendent KLA/pw 2),74 Mayor Happ reported the following letter from Bruce A. Person: Jan 23, 1978 Mrs Norma Happ, Mayor City of Kalispell, Montana Dear Mayor Happ; I wish to commend you and Mr Bill Clements, St Supt for the excellent snow removal in Northridge as well as the rest of the city. My wife and I were absent from the city from Jan 17th to the 21st and it was a pleasant surprise to return to find that the snow I had been removed not only from the streets but from the sidiewalks as well in Northridge. I appreciate what an ordeal snow removal has been so far this winter and realize that it is unreasonable for everyone to expect 'instant' snow removal. ncerel�, ruce Person III Sherwood Lane ^alispell, Mont Mayor Happ thanked the sewer, park and water crews for assisting the street crews in removing the excessive amount of snow that has fallen in Kalispell this year. Mayor Happ reported the following letter from the.Fla:#head County Commissioners regarding Appleway Drive: Alati tab WTOUntg '414va b of Qlan nisstatters CO- P.O. BOX 1000 • KALISPELL, MONTANA 59901 • (406) 755-5300 M,ELfORD R. WOLLAN r RANK QUAY _ f?UssELLDEIST January 19, 1978 The Honorable Norma Happ Mayor, City of Kalispell City Hall Kalispell, Montana 59901 Dear Mayor Happ: There seems to be some confusion with regard to the Inter -Local Agreement for ' Appleway Drive which the City of Kalispell and the County of Flathead have participated in. Our Legal Department has advised us that we have no jurisdiction to force a group of landowners to annex into the city without a consent by the majority by petition. Additionally, we have been advised that nothing is clearly spelled out as to what exactly will be annexed. Mr. Nielson has requested to now be annexed as he feels he can gain a higher profit with the annexation and wants to hook onto the city water and sewer. I believe you do have a water main and sewer line going up Appleway Drive, so you may have to get an easement to cross the Flathead County road in order to make the proper hook up to Mr. Nielson. Russ Deist is working with Ron Pack to annex a piece of his land in order to make Mr. Nielson's land con- tinuous, so that he may annex without forcing the other landowners to do something against their will. I would appreciate it if you would contact Mr. Pack and let him know what r7 he needs to do in order to annex this parcel of land. Our surveyor, Bill ell Doyle will possibly have this identified by early next week. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please advise. Sincerely, FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY: Melford R. Wollan, Chairman MRW/dd cc: Bill Doyle Kenneth Nielson City Attorney Donahue stated that residents in the Appleway Drive area have the idea that if we annex the Drive they are automatically annexed also This is not true. Councilman Allen recommended that Mayor Happ and City Attorney Donahue arrange a meeting with the Flathead County Commissioners to resolve the problem. Councilman O'Boyle read a letter from Gordon H. Piers, a Canadian resident, commending the Kalispell City Police Department for their assistance in unlocking their car door. The letter stated in part "their assistance was beyond the call of duty." Mayor Happ asked Councilman Saverud to serve on the City Development and Public Build— ings Committee, the Finance Committee and be chairman of the Health & Sanitation Com— mittee. CouncilmanWilliams was asked to serve nn the Parks and Recreation Committee. Mayor Happ asked Councilman Griffin and Saverud to serve as representatives of the council along with Building Official Shoemaker, to work with the County Commissioners, Columbia Falls and Whitefish on the building permit system. BUILDING MOVING FEES Discussion was held concerning amending the ordinance on building moving fees to cover extra costs that might be incurred while a building is being moved. Councilmen felt generally that the recent increased fees should cover these costs. Mayor Happ reported on the League of Cities & Towns Board Meeting. A new way has been initiated for handling resolutions from cities for the legislature. The League is setting up a legislative committee who will take the ideas for new legislature, put them in proper form and send .them to the cities for review. Mayor Happ reported that 10 cities have been picked to work with Bill Christianson and Chambers of Commerce on solar heat. Kalispell has been chosen as one of them. A grant from the EPA will finance the study. Mayor Happ reported that the League will sponsor a labor relations meeting on February 9, 1978 in Helena and urged all council people to attend, City Attorneys will have a meeting on February loth in Helena and this will enable the attorneys to attend both meetings. License & Permit Bonds L P Gas Service Company. Heating Contractor Bond 4 G Plumbing & Heating Gas Fitter Continuation Certificate 4 G Plumbing & Heating Plumber Continuation Certificate Gerald I. Ness dba Gerry's Electrical Electrician Bond Laurence A. Meyer dba It Is Electric Electrician Bond Slams, Plumbing & Heating Co. Plumber Continuation Certificate Byron McCubbins dba Byron's Heating Service Gas Fitter Continuation Certificate Glen E. Schultz dba Schultz Electric Electrician Continuation Certificate Elmer Absalonson dba JORELCO, INC. Excavator Continuation Certificate Ivan M. & Richard C. Ibsen dba Ibsen Plumbing & Heating Gas Installers Bond Delbert L. Maltby Electrician Continuation Certificate Councilman Allen moved that all License & Permit Bonds reviewed by City Attorney Donahue be accepted. Seconded by Councilman Griffin. Motion carried. City Attorney Donahue reported on the action taken on the Kalispell 1l*ber Company building that collapsed from too much snow on the roof which Building Official Shoemaker had been called to inspect. Shoemaker felt there would be a collapse and called City Attorney Donahue to see if he could legally ask the company to evacuate the building. City Attorney Donahue called the lessee and also talked to Kalispell Lumber Company officials. They were aware of the problem and had had a helicopter trying to remove snow, but it had not worked out. The company had then called an engineer from an architectural firm who inspected the building and told them they had forestalled any immediate danger, with some bracing. The union ordered the workers out of the building. The next morning two men went back to collect their wallets and personal belongings. While in there, the building callapsed and they barely escaped. City Attorney stated that if the City had ordered the men out, we could possibly lay ourselves open to lawsuits from the lessee, the owner, the employees or anyone connected with the building. He stated that with the company having it inspected and taking the recommendation from an outside inspector, the City has no liability under these circumstances. 1 Councilman Willi oved to adjourn. econde by Councilman Allen. Motion carried. Minutes appro d presented Feb 6, 197 . Norma E. Happ, Mayor ' ATTEST: f