MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY DECEMBER 5, 2023

HOT SPRINGS CITY HALL 109 MAIN ST, HOT SPRINGS MT 59845

MEETING ALSO HELD VIA ZOOM

CALL TO ORDER By Mayor Woods at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL Ed Weatherly, Crystal Graham, Leslee Smith, Randal Woods, Amy Gray

Also Present: Steven Sheffield, Cody Scott, Jennifer Carr, Starla Rice, Tara Key, Jim Arestad, Dottie Palmer, Rachel Largent, Robyn Largent, Ladonna Vollmer, Scott Vollmer, Mary Whitsett, Susan Welker, Aaron Mathew, Emily Flowers, Melinda Shelton, Mike Geddes

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Smith/Weatherly 3-0 pass

PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS Weatherly/Graham 3-0 pass

FINANCIAL REPORTS clerk unable to complete in time due to death of family member today. Will present them at next meeting

REPORTS

MAYOR Woods explained a House Bill that allocated funds to cities and towns. Hot Springs would be allocated up to $60,000. The funds must be used for water, sewer, or refuse. There would be a 25 % match. This information is new to us in the past week or two and we are looking into this for additional funding for the blower project.

PUBLIC WORKS The crew has been working on filling potholes, mud holes in alleay and grading. The town purchased another sander for the public works truck. Last year at the very end of winter our sander broke down. If we had needed to sand again, we would not have had a backup. The one we purchased is a small one, so we have it in case that happens again.

FIRE DEPT 1 structure fire, multiple car crashes- one resulted in a death

POLICE report provided and presented by Chief Largent

LIBRARY – ANNUAL REPORT Starla reported the friends of the library Christmas tea event raised $557 for the library. She also presented the annual library report.

ZONING COMPLIANCE Town hall has been extremely busy with zoning questions. We have had a lot of people in town looking at lots. Woods has walked lots and answered a lot of questions.

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

APPOINT COUNCIL MEMBER Woods explained Cayla Aldridge had resigned and MCA requires a replacement for her position be appointed within 30 days. The town accepted letters of interest and the candidates were interviewed by the Mayor and members of the town council. Smith made a motion to appoint Jennifer Carr as council person. Seconded by Graham 3-0 pass

OATH OF OFFICE FOR APPOINTED COUNCIL MEMBER Woods administered Oath of Office to Jennifer Carr. She then took her place at the council table and was provided with a council packet to participate as an active member

NEW BUSINESS – CONTINUED

CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ED WEATHERLY – Smith/Graham 3-0 pass Weatherly abstain due to voter conflict of interest

CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT -602 CENTRAL AVE -Tara Key presented her request. She will be using a small cabin on her property which has been used as a hair salon in order to do massage. She has off street parking for her patrons and explained there would be no change to the state of the property. She explained it is a small business with 6-7 customers per day one person at a time. Key provided a signed petition from all neighbors within 300 feet. Neary was unreachable on several occasions, Town clerk Gray contacted Neary by phone to explain the situation and make him aware of her request. Motion to approve conditional use permit Smith/Graham 4-0 pass

PERSONNEL POLICY CHANGE- PROBATIONARY PERIOD WILL BE ONE YEAR INSTEAD OF SIX MONTHS State MCA has changed the state probationary period to 1 year. The town’s personnel policy states 6 months. Change to personnel policy to match state MCA for probationary period for new employees to be 1 year. Smith/Weatherly 4-0 pass

LIBRARY EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY BONUSES Graham/Carr 4-0 pass

ZONING CHANGES a zoning map with proposed changes was presented to council and shown on big screen to the public. Woods explained some of the proposed changes. There was discussion regarding the new subdivision. It was recommended to make the new subdivision either residential A or residential B. Further discussion will be required. No action taken at this time

FY20-FY21 AUDIT Woods explained the audit was completed by Nicole Noonan. Motion to approve audit Weatherly/Smith 4-0 pass

FY23 AFR ADJUSTING ENTRIES Woods explained the need for adjusting entries to the AFR, for example some things may have been coded wrong or there was a better option and they need to be corrected. Smith/Graham 4-0 pass

FY23 AFR Smith /Weatherly 4-0 pass

OATH OF OFFICE ED WEATHERLY – Woods explained that the Oath of Office for Ed and Tootie are for January 1, 2024. We do the Oath ahead of time so if something happens at 1am on January 1, our council members have already taken the oath of office and are in the position to act. He explained that because Weatherly is already on the council he will continue to be active.Welker will not be a council member until January 1

Oath of office for Weatherly administered by Woods

OATH OF OFFICE SUSAN “TOOTIE” WELKER -oath of office for Welker administered by Woods

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Mathew asked when the electric would be available in the park. Weatherly explained he still needs to finish putting the electric in the park and once it is in, there will be a fee for using it.

Mathew asked if a sewer issue was holding up roads and sidewalk repairs. Woods explained no, they are not related.

Mathew expressed concern over slippery streets for people walking on Arlee and Wall St on the hills. He asked if they were high priority when sanding. Woods stated he would discuss the issue with public works.

ADJOURN 7:43 p.m. Weathelry/Graham 4-0 pass