MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 2025

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 Jennifer Carr, Ed Weatherly, Leslee Smith, Susan Welker, Randy Woods, Amy Gray

Also present: Chief Eric Larson, Officer Justin Ludeman, Stephen Sheffield, Antonio Tinacci, Cody Scott, Shanna Camenzind, Kim Persico, Kristel Lacy

Zoom- Officer Shawn Visintin, Ron Szmergalski, Heather Piper, Starla Rice

MINUTES Smiht/Weatherly 4-0 pass

CLAIMS Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

Weatherly questioned the amount of money being spent on ammunition. It was clarified that there were other items on the itemized receipt that did not show on the claim list. Chief Larson explained the requirements for officers to complete qualifications with weapons they will use. Welker asked about the Mission Valley Power bill being so high. Woods explained it was normal for this time of year and reviewed the previous month which was actually slightly higher. Welker asked for clarification of the Clark Fork Valley Hospital bill. Gray explained per MCA new hires are required to have a medical and mental evaluation. This bill was for Larson and Visintin

FINANCIALS January financial report presented. Weatherly/Carr 4-0 pass

REPORTS

MAYOR Woods discussed the blower upgrade project. The initial bid came in under budget and the Town has more Arpa funds that are designated to this project so we will be doing a change order to include additional upgrades within the blower building including electrical upgrades, lighting, outlets, blower motors.

PUBLIC WORKS has been doing normal winter stuff like plowing and sanding. When they were reading meters, they found approximately 70 meters that had wires cut on the read pads. When they fix those, they will put them in conduit to protect the wires from weed eaters or malicious damage.

FIRE DEPT Woods reported there were several fire calls this past month. There was a structure fire and a fatal car crash as well as several fire alarms and a carbon monoxide detector call. Woods explained that carbon monoxide detectors have expiration dates and may not work properly if they are expired.

Welker asked if the federal funds freeze will affect the lagoon project or other projects

Woods stated that so far there has been no effect. He stated he felt the sidewalk project and the blower project funding is already committed and should not be affected but the lagoon project is not fully funded and we have applied for RD funds. He was unsure how that would be affected due to the federal funding freeze.

Woods continued with fire report. He discussed the fire at 308 Main Street. Hot Springs called in Plain City Fire and Plains Rural Fire for mutual aid. They were here until midnight. Hot Springs fire had someone on scene until noon the next day. Woods praised Chief Larson for his assistance on the fire citing his experience as a huge asset in helping with the family, scene control and providing meals for the firefighters. He stated there are plans for more cooperative training with police, fire and Ems in the future as well.

POLICE Larsen presented the police report and discussed training he and the other officers had attended.

CLERK The fire hall is being rearranged and organized. Tony and Cody built on to the storage room and moved the shelves and boxes of records into the room over the weekend.

LIBRARY Report presented by Starla Rice

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED

NEW BUSINESS

BANDITOS WEEKEND OPEN CONTAINER WAIVER AND STREET CLOSURE- A map and description was provided to the council outlining the limitations of the open container waiver. Charlie at Fergies is providing event coverage naming the Town as additional insured. Smith/Welker 4-0 pass

RESERVE PROGRAM MANUAL Visintin explained the need to update the policy manual to get it in line with MCA’s and to make sure it meets the needs of the Hot Springs Police Department. He spoke with MLEA, Helena PD and Dawson Academy for guidance while working on the policy manual. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

308 MAIN STREET PROPERTY – ZONING COMPLIANCE/VARIANCE- Kristel Lacy was present and had presented the town with a zoning compliance permit as well as a variance application. Kristel’s house burned down in January and she was asking for the town’s permission to rebuild in the exact footprint of the previous house. The property is zoned commercial/residential. The previous building had originally been used as a business and the building had been built right on the property line. She had ceased business use in the building and was strictly using it as her residence at the time of the fire. Her request was to build on the exact same footprint even though it would not meet the required setbacks for residential buildings. Motion to approve building on the same footprint made by Smith/seconded by Carr 4-0 pass

PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEMS- Woods asked of there were any comments on non-agenda items. There were none.

ADJOURN 19:48 Welker/Carr 4-0 pass