PUBLIC HEARING HELD TUESDAY JANUARY 2, 2024 7:00 P.M.

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

MEETING WAS ALSO HELD VIA ZOOM

Public Hearing opened by Mayor Woods at 7:00 p.m.

Roll Call: Ed Weatherly, Leslee Smith, Jennifer Carr, Susan “Tootie” Welker, Randy Woods, Amy Gray

Also present: Robyn Largent, Rachel Largent, Steven Sheffield, Evelyn Pratt, Peg Winebrenner, Nisca Warthen, Cody Scott, Paul Stelter, Scott Volmer, Ladonna Vollmer, Ron Szmergalski, Mary Whitsett, Mike Geddes

A public hearing was held to discuss:

RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-04R: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HOT SPRINGS, MONTANA, CALLING FOR AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF CONDUCTING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW AND ESTABLISHING A STUDY COMMISSION TO DO SO. Wood read the resolution aloud. Woods explained what a local government review is. He explained that we are required by Montana Constitution to put this on the ballot every 10 years for the public to vote whether or not we have a local government review. He explained this is to review the type of government we have and is not the same thing as a financial audit or to review the seated government officials. He explained that Hot Springs has a Council/Mayor form of government. Scott Vollmer asked for clarification that the election is to decided whether or not we want to review the form of government to which Woods replied that he is correct. Pratt asked what Woods thought of the form of government we have. Woods explained that he felt this is a good type of government for Hot Springs. Ladonna asked asked how the citizens are to know about the types of government there are. Woods stated we would get education material out to the public and we will be having a public meeting to answer questions. Gray explained that we actually have not choice whether or not to put it on the ballot, but that we have to determine how much funding to ask for. She thought it was $5000 last time and it’s on the resolution for $8000 this year and stated there is a suggested budget in the council packets. Smith corrected that it was $20,000 last time. Woods agreed. Woods explained some of the cost associated with the local government review. For example if someone comes in and asks for a bunch of stuff from Amy, that comes out of the local government review budget instead of the regular budget. Woods asked if there were any other questions. Geddes asked if we could hire a city manager without changing the form of government. Woods stated not at this time. Hot Springs is not able to afford a city manager. Woods asked for any other comments or questions. There were none.

Close public hearing at 7:15 p.m.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY JANUARY 2,2024

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

MEETING ALSO HELD VIA ZOOM

CALL TO ORDER By Mayor Woods at 7:15 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Ed Weatherly, Leslee Smith, Jennifer Carr, Susan “Tootie” Welker, Randy Woods, Amy Gray

Also present: Robyn Largent, Rachel Largent, Steven Sheffield, Evelyn Pratt, Peg Winebrenner, Nisca Warthen, Cody Scott, Paul Stelter, Scott Volmer, Ladonna Vollmer, Ron Szmergalski, Mary Whitsett, Mike Geddes

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS Smith/ Carr 4-0 pass

FINANCIAL REPORTS October, November and December financial reports presented. Smith/Welker 4-0 pass Council members and Mayor were provided a current expenditure budget and revenue budget report.

REPORTS

MAYOR Woods reported that he has been working on final design of the blower control project with the engineer. We will be moving forward with and hopefully going out to bid in the next few months. CDBG only funded 6 projects and we were not one of them. We will not be getting the CDBG funding for the lagoon project. We have done a little more work on the subdivision review and met with the owners. Their engineer has presented some of the required information and our engineers have reviewed it and we have responded. We are now waiting for them to provide more plans and provide storm water plans. We are waiting on them to see how they want to proceed.

PUBLIC WORKS Woods reported that public works crew had been working on the street signs a little more. They are still working on road repairs and doing some clean up around town. We bought the new sander so we have a backup in case our primary sander goes down again.

FIRE DEPT Woods reported that the fire department has been really busy. We had Two house fires, one at the far end of Camas Prairie that resulted in a total loss. We were able to catch the one on Christmas day. We have also had several car crashes.

POLICE Report presented by Chief Largent

LIBRARY Report presented by Nisca Warthen

ZONING COMPLIANCE We have had several people asking about property that is for sale and several people who have had zoning compliance permits for new buildings or additions.

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED

NEW BUSINESS

DISCUSS ZONING MAP CHANGES AND SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING We discussed with the subdivision owner regarding the zoning in that subdivision. There are 9 lots close to the rodeo grounds that will be zoned Residential B that allow for multifamily homes. The remainder of the subdivision will be zoned residential A and will be for single family homes only. We need to schedule a hearing to discuss the zoning changes. Hearing set for Tuesday January 16, 2024 at 6pm at City Hall.

PL 280 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT CSKT Woods explained this MOA is an agreement with the Tribe regarding law enforcement. Woods read part of it and explained what it was for. Gray explained it had been read and approved by the Town Attorney. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

FY22-FY23 AUDIT CONTRACT Audit contract for FY22 and FY23 with Nicole Noonan. Carr/Smith 4-0 pass

DRAW REQUEST MORRISON MAIERLE BLOWER CONTROL PROJECT – Smith/Weatherly 4-0 pass

DRAW REQUEST MORRISON AND MAIERLE FOR SUBDIVISION REVIEW- Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-04R: A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HOT SPRINGS, MONTANA, CALLING FOR AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF CONDUCTING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW AND ESTABLISHING A STUDY COMMISSION TO DO SO. Smith/Weatherly 4-0 pass

LIBRARY PERSONNEL HIRE PERMANENT, PART-TIME EMPLOYEES NINA DECOSTER AND JESSIE STEPHENS Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

PAY RATE INCREASES FOR LIBRARY PERSONNEL RICE, VOGEL, DECOSTER AND STEPHENS Woods explained the library board is giving the employees at the library each a $3 per hour raise. Woods expressed concern that the library budget would support these raises in the next couple of years. He stated he did not feel it was fiscally responsible. He explained that he felt it was his responsibility to bring it to the attention of the library board. Peg Winebrenner explained that the library has a frugal staff that manages the money very well. She also stated we have the lowest paid library staff in the county. Gray explained that the proposed wage increases would raise the wage expenditure over $13,000 per year. Gray expressed concern about the budget and how the library will operate. She explained that the budget values she was quoting were provided by Starla Rice, the library director. Starla has provided a proposed budget that shows the taxes will pay for wages, electricity and insurance and that is all. Any other expenditure for the library will have to be funded through grant money, donations or fundraisers. Gray stated while she agreed that probably all of the employees in our county deserve to be paid more, the revenue still has to support the expenditures. Gray also explained that Starla said she was unsure of the raises herself and explained that they have some cash reserves now that will pay for the rest of this year and next fiscal year and that they will just have to figure it out after that and that they could cut 225 hours if they needed to. Geddes stated that if the town could get million-dollar grants, they should be using that money for the food bank and the library. Winebrenner said she didn’t want to have to cut hours and that they want to do more fundraisers for the library. Pratt stated she could provide the name of a lady to help with Grants. Woods said he has to be fiscally responsible and needs to make sure his concerns are brought to the attention of the library board. Smith asked if they could table to raises. Weatherly agreed that he wanted to table it if possible. Welker stated she trusts the library board to do their due diligence. Gray explained that she had reached out to Local Government services regarding this issue. She hadn’t heard back but it is her understanding that the library board can do this and the council has to approve it. She didn’t know if they could vote no and even if they did vote no, she thought the raises would have to be paid anyways. Smith/Welker 4-0 pass

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Woods asked for comment on non-agenda items

Ladonna Vollmer asked if there had been any decision on a one way Main street. Woods stated he felt it made sense for those two blocks to be one way. Welker requested it be added to the public hearing regarding zoning on the 16th. Vollmer stated she thought it would be a safer environment if Main street was one way.

Woods asked if there was any other public comment. There was none.

ADJOURN 8:14 p.m. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass