MINUTES FOR PUBLIC HEARING HELD TUESDAY JULY 2nd, 2024

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

MEETING ALSO  HELD VIA ZOOM

Public Hearing called to order by Mayor Woods at 7:08 p.m.

Present: Weatherly, Smith, Carr, Welker, Woods, Gray

Also present: Cameron Martin, Eric Larson, Eddy Aruda, Charlie Scott, Ryan Kraus, Scott Vollmer, Mary Whitsett, Cody Scott, Samantha Carr, Trudy Berge, Stephen Sheffield, Shanna Camenzind

A public hearing was held to discuss the preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2025.

Mayor Woods read through each fund for the revenue budget and expenditure budget for fiscal year 2025 and explained differences between previous year and this year.

Welker explained other people may have different priorities and ideas they could come from having a budget committee.

Woods that we have public hearings to get input from the council and public. He has included needed vehicles, maintenance, additional items such as a water fill station, fire truck and sidewalks. The town needs to be working on infrastructure and thinking about the things that help everyone.

Woods asked for any other public comment, there was none.

Public hearing closed. 7:55 p.m.

MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY JULY 2, 2024

Regular town council meeting was held immediately following public hearing atHOT SPRINGS TOWN HALL 109 MAIN ST, HOT SPRINGS MT 59845

MEETING WAS ALSO HELD VIA ZOOM

CALL TO ORDER BY Mayor Woods at 7:55 p.m.

ROLL CALL Present: Weatherly, Smith, Carr, Welker, Woods, Gray

Also present: Cameron Martin, Eric Larson, Eddy Aruda, Charlie Scott, Ryan Kraus, Scott Vollmer, Mary Whitsett, Cody Scott, Samantha Carr, Trudy Berge, Stephen Sheffield, Shanna Camenzind

MINUTES Smith/ Weatherly  4-0 pass

CLAIMS Gray explained two claims came in at the last minute to be paid. Josh Weatherly for lights in Police Department and Visa bill for the library. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

FINANCIALS  Weatherly/Welker 4-0 pass

REPORTS

MAYOR Subdivision application is in final review stage. It will be brought to the public and council at a special meeting. Woods has also been working on the sewer projects. The blower control project is almost ready to go to bid. We are looking for funding for the lagoon project. We have been working on the budget, looking into radios for the police department, looking into possibilities of a water fill site for bulk water, looking at new fire trucks because we are constantly working on them, so we are looking for upgrades, and we are also looking at the possibility of a two bedroom trailer for our out of town officers

PUBLIC WORKS the street paving will begin in the next couple of weeks. This will likely create a lot of congestion and inconvenience while they are in the downtown area. They will start with cutting and grooving Main Street. The rodeo was big with a lot of people. PW crew will be mowing. Town will be sending out weed notices. If you don’t cut your lawns, the town will do it and will bill you. Property owners are responsible out to the street, including right of ways. They will also be trimming trees. We have been adding service lines for water and sewer and have a few more to dig.

FIRE DEPT 3 car crashes with injuries and one major fire.

POLICE report presented by Officer Martin

Woods reminded everyone they need to call 911 or Sanders County dispatch to report any crime. Chief Larson explained the need for documenting initial reports and that Town hall employees will not be handing out paper reports. Officers need to sit down face to face with reporting parties to get proper and adequate information. The reports become legal documents and need to be professional.

Chief Larson also commented that the number of volunteers in this town is amazing.

LIBRARY- Gray presented the library report

ZONING COMPLIANCE- Woods reported there have been a lot of zoning questions regarding setbacks

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED

OLD BUSINESS- none

NEW BUSINESS

RATIFY HIRE OF CHIEF OF POLICE ERIC LARSON- Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

FISCAL YEAR 2025 PRELIMINARY BUDGET Smith/Weatherly 4-0 pass

APPOINTMENTS FOR PARKS AND REC BOARD Woods recommended Ed Weatherly to stay on parks and rec board as the council member, and Michael Howard Junior as member at large. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

DISCUSSION – SHORT TERM RENTALS/AIR BNB REGULATIONS

Welker questioned if short term rentals should only be allowed in commercial zoning

Woods expressed concerns about out of town people buying property and using them as short term rentals. He also expressed a need for health inspections, fire inspections and business licenses. Welker said it creates a problem of not knowing your neighbors. Smith wants tourists to have the option of renting houses for overnight stays in Hot Springs. Weatherly stated his concern about a shortage of long term rentals for workers or local residents. Smith stated our zoning doesn’t allow for multiple units in residential A and there needs to be regulations for short term rentals. Charlie Scott stated local people aren’t able to afford to buy and that long term rentals are in poorer condition. Woods stated the Airbnb properties are nice, mowed lawns, flowers and cleaned regularly. Gray has looked at other town ordinances and many of them have a limit on the number of short term rentals allowed and require health and fire inspections. Larson agreed there needs to be rules and guidelines determining responsibility for incidents that occur on these properties. Woods stated there will be more research and further discussion. No action taken.

PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Charlie Scott asked about the sidewalk on the side of the laundromat. Woods explained adjacent property owners are responsible for upkeep and maintenance of sidewalks. He explained that the sidewalk project we are doing now had to be for new sidewalks and could not be used to repair old ones. Gray stated there has been discussion of businesses working together to repair sidewalks and having a cement truck come at the same time to share the expense.

Berge commented that she thinks Airbnbs need to stay and not be take away

Weatherly stated he didn’t think they should be taken away, just some restrictions put in place.

Woods asked if there were any further non agenda items. There were none.

ADJOURN  8:58 p.m.  Welker/Carr 4-0 pass

Dated this ______ day of ______________, 2024

Attest___________________     Signed ___________________________