MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 4, 2025.

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

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

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

Also present: Bill Naegli, Tony Tinacci, Mary Whitsett, Shanna Camenzind, Stephen Sheffield, Eric Larson, Justin Ludeman, Ron Szmergalski, Starla Rice

MINUTES Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

CLAIMS Gray explained she had contacted Mission Valley Power regarding the increase in the electric bills. MVP explained billing and also told her there would be an increase in costs in March as well due to price increase. Woods explained North Ridge Fire Equipment. This had to be spent before February 21st in order to apply for the reimbursement for the grant the town had been awarded. There would be a hold due to the Federal spending shut down. Grant money was spent, submitted for reimbursement and reimbursement has been received.

FINANCIALS not complete for February

REPORTS

MAYOR Woods explained he has been meeting with the subdivision guy regarding some land transfers. This is still being discussed and will eventually come to council when they have completed their end of things. Woods has also been helping public works with plowing

PUBLIC WORKS there was some localized flooding due to rapid warming and run off. The crew came in over the weekend and worked with the excavator to try to manage some of the flow and protect property. Mike was in on Sunday working on sewer issues. Woods and Gray met with a county commissioner and will be contacting the tribe to discuss the possibility of getting some more culverts. There are some approaches in town where smaller culverts have been put in that need to be bigger. The town needs to come up with a plan to fix them and look at an ordinance for future installs. Woods has been discussing with some property owners about them paying for the culverts and the town doing the work to install them. Public works is also looking at a possible leak at a hydrant on D Street.

FIRE DEPT There has been two house fires since the last town council meeting. One was a total loss. We were already working on an abatement with him. There was another house fire which was caused by a solar light with a lithium ion battery. Fortunately Mike was only two doors down and was able to run down and extinguish the fire. There were six car crashes with some pretty serious injuries

POLICE Chief Larson presented monthly report. The DUI intoxilyzer machine is up and running. It has been inspected and calibrated. Two reserve officers have been activated.

CLERK Gray reported Mike will be gone next week to water school. James Kennedy has asked the town to look into a grant for 7-6-2026 celebration. Gray had discussed with him the possibility of having a committee formed or using one of the committees already in place such as Chamber of Commerce or VFW. As a start, we will continue to work with James to get him in touch with some of these groups.

LIBRARY Starla presented the library. There was discussion on Rubes book signing. Gray asked if Rube needed to sign a conflict of interest if the library was purchasing his books. Woods recommended he does.

ZONING COMPLIANCE working with Kristel Lacy on her property, working on clean up plans for Odekirk property

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION 2025-06R: ADOPTING THE 2024 WESTERN MONTANA REGION HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN Bill Naegli from Sanders County presented information regarding the mitigation plan. Without the plan in place we get lower ratings for mitigation grants. The plan has to be updated every 5 years. Naegli recommends the Town adopts the plant. The county adopted the plan Thursday. Starla, Amy and Randy were involved when this plan was being designed. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass

CHECKING ACCOUNT AT FIRST SECURITY BANK CHANGED TO CD OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT Motion by Smith second by Weatherly to combine both accounts and put the money into a CD. 4-0 pass

PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Whitsett – expressed her opinion that Spring Street Autocare should be open on Homesteaders weekend so people can get air if they need it. She also expressed her concern that the Y doesn’t have long handled squeegees.

ADJOURN 7:47 p.m. Welker/ Carr 4-0 pass