MINUTES TOWN COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 4, 2025

YOU MAY ATTEND IN PERSON AT HOT SPRINGS CITY HALL

109 MAIN ST, HOT SPRINGS MT 59845

MEETING WAS ALSO HELD VIA ZOOM

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

ROLL CALL Ed Weatherly, Leslee Smith, Jen Carr, Susan Welker, Randy Woods, Amy Gray

Also present: Stephen Sheffield, Tracy Dyson, Cody Scott, Scott Vollmer, Ladonna Vollmer, Christine Walsvick, Shanna Camenzind-Weatherly, Justin Ludeman, Shawn Visintin, Starla Rice

MINUTES Smith/Weatherly 4-0 pass

CLAIMS Smith/ Weatherly 4-0 pass

FINANCIALS Financials for October were not available by meeting time

REPORTS

MAYOR Woods reported he had been finishing up summer project and working on finding a new attorney.

PUBLIC WORKS is ramping up for winter and burning the big brush piles

FIRE DEPT was slow this month with just a couple of car crashes

POLICE report was presented by Officer Ludeman and Officer Visintin. Ludeman had participated in Red Ribbon Week at the school and gave a presentation to the students. He stated that the school was very pleased with it and the kids asked a lot of questions. Visintin presented the police department report. He also reported that the reserve program had 4 reserve officers. One had to resign due to the participation requirements. Reserve Officers are required to purchase their own equipment which costs them $1600-$2000 to be able to be a volunteer reserve officer.

LIBRARY report was presented by Starla Rice

ZONING COMPLIANCE Woods reported the only ongoing item in zoning at the moment was the lot on 1St Ave N.

PARKS AND REC- Weatherly reported that Jake Cremer may be donating a BBQ for the park

PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

DECEMBER TOWN COUNCIL MEETING DATE- The Mayor and the Clerk will both be gone on December 2nd. Woods asked if the council would like to change the date of the council meeting to the 2nd Tuesday. Motion made to change December meeting to the 9th. Smith/Weatherly 4-0 pass

ATTORNEY RESIGNSATION – FITZPATRICK Woods reported that Loren Fitzpatrick had resigned his position as Town Attorney. Motion to accept resignation Weatherly/Smith 4-0 pass

ATTORNEY CONTRACT -HIRE NEW ATTORNEY FERGUSON Wood read letter of interest provided by Mr. Ferguson. Gray shared details of Ferguson’s experience with the council. Welker/Carr 4-0 pass

FEE FOR TREE/LIMB DUMPING There has been several requests from tree trimmers to be able to dump loads of branches and limbs at the Town’s pit. The crew is required to be there when they are dumping and then have to clean up and burn the piles resulting in expense to the town. Mayor Woods and the council discussed options for charging fees for this service. Welker made a motion to charge $20 per load. Welker/Weatherly 4-0 pass

ORDINANCE REVIEW SCHEDULE Woods recommended having a meeting each month to review the ordinance book. Meetings will be separate from Town Council, once per month and last one hour. The meetings will continue until review is complete. Suggested meeting day is 4th Tuesday of each month beginning in January at 6pm. Welker/Carr 4-0 pass

Non-agenda Items

Welker will have Food in the park even on December 1st and December 8th. She is looking for an alternative location for distribution, possibly the Tribal Nutrition Center.

Gray explained MMIA is recommending insurance for any event on Town Property that is not a town event. She explained she had already spoken with Darla and was provided with proof of insurance from her. She also spoke with the Farmers Market group to let them know it will likely be a requirement next year.

ADJOURN

7:39 p.m. Smith/Carr 4-0 pass