September 6, 2022 Minutes for public hearing
Public Hearing was held at Hot Springs City Hall 109 Main St, Hot Springs
And also via Zoom
Public hearing open at 7:00 PM
Present: Weatherly, Smith, Aldridge, Graham, Woods, Gray,
Also Present: Starla Rice, Cody Scott, Scott and Ladonna Vollmer, Lisa Parker,
Steven Sheffield, Bob Neary, Mary Famisaran
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING

RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLUTION 2023-01R: RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR
THE TOWN OF HOT SPRINGS- Woods read the budget resolution. Clerk Gray
explained the library mills. The library will be adding 4.9 mils to make up for
missing mils due from the 2021 due to the county levying an incorrect amount of
mils. Gray explained that she had discussed with Magda Nelson and with the
Auditor Nicole Noonan the proper mils to be levied. Because of the difference in
the mill value, instead of a total of 10.32 mils which is the missing mils from 2021,
the library received 5.16 for 2022 and will receive 4.9 for 2023 which equates to
the missing actual dollar amount from 2021. The library board had been advised.
The final budget is very similar to the preliminary budget. Changes include the
actual revenue that was determined once the levy comp forms were available.
There was also a change to add revenue and expenditure for the ARPA funds we
are to receive. Woods asked if there were any questions from council or from the
public. There were none.
RESOLUTION 2023-02R: RESOLUTION FOR SETTING THE PAY RATES
EMPLOYEE/CONTRACT WORKERS FOR THE 2022-2023 BUDGET YEAR-
Read aloud by Woods. Woods explained we had discussed and approved wages at
the previous town council meeting. We are required to have a resolution setting the
rates for the fiscal year. Woods asked if there were any questions. Ladonna
Vollmer asked what our fiscal year was. Woods explained it was July 1- June 30.
There were no other questions.
RESOLUTION 20220-12R: A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A PETITION FOR
ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY JODIE R BUECHEL- Read aloud
by Woods. This is the annexation the council had voted on at the previous meeting
The annexation requires a resolution. The property is adjacent to the rodeo

grounds. They estimate it will be at least a year before work begins. Lisa Parker
asked if this included the lots at the end of Jaques Rd. Woods stated it did not.
Woods asked if there was any questions on this resolution or any of the resolutions.
There was note.
Public hearing was closed at 7:23 p.m.
September 6, 2022 Town Council Meeting Minutes
MEETING WAS HELD AT HOT SPRINGS CITY HALL
109 MAIN ST, HOT SPRINGS MT 59845
AND ALSO VIA ZOOM
CALL TO ORDER at 7:23 PM By Mayor Woods
ROLL CALL Present: Weatherly, Smith, Aldridge, Graham, Woods, Gray,
Also Present: Starla, Rice, Cody Scott, Scott and Ladonna Vollmer, Lisa Parker,
Steven Sheffield, Bob Neary, Mary Famisaran
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Smith/Aldridge 4-0 pass
PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS Gray explained there would be a reimbursement from
the Rural Fire Department for a portion of the fire department fuel bill. Weatherly asked
if the Gambles claim would need to be approved and if it would be a conflict of interest.
Woods stated it was being passed around to the council members to review.
Aldridge/Graham 4-0 pass
REPORTS
MAYOR Woods explained that the water project is moving very slow. There has been an
engineer on site the entire time. The are having a hard time getting through the
disinfection phase. They have bee chlorinating, testing and still having issues.
Contractors are at the well putting in the pump now.
Viking Paint was here and have sandblasted inside and outside of the tank. They found
pitting on the inside so there was a change order for them to fill the pits. They also
ordered too much paint so they applied extra paint to the inside of the tank. There is a
new vent on top, they have added hatches and a manway to the water tank.
Camas is working at the well house. They ran into a stem wall so they have to hydro
excavate that. The water line extension is past the completion date so we are in the fine
stages on that part of the project.
PUBLIC WORKS has been very busy. They are still working on alleys and roads,
potholes and dealing with trash from the bears.
Mike has been working on multiple connections, had some trouble with the excavator,
the mechanic came down and hopefully got that fixed. It rained and then he was gone for
fair so he still has some projects to get finished up.
FIRE DEPT has been extremely busy. We have had a lot of fires and a lot of long hours.
We responded to Elmo 2 fire multiple times, an 80 acre fire at Niarada, Garceau Gulch
fire , and multiple smaller fires. We have had a few structure fires and several car wrecks.
It is getting hard on our volunteers. The Ambulance has been a little slower than normal.
POLICE Presented by Woods
LIBRARY presented by Starla

ZONING COMPLIANCE Not too much for zoning this past month. We are starting to
see people living in campers n yards and in cars. We need to revisit some of our
ordinances to address these issues.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM WILL BE ALLOWED
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION 2023-01R: RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF
HOT SPRINGS- Smith asked if there were any other changes, Gray stated just the adjustments to
revenue to match Levy Comp and we added to the budget to be able to receive and spend ARPA funds.
Graham/Smith 4-0 pass
RESOLUTION 2023-02R: RESOLUTION FOR SETTING THE PAY RATES
EMPLOYEE/CONTRACT WORKERS FOR THE 2022-2023 BUDGET YEAR
Smith/Graham 4-0 pass
RESOLUTION 20220-12R: A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A PETITION FOR ANNEXATION
OF PROPERTY OWNED BY JODIE R BUECHEL Aldridge/Weatherly 4-0 pass
DRAW REQUEST WATER PROJECT Cayla asked how they are getting paid if they are not finished.
Woods explained that as they complete bid items they are paid portions of what is done compared to the
completed project. Each bid item has a dollar value. They are being paid for the portion that is
completed. Aldridge/Smith 4-0 pass
PARKING ON CHARLOT Woods explained that this has been a long ordeal at the North end of
Charlot Street. The street dead ends there. There was a house built right on the edge of the street with no
parking on the street available and now we are having parking issues again with new owners. Gray
explained that there is a variance on file for this property. At the time the variance was filed the owner
was requesting to build his house right on the property line instead of having set backs because of the
layout of the property. He had indicated he would not need on street parking and would have two parking
spaces available. Woods explained that the owner was going to having parking in his garage and a
parking spot next to the garage. There were issues that we thought were resolved when we put in no
parking zones on the street but now there are new owners and we have more problems. Weatherly asked
if Bob had other access to his property, Woods explained he has access off the alley. Weatherly asked
about Rich Reeds property and Woods stated he did not have any other access to his property. Woods
explained that there were multiple things in the variance that were not followed through with. Neary
stated that as of today, Reeds have six vehicles plus a motorcycle parked in the street. Woods explained
he had been to the property and looked at it. There are a few ideas to separate the street or abandon the
street to the three properties with 45 Degree angles at the ends. Woods asked that council look at it and
see if they could come up with a possible solution. Aldridge made a motion to table this so they could
look at the property and think about it. Second by Weatherly 4-0 pass Will be on next town council
meeting agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Woods called for public comment on non agenda items-

Ladonna Vollmer asked if there was an ordinance regarding hot wire fences. Woods stated he
believed that if they were on the interior of your yard they were ok but could not be on an
exterior fence. He stated that we would have to look at the ordinance to give her a definitive
answer.
Mary Famisaran- expressed that she felt everyone should be required to have bear proof
containers.
Woods stated we need to look at some ordinances requiring bear proofing. Bears that eat garbage
are usually destroyed.
Famisaran said that Republic Services has bear proof cans but not industrial size. She also
thought portable plastic electric fences could be an option. She then asked why our street lights
are so bright.
Woods explained that street lights are done by Mission Valley Power and that all of the lights are
brand new.
Woods called for additional public comment. There was none.

ADJOURN Graham/Aldridge 4-0 pass 8:29PM