PHILIPSBURG TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES
February 6th, 2024
6:00 P.M. Philipsburg Town Hall
Council in attendance: John Laigaie, Jason White, Mayor Daniel Reddish, Scott Lyons, Lorraine Dell-Bishop, and Carl Sundstrom (online). Others in attendance: Clerk Rachel Parret, Special Projects Maureen Connor, Fire Chief David Ray, Public Works Foreman Ed Roseboom, Deputy Marlena Webber, Heidi Heser, Amelia Wood, Elena Gagliano (online).
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Reddish called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Heidi Heser – Car Show/BBQ
Heidi Heser asked the Council to close the street for the BBQ challenge on June 14th at 11:00 pm through June 15th, 2024. Heidi also asked the Council to close the street July 28th for the Car Show. Last year, the Car Show had 132 participants and they are expecting another large crowd.
STANDING REPORTS
Chamber
Heidi Heser gave an update to the Council on the Chamber. Chamber meetings are the third Tuesday of the Month 8:00 am at the Granite Co. Museum. The Chamber’s new president is Dale Siegford. The bylaws have been approved and the budget is under review. Cathy Smith is planning the Brewfest for the end of April.
Sheriff
Sheriff Dunkerson submitted the monthly report to the Council. Deputy Webb stated that the Sheriff’s Office will be doing more walk throughs during Town events and checking ID’s.
Fire Department
Chief David Ray updated the Council on the Fire Department. Chief Ray and Clerk Rachel Parret worked on updating the vehicle insurance. The Department also has been training with the Georgetown Fire Department. Georgetown Department donated a pumper truck to the Philipsburg Department.
Councilman Lyons asked the Chief about the false alarm over the weekend. Chief Ray stated that the original alarm was sent out to Mungus Lane, when the alarm was meant to go to Munis Gravil Pit. There wasn’t a fire, but it was good training exercise.
Public Works Foreman
Foreman Ed Roseboom submitted a monthly report to the Council. Ed stated that the crew is working on snow removal, to prevent the ice buildup on the roads.
Town Clerk
Clerk Rachel Parret updated the Council on the financials. The State denied the request for an extension on the Annual Financial Report. The Town received the money for two grants: DNRC-RRG for $125,000.00 and DNRC water improvements for $20,880.00. The water fund has replaced the $100,000.00 that was borrowed from the sewer fund. Tax lawyer Tom Morrison contacted the Town to help settle the IRS account.
Minutes of Prior Meetings January 16, 2024, Resort Tax January 16, 2024, Resort Tax January 18, 2024, Resort Tax January 25, 2024, Resort Tax February 1st, 2024
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the minutes from 1-16-24 with corrections, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the minutes from the Resort Tax meeting 1-16-24 with corrections, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the minutes from the Resort Tax meeting 1-18-24 with corrections, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to approve the minutes from the Resort Tax meeting 1-25-24 with corrections, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the minutes from the Resort Tax meeting 2-1-24, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Payroll and Bills Payable - January 2024
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the payroll from 1-19-24 and 2-5-24, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the claims, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Water and Sewer Adjustments – January 2024
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve the water and sewer adjustments for January 2024, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Project Request Payments – January 2024
Councilman Sundstrom made a motion to pay HDR invoice 1200578831 in the amount of $1589.77, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion pay HDR invoice 1200578833 in the mount of $1448.99, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. Councilman Fujinami made a motion pay HDR invoice 1200578834 in the mount of $4448.65, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion pay HDR invoice 1200578835 in the mount of $2415.17, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion pay HDR invoice 1200578836 in the mount of $3333.85, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion pay HDR invoice 1200578837 in the mount of $888.19, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion pay HDR invoice 1200578838 in the mount of $2444.84, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to pay Great West invoice 30918 in the amount $2689.50, Councilman Laigaie seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to pay Great West invoice 31211 in the amount of $1411.60, Councilman White seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to pay Great West invoice 31536 in the amount of $19,943.75, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Sewer Lagoon Update
Special Projects Maureen Connor stated the final budget is lined out for the Lagoon Project and SFR will have the final approval. A notice to proceed with the project will need to be issued as soon as the approval is final.
Water/Sewer Policy
Mayor Reddish stated that the water and sewer policy was updated with easement information. The easement grants Public Works the ability to update and maintain the infrastructure.
Maureen Connor asked the Council to form a policy on the release of infrastructure plans. Ed Roseboom stated that Homeland Security has policies on the release of Town infrastructure plans.
NEW BUSINESS
Calling for Election on the question of conducting a local government review and establishing a study commission – ACTION ITEM Resolution 2024-2
Mayor Reddish read the Resolution 2024-2 Calling for Election on Conducting a Local Government Review and Establishing a Study Commission.
Councilman Lyons asked how many board members were on the last Study Commission. Councilman Sundstrom stated that he was on the last board along with Jim Jenner and Steve Immenschuh and that the Commission had a budget of $5000.00. The $5000.00 was an excessive amount of money.
Mayor Reddish stated he was on the Council at the time and that the $5000.00 for the Study Commission was more than needed.
Councilman Lyons asked if 3 people were enough to have on the Commission. Councilman Sunstrom stated that 3 people were enough and any recommendation will be presented to the Council for final decision.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to pass Resolution 2024-2, with three (3) people on the Study Commission, and budgeting $3000.00 for the Study Commission, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Councilman Lyons asked if anyone was precluded from serving on the Commission and if Councilmembers were allowed to serve. Mayor Reddish stated that a Councilmember can be on the Commission as a nonvoting member and that the other people need to be Philipsburg Residents.
Town Council Elect Chair and Vice Chair – ACTION ITEM
Councilman Laigaie made a motion to appoint Councilman Lyons as Chair of the Council, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. Councilman Lyons accepted the position.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to appoint Councilman White as the Vice Chair of the Council, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. Councilman White accepted the position.
Councilman Sundstrom stated that he would type up the duties for the Vice Chair position.
Resort Tax on the ballot in June or November – ACTION ITEM
Councilman Lyons stated that a Resolution need to be passed before anything can go on the ballot. However, the Council needs to decide whether to place the Resort Tax on the June or November ballot after the Resolution is passed by the Council. Councilman Lyons also stated that originally, he was for the Resort Tax going on the November ballot as more people are likely to vote during general election than a primary. But with further understanding on the processes Councilman Lyons sees an advantage of putting the Resort Tax on the June primary ballot as it will allow more time for staff and Council to prepare before the Resort Tax would be implemented.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to place the Resort Tax on the ballot on June 4th after the Resolution is passed, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Roll Call on vote to place the Resort Tax on the June 4th ballot. Councilman Laigaie Aye, Councilwoman Dell-Bishop Aye, Councilman Lyons Aye, Councilman Fujinami Aye, Councilman White Aye, Councilman Sundstrom Aye.
Special Projects Maureen Connor stated that if the Resort Tax doesn’t pass in June that it can be placed back on the ballot in November.
Information on Affidavit to PSC
The Town is on the School Board agenda February 13, 2024, at 6:00 pm.
Lagoon Project Final Budget – ACTION ITEM
The Town has 10 funding sources for the Lagoon project. Special Projects Maureen Connor is trying to get an increase in forgiveness for the SRF loan.
Councilman Sunstrom asked if the construction cost included the 2 alternatives on the bid. Maureen Connor stated that the construction included both alternatives.
Councilman Lyons asked what the $500,000.00 contingency was going to be used for. Maureen Connor stated that the contingency money would be used for an overage costs that occur and that $500,000.00 was low amount for this size of project.
Foreman Ed Roseboom asked if the Lagoon Project came in under budget if the Town could use the SFR loan to work on other sewer projects. Maureen Connor stated that the Town wouldn’t be able to use the extra money and the Town would just borrow less from SRF.
Councilman Lyons made a motion to approve Mayor Reddish to sign the SRF loan, Councilman Fujinami seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Council
Councilman Lyons stated that he did some research on the Town’s old Facebook page and the page in no longer active. Mayor Reddish stated that he would talk to the Deputy Clerk and see if she has any further insight on the Facebook page.
Public Comment on Matters within the Town Council’s Jurisdiction
Public Works Foreman Ed Roseboom stated that on behalf of the Public Works Department he wanted to thank the Council for going forward with the Resort Tax.
Elena Gagliano asked when the minutes will be uploaded to the Town website. Clerk Rachel Parret stated the minutes would be uploaded by the end of the week. Elena also asked if there was funding set aside in the budget for the Resort Tax. Elena said that Dan Clark will be holding a webinar in March for Council training. Elena also asked about the $625,000.00 that Representative Fitzpatrick had said was approved for the Town of Philipsburg. Mayor Reddish stated that he would be in contact with Representative Fitzpatrick on the matter.
ADJOURN
Councilman Fujinami made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 pm, Councilman Laigaie seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.