November 4, 2025

City of Townsend Council Meeting Minutes

November 4, 2025

  • Public Comment:   (none)
  • Minutes from October 21, 2025:  JB made a motion to approve the minutes.  Vivian seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried. 

Guests/Correspondence: 

Current

  • Massa Park Draft Agreement:  Mayor Rauser thanked JB and Vivian for pointing  out a couple of typo errors in the agreement.  Mayor Rauser will get those corrected.  JB asked about the City maintaining the fence in the back of the lot.  Eric stated that he did not know the City was responsible for the back fence.  JB also asked if the Massa family decides to sell the property, would the City get a piece of the profit.  Mayor Rauser stated that as it reads now,  the answer is no.  The Massa family owns the park.  Mayor Rauser stated that the reason the City helps maintain Massa Park is for the public’s use and enjoyment, not unlike any other city park. JB pointed out that the City is doing a lot to maintain the value of their property.  JB proposed that they put in an article stating that the City would receive some compensation for maintaining the park for decades. Discussion was held about the history of the property.   There are family members in the Massa family that don’t want to donate the property but rather sell the property. Doug asked if the Rotary and Chamber could put lights on the big tree in that park.  Mayor Rauser stated yes, as long as it’s within Massa Park.  JB asked who owns the benches and tables in the park.  Mayor Rauser stated that the Rotary put those in 1993.  Eric stated that the City does not spend a lot of time or money on the park upkeep.  Nate stated that a lot of people use the park and enjoy it. Eric stated that he’s going to ask the high school shop class to put metal on the benches with the Massa name on them.  JB stated that maybe it would be worth it to put an article in the agreement that stated the City retains the benches and tables.  He then said to forget about his proposal of the City being compensated upon selling.  Mayor Rauser stated that she’ll revise the agreement to include the benches and tables within the park.  Vivian made a motion to move forward with the Massa Park Agreement incorporating the furniture.  JB seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.  
  • Housing Grant Information:  JB suggested contacting our local non-profit groups to ask for volunteers, and possibly our local businesses, political parties, high school students who are eighteen or older, planning board members, and the local fire department.  Shawn Simon stated this would be a good thing for the volunteer fire department to engage with residents.  Angie asked if there is a time line on this.  Mayor Rauser said as soon as possible but no set date was established.  Jenny created a map to make it easier for the volunteers to go up one street and down the next, to save time and effort.  Thank you, Jenny!
  • Housing Co-op:  The December 2nd meeting will be held at the Methodist Church and will have a speaker to present the Housing Co-op.  The agenda will be limited to this presentation and paying claims.  All information received on the Housing Co-op is good information.
  • Holiday Hours for Staff:  Kari requested that the City Staff be able to leave early the day before Thanksgiving, and on Christmas Eve, and also be closed on Friday, December 26th.  JB made the motion to approve the proposed time off. Doug seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried. 
  • Budget to Actual Report:  Cash Report, Budget Expenditures to Actual Report, and Budget Revenue to Actual Report ran through end of October. 

Claims: 

  • JB made a motion to pay the October Claims.  Nate seconded the motion.   All in favor motion carried. 

          Pending Business

  • Fireworks Ordinance/Committee:  JB asked if we would remove this from the Pending Business for now. 
  • Ordinance Review:  This is still ongoing. 
  • Telecommunications/Franchise Committee/Ordinance:  Mayor Rauser stated that she has some comments and questions that she will pose to the committee itself.  She stated she’s received an email and phone call from Visionary Telecommunications, and they’ve requested to have an agreement in place by March 2026.  JB stated the NW Energy poles jumped from two to four on JB’s property.  JB had a conversation with them, and they had no idea about the Copper Springs Subdivision going in.  He stated that there seems to be a lack of communication.  Mayor Rauser stated that the City currently has a franchise agreement with them, and in the City Ordinances.  The franchise agreement is in effect until 2045.  Northwestern Energy has hired a new community relations person that Mayor Rauser has met.  His name is Wes Feist. 
  • Garbage Cans on Broadway:  Not as many issues with these as we were having a year or so ago.  It’s been requested to remove from the Pending Business for now. 

          Round Table:

Public Comment:  Nichole Brown stated that the County is also working on a              housing co-op out at the Silos. 

Clerk: Went over the budget reports; stated that all budget approved transfers have  been made except for the SID’s. 

Public Works:  Well 2 is running and the tank is going up.  North Cherry annexation is  happening soon.  Eric moved some dirt in the Mint’s alley and parking lot in order to improve the drainage issue. 

 Mayor/Council:  Vivian asked about the light at the tennis courts that continues to shine into some residents’ properties.  Mayor Rauser stated that she had permission to share the Northwestern Energy contact with the residents, so she has done that.  Mayor Rauser will be out of the area the week of Thanksgiving.  She stated that Al Christopherson has contacted her to talk more about the trails around the city.  MMIA will be hosting a defensive driving course on November 21st.  Communication issues with the Sheriff’s office staff and the City’s Compliance Officer are being resolved.  Our ACO has also been working with property clean-up and various parking issues.

JB gave a report from the Title I Title II Review Committee:  They have reviewed the City Fire Department.  What happens next with the City’s Fire Department?   By law we are required to have one.  If Townsend becomes a Class 2 City vs. and Class 3 City, the fire fighters will need to be paid firefighters.  He then posed some different options regarding the city’s fire department.  There will be a two-page document that needs to be presented to the council.  Angie stated that Vivian removed herself from the committee since she is a member of the fire department, however discussion was held if there is indeed a conflict of interest.  Vivian stated that she’s going to do what’s best for the City as a whole.  She doesn’t want anyone from the public to think there’s a conflict of interest.  Discussion was held if there is a conflict of interest since the City Fire Department is part of the City.  JB stated that the committee values Vivian’s insight and opinions. 

Adjournment:  Nate made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  JB seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.