February 3, 2026

City of Townsend

Council Meeting Minutes

February 3, 2026

Call to Order:  Mayor Rauser called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  Council members in attendance were Nate Brown, Angie Wintrow, JB Howick, and Vivian Boaz.  Peter Simon called in absent.  Also in attendance are Mark Wood, Andrew Herrick, Nichole Simon, Andrea Dabling, Patrick Plantenberg, Mary Mistek, Sharon Davis, Jerry Davis, Jamie Buck, Eric Crusch, and Kari Williams. 

Public Comment:  (none)

  • Public Hearing on Budget Amendments
  •  Increase Legal Services in the General Fund
  •  Increase budget appropriations for Comprehensive Insurance Fund
  • Increase budget appropriations for PERS Fund                                                                                 Mayor Rauser closed the public hearing. 

Angie made a motion to approve the increases as stated.  JB seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.

Minutes from January 20, 2026:  JB made a motion to approve the minutes.  Angie seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.

  • Andrea Dabling, Big Sky Big Leadership Project Request- Andrea gave a summary of the Big Sky Big Leadership Group.  She stated that they work to improve rural towns and the community in general.  Her group’s ideas are as follows:  Adopt a Park with litter removal;  Adopt a Trail;  Adopt a Garden;  Adopt a Wall-paining a mural.  Eric gave his thoughts and suggestions on a flower garden within Memorial Park.  Mayor Rauser stated there are not that many trails within city limits.  JB suggested maintaining overgrown grass along the curbs at the corner streets. 
  • Letter of Support for Sheriff’s Department—Under Sheriff Mark Wood was in attendance to accept the letter. 
  • Tree Board Watering Contract–Pat Plantenberg spoke on this.  He requested to make the watering contract a year-long contract in cases as this winter where there has not been much moisture.  Vivian asked how much water is being used.  Pat stated that on average, the tank holds approximately 420 gallons of water, and they fill it up three times during the day.  Mayor Rauser asked for a motion that amends the current watering contract.  JB made a motion to amend the contract to make the contract an annual contract with the need for watering services deemed by the tree board.   Angie seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.
  • Claims—Angie made a motion to approve the January claims.  JB seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried. 

Pending/Continuing Business

  • Angie said the committee met for Title II and had a long, productive meeting, but did not finish.  Another meeting needs to be scheduled, so Title II Ordinance Review Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 10th at 3:00 p.m.
  • Franchise Communications is still on the list because it’s still under revision, and Mayor Rauser as not heard back from our city attorney.

Public Comment:  (none)

Public Works-Eric-stated a blower went out at the sewer lagoon.  The cost to replace it is $18,000.  He’s hoping that the company can tell him why the blower went out. He did learn that between seven and ten years, the blowers do start to fail, so it’s recommended to send the older ones in and get them exchanged for new ones, which is approximately $10,000. The budget going forward will need to include upgrades to the blowers.  He said that we will need to start treating our waste water, and the cost of that is unreal.  He’s also gearing up to get some street work done and he’s contacted three different companies for doing the chip seal that we budgeted for this fiscal year.  Right now, it will be the 100 block of North Cherry, the 100 block of South Cedar, and then from D Street to 4th Street on Pine.  He was taught to maintain the good streets and fix the bad streets.  There has been some trees being cut down in the parks, and they are ones that would eventually blow down, so it’s a good thing. Mayor Rauser stated that we have a resignation within the public works department, so that job announcement will come out in the paper this Friday.

Clerk-Kari stated that she finally got the Events Ordinance into the Municipal Code.  Please check it out on the city’s website.  Kari & Jenny are working on the forms that are required for that ordinance.

Fire Department-Nicole Simon spoke.  Shawn is working on the ESO.  Andrew Herrick stated that they have three new people who signed up for the recruiting class for rural and city firefighters.   

Mayor Rauser—stated she forwarded an email to the council from Visionary Communications LLC.  She’s working on a letter to Jim Schauber, the building inspector, because we have not received any building inspection forms for quite some time.   She stated that she’s also working on a press release regarding the water system being completed July or August 2026, so that the public can take action in advance of the water tower coming online. 

Nate-

Angie-

JB- read the Fire Memorandum of Understanding, which will be on the next agenda, February 17th.  He also asked if the we will re-evaluate the water rates.  Mayor Rauser stated that the Department of Environmental Quality suggested that we wait at least a year after the implementation of the new water system and the final closing on the bonds so that we know exactly what our debt service will be.  He stated that he’s been approached by several people who are frustrated and need assistance to get them through, especially in the winter months.  He’s wondering about possible opportunities for the council to structure one or two programs that could assist those that are low income to get past difficult times. Mayor Rauser said that we have to start somewhere.  She stated that we had to start charging the increase in water to prove that we can pay the bonds and any future repairs. 

Vivian-

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

Next Meeting:  February 17, 2026