October 3, 2023

CITY OF TOWNSEND                                                                                                        City Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Evans opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.  The pledge of allegiance was recited by all.  Attending the meeting council members Vickie Rauser, Angie Wintrow, Valerie Baraza, Nate Brown, Ken Urich, and Matt West.  Also in attendance were Tim Rauser, Paul Rauser, Eric Crusch, Kari Williams, Nancy Marks, Andrew Herrick, Cliff Wrobetz, Heather Hailey, and Todd Rolfs. 

MINUTES:  Vickie made a motion to approve the minutes from 9/19/23; Angie seconded the motion, motion carried. 

City Attorney Contract:  Will vote on contract next week.

Public Work’s Director position:  The council will need to determine when to advertise the position, and if the council can open the position internally first.  Vickie asked Kari to check with Peter Simon if it’s legal to open the position internally first.  Ken stated in the past if a job opening came available, it didn’t matter if it was a management position or not, that the job was posted internally and externally, but that if there’s an internal applicant that meets the qualifications, preference is given to that applicant. 

Letter of Appointment by Acclamation/Resolution:  This is a resolution cancelling the election that has only one person running for a position. The governing body may then declare the candidate elected by letter of appointment by acclamation.  This resolution pertains to Valerie Baraza, who ran for the council position in Ward 1.  Vickie made a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-R05; Angie seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.  Valerie Baraza is officially a council member by letter of appointment by acclamation. 

Broadband:  Council members viewed a sample city ordinance for telecommunication systems.  A committee will be formed with members Angie and Valerie.  They will have a meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Monday October 9th, and Peter Simon will also attend. 

There will also be a Penalty Revision Committee meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Monday October 9th. 

Street Closure for school homecoming parade:  Vickie made a motion to approve the request for the street closure on October 12th for the school’s homecoming parade; Ken seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.  (8 Barricades to be set out)

Round Table: 

Ken: x

Matt: Will be moving in November and would like to resign his position at the end of the next meeting, October 17th. 

Val:  Stated there was a 15-mph sign by her house, and now it’s missing.  She’s wondering where it went.  Tim said that he would look into it. 

Nate: x

Mayor Evans stated that we need to do something about the trucks that speed by City Hall. 

Angie:  Planning board has met, and they have recommendations for increased fees on conditional use permits.

Vickie:  Stated that there’s a new law effective October 1st that pertains to slowing down to speed limits 20-35 mph below the speed limit posted for emergency vehicles and construction workers, depending on the situation. 

Matt:  He stated that he’s moving out of Broadwater County in November so he’s resigning his position effective after the

Tim:  The trucks always had a through street, but now thinks there needs to be a stop sign of North Maple and 4th Street. 

Vickie also introduced Heather Hailey who wrote a letter to apply for Ken Urich’s council seat when his term is finished.  Ken’s seat expires at the end of this year.  Heather Hailey also stated that there is a problem with the jake brakes that trucks use in town, and they’re so loud.  What happens when there are kids running around, as those trucks would not be able to stop.  Can we add more signs?

Tim stated that it’s a state highway, so there’s not a lot that the city can do.  Todd Rolfs asked if there could be a hazard sign to be put up for Halloween, when all the kids are out. 

Ken said maybe they could approach the manager (Ted Jones) at the state highway in Bozeman, tell them there’s a safety issue, and ask if there’s something they can put out to slow the vehicles down for Halloween. 

Claims for September:  Ken made a motion to pay the claims; Nate seconded the motion; All in favor, motion carried. 

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

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, October 17,2023