Minutes

City of Townsend

Minutes  from 4.1.2025

Call to Order:  Mayor Rauser called the meeting to order at 6:30  p.m.  In attendance with Mayor Rauser were Angie Wintrow, Nate Brown, JB Howick, Vivian Boaz, Doug Sitton, TJ Graveley, Shawn & Nichole Simon, Nick Rauser, Kasee Clark, Eric Crusch, and Kari Williams.

Pledge of Allegiance:  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. 

Public Comment:  Kasee Clark from Big Sky Big Leadership Group spoke regarding the “Blessing Boxes” that were approved for Pine Street; however, that location is no longer available to place a box there.  They are looking for other locations that will be compliant.  She stated some of the location ideas they’ve identified, and they will keep the City posted and possibly be on the next agenda.

  • Minutes from 3/18/2025-JB moved to approve the minutes from March 18, 2025.  Vivian seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried. 

Guests/Correspondence

  • Lion’s Club Street Closure Request-  The Lion’s Club has requested the use of Heritage Park with a street closure on Pine Street  from B to C Street on Saturday April 19th from 9:45 a.m.-10:30 a.m. in order to host their annual Easter Egg Hunt.   Vivian moved to approve the Street Closure as requested.  Nate  seconded the motion.  Angie abstained from voting since she is a Lion’s member.   All in  favor, motion carried. 
  • Sheriff Nick Rauser-Quarterly Report- Nick spoke about the criminal activity within the city limits from January-March 2025.  He stated that there is a little bit of everything as usual.  He stated there have already been eleven deaths within the county this year, and last year they ended with nineteen deaths. Council members had several questions for Sheriff Rauser.  He stated that they are trying to get an upcoming Mill Levy passed for the Sheriff’s Department and distributed fact sheets for informational purposes.  City Hall will have the fact sheets on display.   He also stated that he’s available to answer any questions regarding the Mill Levy.  

Current: 

  • Growth Policy-Mayor Rauser stated that she emailed the large document to council for review.  Tonight, council needs to determine a date to hold the Public Hearing.  JB stated that there are some areas of the document that are difficult to read as the font is too small in the excel spreadsheet.  Nate had a couple of questions which were addressed.  Angie moved to hold a public hearing on the Growth Policy on Thursday, April 29th at 6:30 p.m.  JB seconded the motion. Mayor Rauser asked for further comment from Council and from the public.  No comment from anyone.   All in favor, motion carried. 
  • City/County Water Usage and Grading Agreement:  Effective April 1, 2025.                    TJ Graveley spoke on this and asked the Council what they thought about the grading that was done by them last year.  Mayor Rauser stated she received no comment on it at all.  Eric stated that the only comment he received is on the road going to the Seed Plant, as it is a City street.  TJ stated that may be, but it wasn’t part of the contract agreement last year. Mayor Rauser asked Eric if the comment warranted amending the agreement to include that road.  Eric stated no.  JB asked Eric if that road needs to be graded.  Eric stated that he hasn’t looked at the road this year.    Angie moved to approve the City/County Water and Grading Agreement  from April 1, 2025-December 31, 2025.  Vivian seconded the motion.  TJ asked Mayor Rauser if they’d like to amend the contract to include that road to the Seed Plant.  Mayor Rauser stated not without updated visual information.  No further comments.  All in favor, motion carried.
  • Snow Removal  Route-discussion- Discussion was held on the specific route.  TJ stated that the County does plow Fourth Street every time they go out.  Vivian asked if the snow is plowed by the ambulance barn.   Angie stated that nothing gets plowed unless there is eighteen inches of snow.  The ambulance barn is on County property, and the hospital does own its own snow plow so that area does get plowed.  Council took no further action.
  • Big Sky Big Leadership Tennis Court Update-The group had the opportunity to visit with High School tennis coach, John O’Dell.  Mr. O’Dell is happy with what the group did with getting the cracks patched.  They are also looking at nets on the basketball hoops.  Eric stated that the group will also paint the tennis courts, and they’re looking at replacing the posts on the basketball courts and updating the concession stand on the property. 
  • Budget to Actual Report to Date with Revenues and Expenditures- Council received this report as an initial look at the current budget, and to discuss the upcoming Budget for FY2025-2026.  It was decided that the first budget meeting will be on April 29th after the Growth Policy Public Hearing.  Budget requests from various  departments need to be considered. The topic of a new City Dog Kennel was brought up again since it was on the budget request for last year and it is in need of repair or replacement. 

Pending Business

  • Ordinance Review—Angie spoke on this and passed out a list of ordinances to review that were from 2024.  The Fireworks Ordinance was on the top of the list, as well as the Tree Ordinance and Animal Ordinance.  Angie stated that she feels the Animal Ordinance has fallen by the way side for the time being.   New ordinances to consider are the Event and Telecommunications Franchise Ordinance. The Sewer/Water Ordinance (section 4, which is “bulk water rates”) is on the list to review in 2025, and since the Water Ordinance was brought up at the last meeting, it will be reviewed. Mayor Rauser stated that the water rates are sufficient to cover the bond indenture requirements as well as operations, reserves, and future repairs and replacements.  Within that, it’s important as Kari and Jenny look through the billing process and identify properties that are not being billed in accordance with our current ordinances that we get them billed correctly.  That way we have a better idea of what our revenue stream is supposed to be.  Mayor Rauser stated that this may not make her very popular, but it’s the right thing to do, so we’re going to do it.  Vivian stated that she agrees with what was said at the last meeting about receiving a fine if property owners don’t disclose additional water being used in additions or separate buildings.  Mayor Rauser stated that there is a fee structure for fines, and we’ll look at that.  JB asked how hard it would be to get the number of gallons of water dispensed by the City, not including the County’s burden, and the expenses involving water.  He asked how much is being spent on water.  Discussion was held by the Council on the expenditures and revenues of the water in a year.  Mayor Rauser stated that the projections and calculations from DEQ are based on the number of users, the billing rate we have established, the final cost of the system, and future operations.  JB asked if we know how much revenue is needed per gallon of water distributed.  Mayor Rauser stated she will look.   After looking at the Ordinances to review, the Council decided to move Health and Welfare (section 7) “garbage” to 2026 for review.

Claims for March 2025:  Vivian made a motion to approve the claims. JB seconded the motion.  All in favor, motion carried.

Public Comment:  None

Round Table

  • Kari- no report.
  • Eric- stated  that the PH Meter at  the Lagoon was stolen and will cost between $2500-$3000.  Eric also had dead bolts added to the lagoon building.  Kari will file an insurance claim. He also stated the Water Project is going well. 
  • Mayor Rauser- stated that the N Cherry annexation is moving forward. Also, bid  opening for the Street work we have planned this year will happen on Monday, April 7th via Microsoft Teams.  We received a complaint on garbage within a neighborhood with shared dumpsters.  A request for an additional garbage can was received for the Professional Building.  It appears there is a lot of lawn debris and cardboard being placed in the shared dumpsters in both scenarios.  Mayor Rauser intends to write letters stating the garbage cans are for “Household Garbage” only.  Mayor Rauser also stated  that the MCR Grant will  be on the next agenda to approve the proposal we received on the Housing Inventory Study.  She also stated that the next project she’s been thinking  about is Sidewalks. 
  • Nate-  asked about some large pot holes around town and if they’d be filled in. 
  • Angie- stated that there is a short video on the Copper Mine that is coming to Meagher County.  It’s called Small Town, Big Sky.  She recommends watching it. 
  • Shawn Simon stated that they got called out for a fire in a front yard and for a fire within a fire pit in a back yard that spread.  Shawn asked about issuing citations.   Mayor Rauser stated that they can call the ACO officer to issue a citation for instances as these. 

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

Next meeting:  April 15th at 6:30 p.m.