Townsend City Council Meeting Sept 5, 2023
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Townsend City Council Meeting Sept 5, 2023
MT 43 News Staff
City Council Member Kenny Urich asked if city noise ordinances could apply to logging trucks coming through town in the early morning hours. During the regular Tuesday night meeting at City Hall, Urich explained “Truck traffic through town is getting worse. We hear them coming through town at about 55 or 60 miles an hour, using their jake breaks at 4:30 a.m. Is there anything we can do to enforce noise ordinances?”
Mayor Mike Evans did not think the current ordinances would apply to logging trucks, but he would speak with Sheriff Nick Rauser to see if he could help. Evans indicated the council could make the ordinances stronger if needed.
In other business, Ward 1 resident Valerie Baraza was sworn in by Mayor Evans as the newest member of the council. She replaces Christina Hartmann who had moved out of the area so could no longer represent the northside ward. Baraza, who lives at 407 No. Maple, put in her letter of interest and was approved for the seat. A twelve-year Townsend resident, she is a former downtown business owner. She now works for a mental health nurse practitioner in Helena but also runs a medical billing business for a Butte therapy group. Baraza will fill the position until the November election when she will run for the seat.
Fall Fest Committee member Laura Obert requested the city close sections of Pine Street and B Street “for the safety of Fall Fest participants, crowds, vendors, American with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking and check-in for the car show.” She also requested the city establish a moratorium on solicitors’ licenses through the Fall Fest period. After discussion the council agreed to allow closure of parts of Pine and B Streets, and to enforce a moratorium beginning September 28 through October 1, the actual dates of Fall Fest.
Council Member Matt West asked Obert what the Fall Fest Committee was doing about alleviating last year’s parking problems downtown merchants experienced. Obert said they had a parking subcommittee working on the problem.
Council member Vicky Rauser and City Attorney Peter Simon reported on the proposed interlocal agreement with Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson, for Swanson’s office to take over the city’s criminal cases. Simon has agreed to continue handling the city’s civil legal work.
Simon suggested the city split its attorney service budget line in half, paying the county for handling the services. “Cory (Swanson) was very open to taking on the extra work as he is interested in hiring another deputy county attorney. This would help him raise his wage offering,” he said.
The interlocal agreement would obligate the county office to provide the service, according to Simon. He suggested the agreement be short-term, with a renewal at the end of the budget year. Rauser suggested the council have a quarterly report from the county attorney’s office on services rendered. Urich suggested it might be better to put out a job offer for another attorney. The council approved a recommendation to offer the contract to the county attorney’s office.
The question of out-of-town people filling the city’s garbage cans came up. Mountie Moose owner and city council member Angie Wintrow said people filled her garbage cans behind the bakery every other day. Public Works Director Tim Rauser said, “We are seeing more and more dumping from out-of-town folks. We need to put some teeth in the garbage dumping ordinance.”
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Townsend City Council meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at City Hall.
Photo Credits: Nancy Marks
