City Council Meeting At Odds Over Public Works Director Position
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
City Council Meeting At Odds Over Public Works Director Position
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Civic participation was alive and well at the Townsend City Council meeting on October 17. After hearing both sides of either opening applications to the public for the public works director’s position or only offering it internally, Major Mike Evans broke a tie vote against the motion to offer the job internally first. The job will be offered to present city public works employees before opening the position to the public.
Townsend Area Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Doug Breker approached the council about closing the street for the Halloween Stroll on Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m. A special council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24th to decide about the request. Townsend City Fire member Vivian Boaz said no one had approached the fire department about setting up barriers. The request should come from the Chamber, Mayor Evans said. Broadway Street resident Heather Healea reported she had approached the Montana Department of Transportation about posting a sign she had made to hopefully slow truck traffic on Halloween as they enter the city limits.
Townsend School Superintendent Susie Hedalen spoke to discuss using the Harrison Avenue baseball field for use by a proposed high school baseball team. Middle School teacher Gary Bauman works with little leaguers and t-ball teams. He discussed whether another team using the field would run into scheduling problems. He suggested the overflow practices could go to Conners Field on Canton Lane. Depending on budget concerns, Hedalen projected the new high school program would not start until the spring of 2025. She will keep the council members informed.
Townsend Hardware owner JB Howick requested the council remove the asphalt from the alley behind his store due to flooding problems. The alley paved about 50 years ago, is considerably higher than the back of the stores in the 200 block of Broadway. Discussion followed about how deep service lines are buried, and whether, if the asphalt were removed, would there be enough road base for the alley to be useable. Some heated back and forth between Council Member Vicky Rauser and Howick followed about whether the city budget could afford to remove the asphalt or face possible damages from flooding. Mayor Evans said he would investigate the situation and report back to the council.
Council Member Matt West announced his resignation after 17 years on the council. Council members and the public clapped and congratulated him, thanking him for his service.
