City Council mMeeting 11/1/22
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
City Council Learns the Truth
Tim Rauser delivered. The public works supervisor said he thought there was a leak under the Townsend Municipal Pool. Sure enough, he was right.
At the City Council meeting Tuesday, Mayor Mike Evans related Rauser hired a person to scope the pipe under the pool with a camera. Rauser found a crack in the cast iron pipe under the deck by the pool. In discussion, Council Woman Kristina Hartmann pointed out no money had been set aside in the 2023 budget for pool repair. The cost of fixing the leaking pipe is yet to be determined. City Clerk Coleen Ward estimated unless the repair job was exorbitantly high, there would be money to do the repair.
During public comment, Fall Fest Chairman Jeff Langlinais related the 2023 Fall Fest committee would be working with the city to solve parking and garbage problems. “That’s a good plan, but let’s keep our eyes open for other problems that might crop up,” the mayor said.
Brad Koenig of Robert Peccia & Associates engineering firm of Helena presented the firm’s concerns about the proposed Whites Annexation of North Cherry St. Discussion centered around fire and emergency access and alley width for four condominiums planned in the annexation.
County Commissioner Mike Delger informed council members The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is presently reassessing the Missouri River floodplain map. “They are already redoing the map at Three Forks from floodplain to floodway, which puts some residences in danger of flooding, thus affecting their insurance and taxable value,” he explained. “FEMA plans to redo the floodplain map all the way to Winston which will be right through here. The railroad and highway will no longer act as dikes against flooding. That could affect the city of Townsend.”
In old business, the council voted to entertain the 1st reading of the noise ordinance prepared by the noise ordinance committee and City Attorney Peter Simon. The Solicitor Ordinance was also discussed. Businesses that want to sell goods or services within the city limits must have a license. Discussion followed regarding updating the ordinance to include short-term and lower fees for food trucks so the city will be more food-truck friendly. Simons explained that the Townsend Farmers’ Market was under the exemption clause because they are local and seasonally permanent. The Farmers’ Market would also be exempt under the license-permitting moratorium during Fall Fest, the Christmas Stroll and other City-sanctioned events. Hartmann questioned whether solicitors such as Schwans and SnapOn Tools should have licenses since they sell their wares door to door. Simon and the committee will continue working on changes to the ordinance.
In preparation for the upcoming Water Court adjudication of the city’s water rights in the Missouri Basin 4I1, the council will hire DMS Natural Resources of Bozeman to develop a scope of work for the review. Breeann Johnson of DMS has estimated the cost will be about $5,000.
Council member reports included Vickie Rauser who has investigated a $20,000 grant for the water storage project. The deadline for applications is Dec. 9, 2022. In other business, Mayor Evans reported a complaint letter regarding the lack of removal of weeds on an out-of-town owner’s lot. The owner sprayed but did not remove weed debris. He was cited for noncompliance. Attorney Simon said he would follow up on the owner’s initial appearance before Municipal Judge Kirk Flynn.
The council moved to pay claims and was adjourned.
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