Broadus Town Council Minutes

TOWN OF BROADUS

Regular Council Meeting

October 3, 2023 @ 6:00 pm

Present at the meeting were Public Works Raymond Ragsdale, Councilperson Wanda Smith, Councilperson Lori Turnbough, Clerk/Treasurer Josie Morris, and Councilperson Cody Morris via conference call.

Clerk Morris called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m., following the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes from previous meeting will be reviewed at the next meeting. Beginning with unfinished business, Clerk Morris brought the question of who is president to lead the meetings in the Mayor’s absence. The quorum of council agreed that they had a president at one time, being the councilperson with the longest term. However, this position has not been readdressed in recent years. The subject was pushed to next meeting for further discussion. Clerk Morris then addressed the potential yearly water/sewer rate increase that was recommended by the auditor. Montana Rural Water is going to provide a free rate analysis for the Town sometime in the middle of October 2023 to help determine the exact cost to maintain each fund as well as what it takes to sustain the Town.

Next, the question of when to cash out the approved CD for the FY 23-2024 budget was discussed with a closer look at the books being the choice before a decision is made. This will determine when this additional revenue to balance expenditures is necessary in this fiscal year. It was also addressed that no response has been received and/or no action has been taken regarding the letters to citizens in violation of the community decay and nuisances’ ordinance 2023-01 passed in January.

New business began with discussing a formal support letter from the Town to the Montana Mainstreet Program that was brought to Clerk Morris’s attention by Councilperson Slovek in September. A letter has not been drafted at this time.

Clerk Morris stated there was no report of concern from Public Works Zimmer for this meeting.

Public Works Ragsdale informed the council that the pump at the lagoon was has been repaired with assistance from Bill Canon. With the sale of some property, a new water line was tapped off of the C Bar J motel for the new owner on the next lot.

Next, Public Works Ragsdale had an inspection from the Department of Environmental Quality which is a requirement every three years. The Town was found to have six compliance violations from the inspector. In response to the violations, PW Ragsdale sent a formal letter addressing each violation and provided a corrective action for each. The Department of Environmental Quality approved the formal response.

Then it was introduced to council that Tom Brewer would like to bore a power line from their generator to the main hotel across the street. Ragsdale informed Mayor Gatlin when this came up; Mayor Gatlin had no disputes with it. The company that completes this has to be licensed and insured. Tom would like to have the company that is here working on the fiber optic boring to bore this for him while they have equipment in the area. Councilperson Morris made a motion to approve the installation of this power line via boring under the condition that they are adequately below the water/sewer main lines. Councilperson Turnbough seconded the motion; all in favor, no contest so motion carried.

Lastly, Russ and Cody Kinzer are putting an Air B&B in the top of the garage building on the east side of their property and Damian Desatoff would like to put a house on the west side of Silver Sage. Water and/or sewer hookups will be installed for both projects at the expense of property owners. Water and sewer hookups for Mr. Desatoff will require easements from Silver Sage in order to separate a line off the building’s main hookups.

To conclude the meeting, Clerk Morris asked council members their opinion on a lodging tax, otherwise known as a bed tax. This is something that hotels/motels add to their prices and the Town or City collects each year. The Town’s contacts from Montana Rural Water will help evaluate if this is a necessary change.

With nothing further before the council, Councilperson Turnbough moved to adjourn, Councilperson Morris seconded the motion. Clerk Morris adjourned this meeting of the Broadus Town Council at 7:03 p.m.

Chad Gatlin, Mayor, Not in Attendance

Josie Morris, Clerk/Treasurer