EKALAKA TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES (DECEMBER 4TH, 2024)

Town Office, 103 N Main Street

December 4th, 2024

1. Call Regular Meeting to Order

a. Roll Call Council: The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. Present were Andy, Rex, and Melissa via Teams  

b. Employees Present: Calvin

c. Appointed Officials Present: Carol & Kamely

Pledge of Allegiance

2. Public Comment/ Complaints: The public present were Toni Kratzer and Pat Strickland

3. Presentation on Petitions and Communications: Burn Permit Shay Beyer was approved to burn branches if weather permits.

4. Unfinished Business * Action Item

5. New Business * Action items

a. * Transfer site attendee or hours change: The Mayor brought to the Council's attention the need to either have someone at the dump on Tuesday or return to a key sign-out. The transfer site attendee is unavailable on Tuesdays from mid-spring to late fall. He would be available again in a couple of weeks for the duration of the winter. The council doesn't think paying the public works director to sit at the dump for a day when he could be working on other things in town is feasible. Carol moved to table this until the March meeting; Andy second, no discussion; 4 ayes, 0 Nays

b. * Well # 4 Pump Replacement: Well number 4 went down, and a new pump might be needed. Calvin has two quotes from Askin Wells and Higgins Drilling; Askins previously worked on the well and has a lower quote. Andy moved to hire Askin Well Service and diagnose the problem with a quote for a new pump at $15k and labor around $20k to 25k total; Rex seconded, with no discussion. 4 ayes 0 Nays motion carried

c. * Masonic water rates: Pat Strickland is asking the council to reduce the inactive utilities for the Masonic temple; they are a 501c3 nonprofit, and it's hard to make ends meet with the number of members right now. Pat did say they are trying to do more fundraising. Carol asked Pat if they had looked into grants. Pat said they did not look as of now; Melissa also brought to the council and Pat's attention that the inactive fees are to keep up with the maintenance of the pipes and ready-to-use service and that they can do more to get funds. The mayor also said they should raise their dues if the rates increase. Andy motioned to remove the Masonic Lodge from the agenda since the town couldn't help them. Melissa seconded 4 ayes 0 nays motion carried.

d. * Study Commission Appointee: no action needed; Kamely brought to the Council's attention that the town has not had anyone sign up for the Study Commission and that the council and mayor need to actively look for three people to serve on the Study Commission.

6. Minutes from the last meeting(s): read, correct (if needed), and approve November 6th minutes. Carol moved to approve last month's minutes with amendments to Kamely's leave taken as paid vacation. Rex seconded no discussions, 4 ayes, 0 Nays, motion carried.

7. Claims Approval - Andy moved to approve claims for the amount of $35,436.82 except for Great West's, $20,849.37, and Mike Coleman's construction, $295,146.82, upon completion of a final walk-through with the council and mayor. Carol seconded no discussions, four ayes, 0 nays motion carried

8. Reports of Officers:

a. Public Works Director Calvin said he's been busy changing UV lights and had a problem getting UV back online. He called Brenda for help, and she walked him through getting it back online. He cleaned pumps at the lift station and took the flagpole out. He also thinks that the keys from Elston need to be returned. He wants to know if the council would allow him to get Brenda to help when needed. Calvin will get some boards in Rapid City for the ice-skating rink.

b. Mayor: Ask the public works director to go back to 8 hours a day since daylight has changed, and it is still dark in the mornings. The mayor talked to Fred Varner about their garbage license, and the state approved it. Varner's will know more in 10 days. Wally, with the platting of town, will be in town on December 10th to explain the process of re-platting town.

c. Attorney: Jeff worked on Ekalaka Volunteer Fire Department form 608 water rights transfer

d. Council: Carol was concerned about the basketball hoop that was down at Ekalaka Park; Andy brought to the council's attention that he's gotten calls about how loud the garbage truck is.

9. Reports on Standing and Special Committees:

a. Administrative (Clerk/Treasurer) Montana leagues will finish balancing the books. We can contract with them for an AFR (annual finance review) and then worry about hiring an audit company. They believe we can find an audit company if our finances are in order. Seth Whitney is in the process of purchasing a home in Ekalaka. Behind this place, there's an un-graveled alley. He asked if the Town could haul it or if he would be able to gravel it. The mayor said if Seth had a way to haul the gravel, the town would furnish it from the gravel pit.

b. Law Enforcement: not present

c. Library: Received last month's finance and meeting minutes.

d. Fire Department/Committee: Before the meeting, the Mayor and council met to discuss the water rights at the property they received from the town.

e. Parks: The basketball hoop is down; Calvin will start working on the ice-skating rink.

f. Safety: No meeting was held.

10. Announcements: Melissa Lovec resigned from the council due to not living in the Town of Ekalaka. Kamely, the Mayor, and the Council thanked Melissa for her years and dedication to the town.

11. Next Meeting Date: January 8th, 2024

12. Adjourn: Andy moved to adjourn the meeting, Carol seconded, no discussion 4 ayes 0 nays, meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.

*Items up for action without discussion at a previous Council meeting may or may not be accepted for action by the Council at the Council's discretion.

/s/ Buck Kratzer, Mayor

Attest:/s/ Kamely Harkins, Clerk/ Treasurer