Flood Of 2011 Still Costing Glasgow City Council

The flood of 2011 is still costing the city of Glasgow. At the regular City Council meeting on April 2, the Council approved change orders totaling $10,692 for increased costs to the sewer lagoon improvement project. About $4,000 was for insurance on more than $750,000 worth of materials that were ordered and held over the winter because no work could be done until very late in the season. Moving some of these heavy materials twice, to storage and back to the work site, cost another $3,600. Plus, $3,000 in additional work on electrical sub-panels is required.

Mayor Dan Carney signed contract documents from Slate Architecture of Helena for the work they will do in re-roofing fire station #1 and the water treatment plant. For design, construction documents, bidding and construction administration, they will receive $8,000. Travel and other expenses are estimated at an additional $9,340.

The architects recommended flat roofs, but Council members thought pitched roofs would drain water better. Bob Kompel, the city’s director of public works, said the materials to pitch the roof would add 10 percent to the cost, plus $2,000 to $3,000 in architect fees. The Council asked Kompel to research the cost of pitched roofs and bring the results to the next Council meeting.

The All-School Reunion Committee had leftover money and thought of buying a tent for the cemetery, but according to Councilman Norm Girard, Bell’s Mortuary has never had a tent to use and doesn’t want one. The average time spent at the cemetery for a funeral is 12 minutes. If a tent is needed, the weather is too bad to set it up, he said. It was suggested that the reunion committee might buy trees for the cemetery.

The city will donate $300 received from 2012 Arbor Day to the Extension Service to buy trees.

City Attorney Dave Gorton was directed to draw up an agreement with Valley County to dig 2,000 to 4,000 yards of dirt on city land to rebuild river banks at Jim and Teddy Seiler’s place. The city apparently has dirt with the needed amount of “elasticity.” Street foreman John Peterson said it would help his department to remove this overburden of dirt.

Peterson said two-thirds of the city has been swept of winter sand and gravel but campers and trailers parked on the streets are in the way. The Council was unsure if the parking limit was 60 or 72 hours. Police Chief Bruce Barstad added that he has received complaints about trailers and boats on narrow streets. He encouraged people to move them, saying that officers will begin to mark them in the next couple of weeks.

A window has been installed in the south wall of the Civic Center to give more light to the city office. Gutters have been replaced on the Civic Center Two firefighters were appointed to the Glasgow Fire Department for a six-month probationary period, Christopher Knodel and Matthew Poole. Stephen “Aaron” Carrick, having completed his one-year probationary period, was confirmed as an officer in the Glasgow Police Department. Emery Brelje was reappointed to the Police Commission.

At the March 19 City Council meeting, an ordinance regulating itinerant vendors was given its second reading and added to the city code. Terri Nieskens was hired as a part-time utility billing clerk. City Court clerk Lynn Gilbert’s wage was increased by $.75 per hour to $13.25, since she has passed the six-month probationary period.

Interstate Engineering wrote an amendment to a 2006 contract to replace 700 feet of water main along Hillside Drive, using $22,000 in grant money remaining to the city, which must be spent by June 30. Their services would be $50,000. However, the city attorney said that the old contract had expired and cannot be amended. Because the fee exceeds $20,000, the city must begin a formal selection process before hiring an engineer. The Council voted to start the selection process.

Mayor Dan Carney was authorized to sign a letter of support for the Malta Irrigation District to replace the Dodson South Canal headgate structure.