One Nation, Under God

Malta City Council Update for January 27, 2021

The Malta City Council held their bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, January 12, at the Malta City Hall Building, at 5 p.m.

During the meeting, Marcus Knudsen, Malta’s newest Eagle Scout, stepped in to thank the City Council for their assistance in the project that eventually earned Knudsen the honor and title.

Knudsen reported that because of a generous anonymous donor the City only had to pay for the roofing tin on the shelter that was built in Riverview Park for his Eagle Scout Project. Malta Mayor John Demarais asked if he had his board of review yet. Marcus Knudsen stated that it had taken place and he was officially an Eagle Scout.

Mark Knudsen, the younger Knudsen’s Scout Master was also thanked for his years of service to the Boy Scouts as Scout Master.

The meeting started with Malta Mayor Demarais addressing the Council consisting of Councilpersons David Rummel, William Hicks, Bonnie Wiederrick, James Sintler, City Clerk Lorie Bond, and Public Works Director James Truelove.

Mayor Demarias informed the Council that he would start Bear Paw Development meetings via Zoom. He also informed the Council that Montana Rural Water began charging for training. Mayor Demarias, who is the backup water and waste water operator, asked the council if the City would pay for a portion of the training, which will be taken. The Council agreed to the motion made by Councilperson Rummel and seconded by Councilperson Sintler.

The minutes of the meeting were then approved by the Council. Clerk Bond reported that there was one change to the agenda. She was informed on Monday that Sean Estill would be taking the place of Danny Paul Shores as Assistant Fire Chief. Clerk Bond stated that she had struck out Shores’ name on the agendas and replaced it with Estill. The changes were approved by the Council.

The payroll for the month of December 2020 was approved by the Council.

In the Department Reports, Commitees, and Meetings Attended portion, Public Works Director Truelove reported that the City Crew has been jetting and flushing the sewer lines around town. The crew will continue flushing lines as long as the weather holds out. The City Crew has also been using a new Ice Melt product that has been working well, according to Director Truelove.

Director Truelove said that the City’s pool house was around 75 percent completed. He also said that City Shop Foreman Eric Witmer had completed his wastewater certification last week. The City’s 2002 Volvo garbage truck was being worked on. Truelove also said that security cameras have been installed at the City Hall gymnasium.

PWD Truelove reported that he had located gypsum at a third of the price that the city had been paying. It would cost $60,000 for 1,000 tons and the city would have to rent a truck to apply the gypsum.

Clerk Bond presented Council with the December financials, current CD maturity report, the current check register, the current shut off list, the December payroll, overtime, vacation, sick leave report, and the revenue and expenditure actual vs budget reports.

Councilperson Rummel asked about the siren. Clerk Bond stated that the siren would go off once after the timer was set, it was not consistent at first. PWD Truelove reported that now that a new timer had been ordered the siren was going off on time every night.

During the meeting’s Public Comment, Mr. Doug Ost stated that he was looking into connecting the old Promises building lot to city water & sewer services.

Mayor Demarais stated that he would have to sign a waiver of annexation form since the property was not located within the city limits, present Council with an engineer’s report about the feasibility of connecting to city services and get Council’s approval. After much discussion about what would be needed, Mayor Demarais requested the Clerk Bond put the issue on the next agenda.

The next Malta City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January, 26.

 

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