Libby City Council highlights
Police commissioner named
Of the two Libby residents — Jill Beach and Bonnie See — who applied for the two openings on the three-person Police Commission, only one was present, interviewed and selected at Monday’s meeting.
Beach’s application was approved in a 5-0 vote, with her husband, Council member Gary Beach, abstaining.
The Council tabled See’s interview until the next meeting.
The Police Commission is a citizen advisory panel that has no authority but is required by law. A police commissioner’s primary duties are to help screen applicants for openings on the police force and to assist with appeals on disciplinary matters.
Libby Police Chief Scott Kessell has said that he also likes to use the commissioners as liaisons between the department and the community.
Fire restrictions updated, started
Council members unanimously approved a few matters involving the city’s fire restrictions.
They approved definitions for Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions, drafted by Fire Marshall Steve Lauer, and agreed to instate Stage I restrictions within city limits beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7.
In addition, councilors approved automatically moving to Stage II fire restrictions when Lincoln County or regional fire authorities do so.
$9.40 credit issue solved
Council members unanimously agreed with a Water and Sewer Committee solution to account for the forgotten application to residents’ water bills of the $9.40 credit in June.
The committee recommended crediting $9.40 to systemwide water customers in September, and giving an 8,000 gallon watering credit to customers within city limits for watering lawns.
The so-called 940 credit was put in place to help offset a rate increase that followed construction of Libby Dam. The credit itself is offset by an annual settlement between the city and International Paper — following the creosote contamination of groundwater from its mill site — that city officials expect to end in 2019.
June’s credit was lost in the shuffle during a city employee’s departure.
VFW plans ahead
Libby VFW Post No. 1548 was granted requests it made related to the 2019 State of Montana VFW and Auxiliary Convention, which it will host next June.
Council members approved allowing the VFW free use of the Ponderosa Room and Fred Brown Pavilion, and use of Riverfront Park and its large dirt parking lot, from Thursday, June 13, 2019, to the afternoon of Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Representatives from the Post said they expect about 250 attendees and will provide shuttle bus service between the Post and the parking lot at Riverfront Park, which will serve to contain overflow parking so as not to affect nearby businesses.
Ponderosa Room fees updated
In a 4-2 vote, councilors approved proposed changes to the Ponderosa Room fee schedules for celebrations, meetings and 24-hour usage in situations such as when serving as wildfire incident command.
Increased celebrations fees include room rent ($100 to $200), kitchen use ($75 to $100), dance floor use ($20 to $50) and use of city employees to set up and remove chairs ($50 to $100).
A single cleaning deposit of $100 replaces what used to be $100 without food or $150 with.
Renting the room for meetings will cost $100 for four hours or $150 for up to eight hours, including use of tables, chairs and the sound system.
Council member Gary Beach said the changes were proposed after reviewing similar facilities citywide to bring the fee schedule more consistent with the rest of the market.