Pay Raise & Hiring Auditor on Council Agenda

The Malta City Council meeting on July 25th got underway and had a full agenda. After the opening pledge to the flag, motions were made and seconded to approve the minutes from the last meeting, the current agenda and claims.

PWD Jim Truelove provided a report on the work the City crew had been doing. It included a dig on 7th Street West. “It was an insurance dig, thanks to HSG (Helena Sand & Gravel)” and there was one additional dig planned. The valve at the Veterans Park will be replaced. He reported the well at Legg Addition was backed up and has been worked on.

He touched on the garbage trucks, the older truck is down until repairs can be made. The newer truck has hydraulic valve issue and has been leaving puddles, parts for it are ten months out.

Truelove reported he had a response from Morris Survey regarding the arena and he had been provided with a bid proposal. To survey all the City lots at the arena and adjacent property, the price was $5,400. The earliest it could be completed was August 10.

The next item on his report was the Event Center. His recommendation was to get rid of both of the stoves/oven immediately. The council members discussed the safety issues and passed a motion to purchase two 36-inch stoves which have an electric oven and gas cooktop from Art’s Furniture; the price for the two units was $4,400.

Truelove said he wanted to report on mosquito spraying, “…since it was, whatever it was…180 (degrees) or something yesterday, the temperature guides are explained…” and when it is over 80 degrees the spray is wasted. With the temperature down the spray will be applied. The spray truck went out that morning and would go again the following morning.

Mayor Demarais said, “This morning about 4:30 a.m. the blacktop was still 80 (degrees) but the temperature was 75 so he sprayed. We were within label…I got a little bit of static about it – but it happens every year.”

Truelove stated his last report was on the swimming pool, they had 116 kids at the pool the day before. There were 10 sponsors providing free swimming on the “Sponsor Days” which were well received. One sponsor covered five days, three provided popsicles to swimmers; one sponsor provided a concession voucher for $3 to swimmers. The last day the pool will be open is August 11.

Clerk Lorie Bond in her announcements said that Matt Mudd (Great West Engineering) had sent her an email that they were wanting to put in for a grant to assist with the cost of the PER report. Malta’s water rate is short of the target rate for applying for the grant. Following discussion, no action was taken on the matter.

She said the new modified codes were provided in binders she had prepared and available for each council member to begin reviewing.

She said she had received an email and effective July 1, 2024 all 3rd class cities (Malta’s classification) would be required to record the audio of the meetings and post them online on the city website or social media site and they would be required to be posted for one year before being removed.

The 4-H office had inquired about using the Event Center on July 31 for judging, and this was approved with a waiver of fees.

The new cameras have been installed, there are four in the gym, two in the weight room and two in the hallway.

PWD Truelove reported that the landfill is busy, however papers are flying. The site manager (Levi Tatafu) is doing a good job.

There were no reports from the fire department, law enforcement, compliance officer, safety, planning, or parks and recreation areas.

Under new business the council was presented with Resolution 1333. The resolution, which is a pay raise, came up at the request of the mayor in an effort to retain employees once they are trained. Involved would be the current employees, elected officials, mayor and council members. Following discussion the proposed raise of $2 an hour for employees; $100 a month for Judge Stahl, Mayor Demarais and council members was put into a motion by Councilmember Wiederrick, with a second by Councilmember Hicks. It was approved by a roll call vote in favor. This would be affective with the July payroll.

Resolution 1334 was to have a general election date on Nov. 7; after discussion, Councilmember Rummel made a motion which Councilmember Sintler seconded was passed.

The third matter, Resolution 1335, was to hire an auditor; discussion was held and the council voted unanimously to hire Ross R. Stalcup, CPA, PC. He has been doing the recent audits and is familiar with the city books. Due to the fact that the city received over $750,000 in federal funds in 2021-2022, the audit would be a line-by-line audit. The audit bid was $27,000 for initial audit, covering 7/1/21 to 6/30/22; $32,000 for subsequent audit covering 7/1/22 to 6/30/23 and $28,500 for subsequent audit covering 7/1/23 to 6/30/24. The motion was approved.

The next council meeting is Tuesday, August 8, at 5 P.M.