Council Discusses Pool, Next Meeting Scheduled for October 11

The Malta City Council had a full room for the Sept. 24th meeting. Mayor John Demarais led the pledge to the flag; all four council members were present. Also attending the meeting were Mark Knudsen, Kayla Warren, Megan Newman, Tyler and Abigail Bain, Yavon Pekovitch, Tessa Handley, Darrell Carney, Macie Hould, Ashley Stuart, Shyla Jones, Nellie Ereaux, Davy Conlon, Tana Oyler, Shonda Jenkins and Lynell LaBrie.

Demarais opened the meeting with time for open comments, there being none, the meeting proceeded.

Councilmember David Rummel moved to accept the minutes from the last meeting, which was seconded by Councilmember Bonnie Wiederrick; motion passed 4-0.

Councilmember Laura Pankratz moved to accept the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Bill Hicks, motion passed 4-0.

Wiederrick moved to accept the claims as presented, seconded by Pankratz, and this motion passed 4-0, as well.

PWD Jim Truelove provided a report to the council beginning with the news that there is new playground equipment installed at Riverview Park. The old piece has been removed, it was a pinch hazard.

He stated the crew is between blading and sweeping and will keep going until they can’t do it anymore. The crew will be doing some tree trimming starting next week.

Truelove stated he has an animal control matter to deal with, he has a court date already on the issue.

As of October 1 the landfill will not be open on Saturday. Residents are encouraged to plan accordingly. The leaf machine will be making the rounds.

Hould thanked the City for repairing the sign at the City Park by Horizon Resources, with the “W” now welded on again, it reads “WELCOME”.

The City Clerk provided her information on the councilmember packets. She stated they would be closing on the SRF Loan shortly.

Demarais then went through the agenda quickly as there were no reports from any of the various departments.

Truelove stated that the sprinkler line at the Event Center has been fixed.

The Council voted to change the Oct. 8 City Council meeting to Oct. 11th due to conflicts with a motion from Rummel, seconded by Hicks.

On the agenda as Item 2 was the potential mill levy was the swimming pool. Demarais stated that the City Attorney’s office had responded to questions posed by the Hi-Line Future Foundation and it was recommended by Pekovitch, “I advise you, do not discuss this at a regular meeting; it should be for a work group or committee to discuss the full issues.”

Demarais continued, “All we are doing is throwing out that it not be discussed at a regular meeting.”

Questions included whether Davis-Bacon wages would have to be paid if HLFF, hired Dennis Simpson from the Sleeping Buffalo did the repairs? Could the City sell the swimming pool back to Simpson for $1 after the completion to by-pass Davis-Bacon wages?

Joining the meeting at this point were City Attorney Lee Pekovitch and Attorney Dan O’Brien.

Demarais welcomed them with “You’re just in time, you guys,” and yielded the question to Council.

O’Brien said, “If you want to sell City property such as the pool, you have to declare it surplus and then you have to attempt to sell it at the current value. You generally can’t do it for $1.”

After some discussion O’Brien stated it would be easier for a private entity or foundation to raise the funds to do the work and have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city as to how the property is going to unfold. It is similar to what you would do if the city were issuing the bids except the city wouldn’t be the one doing that, but that we would have an agreement saying or passing the obligations off to the foundation or entity. There would be enough there that the city would have some control in it but not full control.”

Pekovitch stated, “Similar to when the skate park was built, how there was a private entity come in and city was part of it because the city donated the park for it; there was a MOU, so that they are in charge of the construction and paying the contractors.”

The discussion of Davis-Bacon wages surfaced several times.

The idea of putting it on a bond matter would be determined by whether the County Commissioners would approve it.

Former Mayor Shyla Jones added that the biggest thing would be if it was within the budget.

It was asked if the City could apply for loans and it was determined that the city is at the limit they are allowed to borrow.

Simpson had offered to be the project manager for the project and the goal for having the project completed would be April. It was stated that a bank had been approached for a loan and it would require some equity, which would not include the pool itself.

Warren laid things on the line with the fact that in about 10 years it will need something better.

Carney said, “Dennis did say that if properly taken care of it should last longer than eight-to-twelve years…I would find it hard to believe that a guy would invest a million dollars of his own money in a private entity and not put what he thought was a better system ..more bang for your buck and if he thought PVC was going to be used…if he puts his own money in…maintenance, maintenance, maintenance…that’s what makes it last longer. It’s not just the fact that you put it in. How many pickups if you change oil on it last 300,000 miles… if you never change oil it only last 50,000 miles.”

Truelove said, “…how many of those pickups are 70 years old?”

Oyler added, “Because in ‘93 when we re-did the pool it lasted this long…yeah, it’s falling apart now but it could have had a little better maintenance, too.” She added, “In my opinion the maintenance could have been done better.”

Jones added that it is a city-county matter and as many country kids use the pool as do city kids. “Why should only the city kids pay for it when it is used by as many country kids?”

Warren said, “It is much better to do a county-wide bond but since the pool is city owned there would have to be an inner-local agreement on the pool in order to use any county funds for the pool.”

The steps necessary are many, the time frame for funding application and funds in hand can be a lengthy amount of time.

The details are stated online for those who would like to keep a close watch on the development of the issue.

Pankratz, Hicks and Wiederrick agreed to attend the next meeting of the Hi-Line Future Foundation and see what the city can offer for ideas and help. All council members stated they are for the pool, the only issue is the money that is needed and a source.

The next meeting for the council is set for FRIDAY, Oct. 11 at 9 a.m. be sure to mark your calendar.