By Michael Howell
The Stevensville Town Council met on Thursday, May 26 with only two council members present. Mayor Jim Crews stated that he had contacted Dan Clark at the Local Government Center in Bozeman looking for guidance. Crews said that the way it works is the seat that he vacated to assume the position of mayor remains unfilled. The current council is composed of three council members and two council members would constitute a quorum and can conduct business. In this case it meant that Council members Bob Michalson and Stacie Barker could proceed to do business despite the absence of Council member Robin Holcomb.
In the first order of business Michalson and Barker both voted to terminate the study of the Reduced Rate Utility Billing Program and the associated survey. The Mayor noted that the study had initially been approved to run over the course of none months, “but there is no reason to continue,” he said. He said the survey response was 48 in favor of the program and 28 were against it.
Michalson and Barker did not agree, however, on the question of terminating or continuing the program. Michalson made a motion to terminate the program and, after some hesitation Barker seconded it.
Currently there are 12 utility customers participating in the program. Five are getting 25% of their bills paid by the fund that is about $10.30 per month, four are getting 50% relief and three qualify for 75% relief, or about $30.89. So far, total water and sewer payments that have been expended from the fund are $514.95. There is currently about $4,461.53 in the fund.
Town Clerk Stacy Bartlett explained that when the fund was originally established, no one knew how many people would sign up and qualify. She said a number was just guessed at and the program was designed to collect a fund that would serve 60 participants. She said that is why there is a discrepancy between expenditures from the fund with only 12 participants and the money being collected. She said that the former mayor and council were aware that the program rates would probably have to be adjusted once the program was put into effect based on the results of enrollment.
A couple of members of the public spoke about the obvious need for the program even if it was not a large number of people. The question was also raised about what would happen to the funds and what would happen to the participants in the program when they did not receive the aid they were getting.
Michalson said that he felt like people didn’t really have a say when the program was initiated. He said the people he heard from in his ward are against it.
Michalson voted to terminate the program but Barker voted against the motion. Mayor Crews declined to break the tie so the motion failed to pass.
Then the two council members agreed on who the next Council President would be. In her absence, they nominated Robin Holcomb and approved her as Council President unanimously without discussion.
The council approved 385 pool passes to be given out to Middle School students at graduation. In 2014, only 53 free passes were used out of 216 distributed. In 2015, out of 364 donated only 77 were used. The Mayor noted that it was a benefit to the community and a safety issue.
The council approved a $330 donation to the Skate Park for volunteer work at the swimming pool. Eight volunteers worked for five hours painting the pool.
An employee health care benefit package was approved that will cost the town an additional $393.83 per month for the same package. Premium costs for the basic package went up 7.3%. Dental premiums did not increase, but cost of vision coverage increased 16.5%. The total comes to about $5.17 per employee.
The council approved the Planning and Zoning Board’s recommendation to adopt DEQ Joint Subdivision Application forms Part I and Part IV. The proposal to reinstitute the position of Town Planner was tabled.
The Town’s swimming pool is set to open on June 13.
The council also heard complaints about drag racing on Second Street. “The problem is not lack of resources,” said local resident Mark Adams, “it’s an allocation of time problem.” He asked for more effort at enforcement of the speed limits.