River Wire Blog

January 21, 2010
Two Steps Towards a Toilet (that we can flush).
From the Streets.....
Craig Water & Sewer District
Board of Director
Special Meeting
Monday, January 11, 2010
Call to order: 7:05 pm
Board members present: Chris Goodman, Rod Boboth, Mike Taylor, Sue McCormick,
Kristi Blazer
Lewis & Clark County Representatives present: Paul Stahl, Carrie Severson
Old Business:
1) Approve of minutes:
Motion to approve, second
All in favor, none opposed
2) Kristi Blazer swears in Mike Taylor at 7:08 pm
3) Change regular meeting time/amend bylaws
Rod Boboth: Motion to have regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each
month
Kristi Blazer: Second to motion.
Discussion:
To have meetings at 7 pm.
Mike Taylor -- cannot make every month.
Kristi Blazer -- recommend that we set a regular meeting and if conflicts with Mikes
schedule, set a special meeting
Kristi Blazer: Amend to motion that if conflicts with Mikes schedule, set a
special meeting
Chris Goodman: Second amendment to motion
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
4) Expansion of district:
Discussion:
Question presented to Paul Stahl: When we go to Montana statutes, one provision is that
people who want to be in the District can petition to the Board then it has to be voted on
my members of existing District, but the exception is that if the Board decides that there
is excess capacity in the sewer system, then they don't need a vote or petition. His legal
opinion is that there is an excess capacity.
Mike Taylor: says the expense will be higher if we go under interstate.
Chris Goodman: says that we're looking into a system on Seibolds land anyway about 1/4
mile up the road.
Mike Taylor: questions if we want to put septic lagoon above our water system
Kristi Blazer: doesn't believe that the engineers will allow a system that would conflict
with the water supply
Paul Stahl: says there are steps that need to be taken:
1-need to have a meeting to decide that we have excess capacity
2-then those people who want to be in have to petition the Board to be in to
include full legal description of their property
3-Board will make decision whether to accept or not
4-need to submit an ordinance or resolution to L&C Clerk and Recorder and
Secretary of State
Kristi Blazer: Motion to determine that there is excess capacity based on the legal
opinion of Paul Stahl
Rod Boboth: Second the motion
Discussion:
Mike Taylor: can we petition to be out of district?
Paul Stahl: there is a way, but the Boards obligations is that anyone who can benefit by
the District has to be in it.
Kristi Blazer: Counter argument -- taxes go up with property value.
Paul Stahl: Department of Revenue does not consider sewer as part of their valuation.
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
6) Application for Intercap:
Chris Goodman spoke with Louise Welch regarding start up money and basically the
District will have to be able to pay the loan back semi-annually -- a $20,000 loan to pay
for an updated PER and work on two grants.
Kristi Blazer: questions what did Wolf Creek do?
Chris Goodman: An assessment of tax payers, or in our situation, a resort tax (but is not
legally secure until in place). Feels that we have the Secretary fill forms out and speak
with Wolf Creek and see how they got the loan.
Kristi Blazer: questions if grant money can be used?
Chris Goodman: spoke with Clay Landry and there is start up money but we need an
income survey first to apply for it. Chris feels that before income survey comes out
should have a public meeting to explain to community.
Chris introduced American Recovery Act Funds.
Kristi Blazer: feels that we start on as many avenues as possible to get free money.
Kristi Blazer: Motion that we start the process of the income survey and find out
why there was a confidentially breech in Wolf Creek.
Chris Goodman: Second the motion
Discussion:
Chris Goodman: Brad Koenig and Midwest Assistance are willing to come to a public
meeting and answer those questions.
Kristi Blazer: First step is education by public meeting
Vote: 4 in favor, Mike Taylor opposed
Chris Goodman: Motion to table the Intercap Loan application until they
investigate the income survey.
Kristi Blazer: Second the motion
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
Interject Discussion: Paul Stahl explains a difference between fees and assessments:
Fees -- for a service
Assessments based on per household, or ratios
If more than 50% protest, then the assessed tax doesn’t go through
Paul continued to say that the county is not involved as we are a separate entity so we do
not get his or Carrie Seversons assistance.
New Business:
1) Kristi Blazer: Motion to amend bylaws to reflect new time to meet and have
Secretary type them.
Rod Boboth: Second the motion.
Discussion: None
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
2) Registered agent form:
Carrie Severson: Said that the District needs to change the registered agent form,
decide who you want to be registered agent and put that on the change form.
Rod Boboth: Motion that the District Secretary, Sharon LaFaver, be the registered
agent.
Kristi Blazer: Second the motion
Discussion: None
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
3) Chris Goodman: Entertain a motion to have a public meeting to explain how the
income survey works
Rod Boboth: Motion to have a public meeting to explain how the income survey
works
Kristi Blazer: Amend the motion to include the recommended agency
Kristi Blazer: Second the motion
Discussion: None
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
4) Chris Goodman: Entertain a motion to table filling out Intercap Loan application
until income survey has been completed.
Kristi Blazer: Motion to do so
Rod Boboth: Second the motion
Discussion: None
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
5) Chris Goodman: Entertain a motion to resolve to accept Peccia as the Districts
engineering firm.
Rod Bobth: Motion to do so
Kristi Blazer: Second the motion
Discussion:
What will Peccia cover? No answers.
Kristi Blazer: Supports the resolution.
Vote: All in favor, none opposed.
6: Kristi Blazer: Motion to ask Peccia to advise the grant writing and to pay for the
updated PER.
Rod Boboth: Second the motion
Discussion: None
Vote: All in favor, none opposed
7: Chris Goodman: Entertain a motion to start the process for a petition for the resort
tax and review the language of the document that Ms. Jameson wrote originally.
Kristi Blazer: Motion to do so
Sue McCormick: Second to the motion
Discussion: to make the writing of resort tax consistent with what the community
wants.
Carrie Severson: Suggest that we ask Mona Jameson to do this for free
Vote: All in favor, None opposed
8) Kristi Blazer: Motion that we contact Mona Jameson (she will volunteer) to
determine any requirement that we do anything less than 100% to the District and
to ask her to do it for free -- or take it to the County Commissioners.
Rod Boboth: Second the motion
Discussion: None
Vote: All in favor, None opposed
End of New Business.
Open to Public Comment:
No public comment
Move to adjourn:
8:45 PM -- adjourn

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