The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The regular Big Sandy City Council meeting was held January 13, 2016.

The Pledge was recited.

There were no guests and no public comment

There was no sheriff’s report

Regarding the Wastewater Treatment project, it has been closed down for the winter. The project is close to 95% complete. The construction crew will come back in the spring for a few little things.

Construction and engineering submitted pay requests of $111,779.76 for both.

The Council signed a stop work order for the winter.

The Water System Improvement plans were discussed but Big Sandy is having trouble obtaining the rest of the funding for a planning project.

The Mayor said, “We will continue to try to obtain the funding but unless something premium comes along, it is not going to get done which is too bad because it would be good to get more infrastructure taken care of.”

The Council looked at drawings for the proposed swimming pool. They had a few questions so emailed the group working on the pool for some answers. The Mayor said that when all the drawings are clear and approved, there will be some public meetings to talk over the pool issue.

Regarding the Brownfield project, nothing happened at this meeting.

The Mayor said he has heard from several people that the city owns the old hotel.

“Not true,” he said, “The hotel is still owned by a holding company.”

Mayor Stiles went on to say that the initial assessment of the hotel should be completed in the next two to three weeks.

His Honor swore in new Council Members Andrew Page and Ted Pursley.

The City is looking at the possibility of hiring a Code Officer to enforce codes. They are checking on other places that have gone that route for enforcing at least civil codes. It would still be up to the Sheriff’s Department to enforce criminal codes.

The City discussed fund 28-10 called the Policeman Reserve Training Fund. It should be remembered, according to Mayor Stiles, that Sheriff Vern Burdick called for Big Sandy to take money out of that fund for the Sheriff’s travel.

Mayor Stiles received a letter from the Montana State Auditor’s Office that said, “Big Sandy has been notified by the Montana State Auditor’s Office that the fund that Sheriff Burdick has used and described as a training fund is in fact a municipal police officers retirement fund in accordance with Montana Code Annotated 19-19=305. By order of the Auditor’s Office, Big Sandy is to close this fund and return the money to the general fund from where they came. Over $2000.00 of this fund has been used by the Sheriff the last three years and will need to be returned to Big Sandy so that money can also be returned to the general fund.”

In the Street Improvement area of the City Council, Mayor Stiles said that they are still looking for gravel and getting it here will probably happen this spring.

Regarding the Sheriff’s Contract with Big Sandy, it seems to still be an ongoing issue. The Mayor issued this statement on that matter.

“I have strongly suggested to the Town Council that they cancel the contract with the Sheriff’s Department. In my estimation they have not lived up to the contract Sheriff Burdick signed over a year ago. Also, during the December meeting, I asked Deputy Hale about a particular code that they are not enforcing and asked if there was a citizen complaint would they then write a citation. He said they would not and then called Sheriff Burdick who again said they would not write the citation. This is a code that has been duly passed by the Big Sandy Town Council and is in compliance with state statutes. There are others reasons, of course, but again I have suggested that the council cancel the contract and look at other avenues to enforce the codes in Big Sandy.”

There were no committee reports. Colby Baumgarn attended the United Disposal Meeting.

There was one leak repaired.

The shutoff list was gone over.

Claims were approved as was Journal voucher 2016-09.

The meeting was adjourned.

The next regular meeting will be February 3, 2016.