Polson council wades through full agenda

POLSON — During the balmy Polson City Council meeting on Monday night, conversations swayed motions and public comment affected decisions.

The meeting began with a clarification by council woman Elsa Duford about the city manager consultant Ken Weaver. Duford wanted to make certain the public and board new his exact title.

“Ken Weaver is an extension of the university in Bozeman,” she later said in an interview with the Leader. “He has his own company and sells and writes books.”

There was some clarification on and dialogue about the transition plan Weaver constructed for the city.

“That transition plan was never seen by the voters,” Duford told council members.

Even though it may not have been reviewed by voters, council man Jim Sohm said that as residents voted for the charter, local governments have the authority to approve such a plan.

Interim city manager James Raymond advised the council of a water main replacement in the amount of $9,000 by O’Malley Park. The pipe broke due to bad weather and wear and tear.

Council members agreed to meet for a 30-45 minute interview training workshop at 6:30 p.m. on March 11 at the request of Raymond, as suggested by the city manager search committee.

Efforts to add to the Polson Urban Renewal Planning Commission all but failed.

Sohm said council members should not serve on advisory committees as they would be voting on their own recommendations. Sohm made a motion to allow the city manager to be an ex officio to the committee, with council man Jules Clavadetscher remaining on the board until the fall - as his experience may prove vital to the task. Sohm’s motion was not seconded and died.

After the initial motion, another was proposed by council man Mike Lies, allowing one member of the council to sit on the commission. Sohm and Lies disagreed on the definition of an advisory committee, as Lies said the PURPC was not an advisory committee and Sohm said it was. The definition of the committee would determine a council member’s or city manager’s involvement.

“I disagree with the perception that it’s not an advisory board,” Sohm said.

Resident Lee Manicke said the PURPC was “sloppy and shoddy,” as he went on to say the committee accomplished nothing in the past with the money he said they siphoned at their own discretion.

“Can the whole thing, it’s not working” he said. “It should be fully explained to the people.”

Lies’ second motion to add a council member to the committee died as it received no votes after councilman Bruce Agrella’s second. Sohm suggested a public hearing for PURPC and that more study be put into it before proceeding in any direction.

The public funds investments are returning less than the city is refunding for new development impact fees, so measures to align were carried.

Raymond advised the council that the city’s website has been revamped and now includes the entire city manager selection process, as well as a tab featuring city manager comments: “Your tax dollars at work.”

Raymond has been talking to several senators about different infrastructure projects, and hopes to receive funding and grants in the amount of more than $13 million for the city.

Polson Police officer Brian Kunz recently completed a 2-week Crime Scene Processing course in Missoula, put on by the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and the Montana State Forensic Crime Lab. Police officer Clint Cottle is driving a new cruiser, and an opportunity to view the vehicle was given to everyone following the council meeting.

Raymond suggested the city look at backing up electronic files, as his wife’s business recently had a system crash and lost important documents.

Plans to annex several parcels are underway, yet as the process is costly Raymond told the Leader there is no time table for the annexations. Detailed maps will be needed.