Public Works Committee Meeting - August 14, 2025
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Public Works Committee Meeting - August 14, 2025
The Public Works Committee met on August 14, 2025 to discuss Communication 2025-297 from Commissioner Leary regarding roadside trash and covered load requirements for landfills. Commissioners deliberated on signage, education, and enforcement strategies. The item was held on the agenda for further discussion, and a culvert issue was noted for a future meeting.
Discussion Items
- Communication 2025-297 (Roadside Trash & Covered Loads): Commissioner Leary reported speaking with an Iron Street property owner who supports signage, and suggested Director Neary contact the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) about placing signs on on-ramps for next summer. Commissioner Healy noted that a young man had cleaned up garbage and tires around an alley rally, improving the area. Commissioner Callahan expressed support for signs but also recommended additional education efforts, such as including information in water bills. Chairman O'Neill emphasized that litter is a year-round problem and pushed for timely signage.
- Culvert Issue: Commissioner Healy asked about a previously discussed culvert, but it was not on the agenda. Director Neary acknowledged the omission, and the committee agreed to add it to the next meeting's agenda.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Hold Item: Commissioner O'Leary moved to keep Communication 2025-297 on the agenda for the next committee meeting, allowing further offline discussions. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Healy and passed unanimously (all in favor, none opposed).
- Culvert on Future Agenda: The committee confirmed that the culvert matter will be included on the next Public Works Committee agenda.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call the public works committee meeting as of August 13th, two thousand twenty-five to order six thirty. Tonight we have uh communication number twenty twenty-five- two nine seven. Russell Leary, Commissioner District Five informing council of commissioners about concerns regarding roadside trash and landfill covered load requirements. Um Russ, do you have anything to add to this? Thank you, Chairman O'Neill. Um I don't know if I have anything new to add to it. Uh I think we're getting a little late in the year probably to be putting up the signs that we were talking about. I did talk to uh one owner on Iron Street, and they seem to be agreeable to the idea of putting up a uh some kind of signage there, covered load sign. Uh but I was hoping to speak with uh Director Neary about reaching out to MDT uh to do the same thing on some on ramps probably for next summer at this point. Um which you know, obviously that's not gonna do anything for us now, but we can maybe get the ball rolling and and do it for for next summer, next spring. Anyone else have any questions on that? Commissioner Healy. Because he did ask the young man to pick up that garbage around the um alley rally, and that he picked up the tires and it it looks a lot better. It's good. So thank you. This isn't a summertime problem. This is a year around problem. Sooner we get these signs up, the sooner people are notified and what's going on. Um the people just have to be let know that w we're out to stop this and whatever we have to do to do it, we're gonna do it. I know I did talk to Mr. Agueri last week about candles, talking to the company about those candles to take pictures and whatever. And he said he'd be glad to uh contact them and have them come visit with us to see if that's something they'd be interested in. So we'll uh keep pursuing that if we can. Thank you, Commissioner Callahan. I I do I think it's um I guess something we could push now and and I think then we'll have better um you know then something could happen towards d you know, basically next season. Um I'm not saying I'm against the signs. I think we need to do something. I just think there also there should be another method to uh for our people of Bute to if you don't see the sign or don't care about the sign, you're probably gonna drive past it and still, but then our education process to be between maybe in the water bill or whatever marketing stuff we can come up with to add to the signs. I mean would be good, but I think we just keep pushing stuff forward. Um Commissioner Shea does have a question. No? Okay. Thank you. Um Commissioner O'Leary. Thank you, Chairman O'Neill. Uh uh, I'm not sure what the pleasure of the of the committee is. Uh we could sure continue to let this float and you know talk about some things offline around signage. Um if that's kind of where everybody's floating, I I don't think there's any harm in leaving this on the on our docket for the next go-round. Garbage is a year-round problem, so what the heck. If that's uh kind of what everybody's thought is, I'd make a motion to uh hold this in advance to the next uh meeting and we'll talk offline about other things. We have a motion by Commissioner O'Leary to keep communication 2025 297 on the agenda. Um second by Commissioner Healy. All those in favor? Any oppose? Eyes have it. Um that's all we have on the docket for right now. Do that, Mr. Neary's here. Do you have anything to add to our meeting? Okay.
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