Uh thank you.

I would like to call the public works committee meeting, April twenty second, twenty twenty-six, six thirty.

Uh courthouse, uh council chambers.

Our first communication on the docket is communication number twenty twenty-four five four four, Michelle Shea, District Two Commissioner, request a status update and public works committee review of the condition of the walking trail tunnel under Harrison Avenue, south of Dickie's barbecue.

Um I guess I should go back one more.

I kind of skipped something here.

Everybody that's in present is the Josh O'Neill vice chair's present.

Dan Callahan is present, Bill Boyle is present, uh Russell Airy is absent, and Trudy Healy is present.

Uh Mark Neary here of Public Works.

Um I think I would turn the floor to Director Neary for an update on communication number twenty twenty four dash five four four.

Thank you, Chairman's Umce the I think this was in the suspense file for a few months.

We're still under the same understanding that's covert, it's no longer a it isn't a tunnel, it isn't a walking trail under Harrison Avenue.

It was something that we I think was put in without an agreement.

Um it's Montana Department of Transportation's culvert and their responsibility.

The we're talking about in our last MDT meeting, we talked about maybe putting a push button in the there's a refuge in the middle of the of Harrison Avenue that if they didn't make it all the way across, there is a place for them to stand right there.

We talked about putting a push button there too to help the situation.

Um one of the things that's tough in that area is if you wait for the the light to turn green and take off walking, the light changes faster than if you push the button.

And I don't know that everybody knows that.

Some people push it, some people don't.

Um I know uh Commissioner Healy actually witnessed somebody that didn't make it all the way across, but I don't know whether they push the button or they were um what happened there, but that would be that's one thing we're looking into right now.

Um the as far as there being a tunnel, a walking pedestrian tunnel under Harrison Avenue, there isn't one.

There isn't one in the works.

Maybe when the culverts fail, maybe they'll look at it then.

But um the culverts were put in there for to handle the large storm for Blacktail Creek.

If you look Lexington, Oregon, the overpass, they all have the same size culverts, and there's two.

Just this one would we tried to make into a trail that worked good for a while, but it's just not feasible right now to do.

Thank you, Director Neary, on that.

So just for the clarif clarification for the public out there listening, um that the responsibility is from the Montana Transportation Department.

It's a culvert.

There will be no tunnel or walkway proceeding forward with this.

Um with that being said, um, so will they close that entryway so pedestrians or anybody else could not go through there anymore?

And so we could alleviate um this whole tunnel and walkway and get it back to the culvert status.

Chair Mankins, that's what we plan on doing.

It is blocked off right now, but if you wanted to, you could get over the and uh walk through it.

But that's what we plan on doing is taking the ramps back out, just to just be a culvert.

Yeah, um thank you, Director Neary, for that clarification again.

Um just so the public is hearing that that is um the ramps will be taken out and it is back to the status of the culvert.

Again, the responsibility of that culvert is the Montana Transportation Department.

Um with that being said, also is there anything on the question that anybody else would like to um weigh in on this?

Commissioner Callahan.

Thank you, Chair Mankins.

I guess my question would be the button in the middle.

Would that be something they hit to make the lat light last longer?

Or if the light changes, what what will the button in the middle do?

Chair Mankins, Commissioner Callahan, I believe that would give it would notify that there is a pedestrian in the middle.

I think in what they were talking about, some places around the state they do have that.

So there must be somehow that they can tie it together.

Never really elaborated on it a whole bunch, but it I just said it came out of the suspense fund.

We just got to start talking about it again, but that's we're gonna that's hopefully that's what we're gonna try and do, but I'm sure it's not gonna happen overnight.

Uh thank you for the question, Mr.

Callahan on that, and then follow up on that button.

Is um is there a way that when you meet with your monthly meeting with the Montana Transportation?

Could you ask to see if there could be some kind of um somebody from their department could come and either show this procedure how it would work uh with the button and to kind of see a visual that maybe could be sent in and sent out to the public if they open up a PDF or something to show them exactly how this works.

Chairman Mankins, if there is a description or uh pamphlet that would explain, I definitely would bring it and explain it to you to the group.

Um thank you.

Um Commissioner O'Neill.

Thank you, Chairman Manikins.

Um question on like barricade and will they put like a cage or a fence or something so you can't go under there?

So I'd stop riding underneath there.

Thank you.

Chairman Mankins, Commissioner O'Neill will do something to ensure that taking the ramps out should fix that problem.

So the trail doesn't guide you down there.

All the other ones are open.

So I don't think we want to put it, I think we'll just take a look at it once the ramps are out.

We're just trying to make it safe.

So uh thank you, Commissioner O'Neal with that question, and thank you, Director Neary with the um answer to that.

Um anybody else would like to weigh in on this?

Um Commissioner Shea, District 2.

Um pleasure of the committee on what you would like to continue to see or go with this.

Um thank you.

Um Commissioner Shea, Director Neary has a question.

Uh Commissioner Shea, I believe if we did eliminate this out of the public works and bring back another communication asking about the button and the pedestrian safety crossing on Harrison Avenue and and just get rid of the the pedestrian tunnel or or walkway under Harrison Avenue.

I think that'd that'd kind of clear it up and then we could get some more okay better information for you, but probably a new communication.

Uh thank you, Director Neary.

I see that uh Commissioner Healy would like to weigh in.

Commissioner Healy.

Can I can I'm sorry?

Um sorry, Commissioner Healy.

I didn't see that uh Commissioner Shea would like to respond to that.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Um I think that's a great idea, and I will introduce a new communication.

Thank you, um Commissioner Shea.

Also, Director Commissioner Healy.

I just wondered if we um could find a way to notify the public so they don't keep calling about it and complaining about it.

If there was some sort of maybe in the paper or Facebook page or whatever there is to let the public know, so we don't get keep getting asked about it.

Thank you.

Um Commissioner Healy, thank you for the response on that.

Um Director Neary.

Uh Chairman Mankins, Commissioner Healy.

Once we go to do that, we'll just get it posted, we'll get it out there that that is no longer a walking trail underneath Harrison Avenue and that the crossing is safe at grade.

Thank you, um Director Neary.

Um also thank you, um Commissioner Shea.

Um with that being said, um I would entertain a motion.

I guess I will motion for us to put communication 2024 544.

Uh to bed.

Second.

Place on file.

Second.

So we have a communication number 2024-544.

Um to be placed noted and placed on file.

We have a second from Commissioner Healy.

Um anything else on the question.

All those in favor.

All those against motion passes.

So for the public out there listening, um, we will have a new communication moving forward um in the near future here in a couple of weeks.

Um this communication, I would like to um much appreciate uh the due diligence of at this time.

I know it's not there yet, but I feel it's very in a positive way that um Commissioner Shea and um Director Neary and the Montana Transportation has took responsibility of this and making it a culvert, and we're moving forward to get this cleaned up.

Um I think it's been with um everybody on here from Commissioner or um O'Laire O'Neal, uh Commissioner Callahan and Commissioner Healy.

So it's a pretty awesome process that this is actually moving forward and um from the beginning of this, so good job.

Um second on the docket, we have communication number 2025-297.

Russell O'Leary, Commissioner District 5 informing Council of Commissioners about concerns regarding roadside trash and landfill covered load requirements.

Um I know that we're probably going to go back to Director Neary.

I did get notification that uh Commissioner Larry could not make it tonight, but he is streaming this now.

So hello there, um, Commissioner O'Leary, and I'd like to uh have Director Neary um weigh in on this.

Thank you, Chairman Mankins.

Uh with this um public works reached out to MDT to uh ask permission to put signage up on in on Iron Street and heading out to the landfill uh to put signage up and and they're fine with the signage as long as you have an ordinance to back it, and we do.

So the signs will go up.

I just talked to Craig Williams from the road department.

The holes are dug, they're located, the holes are dug, we're ready to go, but he's having trouble with the printer.

So I just talked to him as we were coming in here tonight.

They'll go on there and they'll also go on Santa Claus Road, but not till they uh widen the shoulders out there and did some slope work, but those signs won't go up until that project is complete.

Um thank you, Director Neary on the update of that.

Um I think the people on Iron Street and myself have seen um where Mr.

Williams is planning on putting the holes and um we've seen him out there working and kind of wondering what was going on.

Could you um again tell us what the signage is going to state no?

It's it's the same sign that's at the bottom of of when you turn the corner heading up towards the landfill.

It's that same signs, you know, uh noting the ordinance and everything that just says that you have to have a covered load, and and here's our ordinance if we can't.

Now, granted, we have to enforce it.

And we talked, we had Sheriff Lester here at one of the meetings.

Just you know, if we see people littering, um it's a ticket.

If you go with it without a covered load down the highway, it's a ticket.

But it just has to be enforced.

And I know that's it's a big that's a big hill to climb for sure.

Um like I said, some of this stuff isn't going to the landfill.

It's just cars going down the highway, that it's just this stuff is flying out of their trucks, too.

So but it's a it's a good start, get some signage up with so people know.

I think I think a lot of people know, but maybe some fresh signs will help out.

Um thank you, Director Neary on that update too.

I before I know that there's gonna be a few people that would like to speak on this, but I think you hit it right on the head um with this signage.

Um we do need to have it enforced.

We did have Sheriff Lester up here.

We need to give out tickets, we need to be stern, but um as we know that um signs don't always stop everything, but um hopefully that the due diligence and the people that are going there and um hopefully we can get this under control.

Um Director Neary has one more thing to add.

Thank you, Chairman Mankins.

The we're trying to get we have a lot of trash coming from out of town that we don't they say they're from Butte.

So we're trying to get a some type of system to where it's either a card in your in your car or in your driver's license or your address, it'll be tied to it.

We're gonna try it's this is a leap too.

It's hard to do.

But the what happens at the landfill, and we've had these talks.

If a person pulls in and they do not have their load covered, and you say it's 20 dollars, and they say, Well, I don't have 20 dollars, and you say, Well, you can't dump here.

They turn around and they go up brown scalp and dump it.

So then we have another mess there.

So this is another it's too bad that we didn't implement everything in the very beginning, you know.

But you know, we've had the landfills, I think since 1990 out there, and we have these issues.

But it is something that we're trying to get going, but it's the same thing, it's moving at a snail's pace.

But just I just wanted everybody to know that we're trying, we would like to get there, is what we're what I'm saying.

So um thank you for that other clarification on the troush coming from out of town and looking into a system to try to aid that and to figure out if um director neary.

I didn't I would I forgot what's going on, but but with that, if you had that card reader or you could connect it to an address and they didn't have the money, you wouldn't have to turn them away.

They could go in, but then you could charge you could put it you we could bill them.

Yes, we could bill it.

We could even we could even bill it to their address because we don't know, you know, they could just give it so if we have something that's hooked to they are paying in the garbage district, and they don't have a you know we wouldn't have to turn them away.

So that that's kind of what I was getting at.

We might have a little bit more control over that.

Yeah, uh thank you, Director Neary.

Um, thank you for thinking outside of the box and that and trying to take care of that as well.

Um I know that yeah, we have a few questions, so um, and probably yes, uh Commissioner Callahan.

Thank you, Chairman Mankins.

I guess I just want uh have you remind the DOT that it is a state law that they're supposed to have their loads covered, so either way, the you know they have to have the load covered and they can take it on, you know.

It doesn't have to be a local ordinance because there is a state law also, but we do have a local ordinance.

Thank you, uh Commissioner Callahan, Director Neary.

Uh Chairman Mankins, thank you.

Commissioner Callan, that is right, but we asked to put the signs up.

So we we're gonna be the one enforcing it.

So they just said as long as you have it in your ordinance to force also.

So you're you're right on that on both.

But we asked the books up.

Oh, Commissioner Callahan.

I I got a follow-up also.

Uh out there on Orofina Road.

Could we get a sign on that too?

Because lots of people take that road to the dump as well.

And uh we had mentioned back when we first brought this up about looking into those candles, and I talked to Mr.

Agery about it, and they were still trying to weed out the kinks on the parking side of it.

But he said that he would have the uh company look in to see whether they could possibly do something like that too, where it just takes a picture of the car, and that company does all the work I'm giving the ticket and everything.

So I will get back with him and see how that progress if we can move forward with that.

Thank you, Commissioner Callahan, Director Neary on the response.

Uh Chairman Manchus, Commissioner Callahan.

I'd like to climb the first hurdle first with getting so we have a so we have a we have an avenue first, and then I would just assume if we get there, then I would look.

Public works would look into the six because that's totally different.

That's parking, this is public work.

So then we're not muddy in the water, we're not trying to drag him in.

But I'd appreciate if we let's get let's get past the first obstacle first.

But thank you.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, Director Neary.

Commissioner Callahan, good with uh Commissioner Healy, did you no?

I don't know.

No, okay.

Um so with that being said, I know that um I mean this is great news going forward with that.

Um I was just checking to see if uh Commissioner O'Larry um the preference of his communication.

We usually don't move on with this, but I feel that um all of the answers have been vented, and I feel that we're on a positive way working forward with um public works director Neury um signage.

Um I know that like Larry Lamy will be so happy on Iron Street to um walks that every single day and um picking up trash.

So I know he's a a good guy, and I know there's other ones also with Santa Claus um road and with Orafina with that signage.

So I would entertain a motion.

Uh I'm not sure if he wants to hold this in advance and give him a chance to put in his input.

Okay.

Well we'll I'll motion that we uh uh hold communication 2025 297 in abeyance.

Second.

So we have a motion to hold um communication number 2025-297 in abeyance, waiting on Commissioner O'Leary in a couple of weeks to come and see what the pleasure that he would like to do with this communication.

But again, um being on this committee for quite some time.

But again, um being on this committee for quite some time, um this is definitely how public's work should work and um venting it out and it takes some time, the public in not to say that these projects are done and completed, but um this is all positive moving forward and it's to do with um um Montana Transportation on the first one and Director Neary and on here with Director Neary so and with the landfill staff, so it's so much appreciated.

So with that being said, we have a holding communication number twenty twenty-five dash two nine seven.

We have a second by Commissioner Healy.

Uh all those in favor, all those opposed.

So we will hold that one.

So nothing else on the docket.

I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

So we have a motion to adjourn.

All those in favor?

And so we are adjourned.