Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The City of Laurel held a workshop meeting on October 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting focused on reviewing agreements, discussing policies, and receiving public input on a variety of city business items. No formal votes were taken; actions are scheduled for subsequent council meetings.
Significant public input was received on the DEA Task Force agreement:
Public comments on other items included:
CHS Fire Coverage and Mutual Aid Agreement: Fire Chief JW Hopper described the long-standing agreement (since 1975, last renewed 2008). CHS provides mutual aid in fire, high-angle rescue, hazmat, and water events. CHS pays the city $20,000 annually in two installments, funds industrial fire training for four firefighters annually, and has donated extrication and bunker gear. The current version is unchanged. The agreement will be presented for council approval at the next meeting.
DEA Task Force Agreement: Police Chief Anglin detailed the TFO program. The city provides a full-time officer to the DEA (Detective Booth); the city pays salary and benefits but receives Federal Equitable Sharing (FEQ) funds totaling $838,156 since 2006 (pending $189,264). FEQ funds have purchased radios, patrol vehicles (3), firearms, body armor, etc. The TFO position is already budgeted; an open sergeant position will be filled. K9 unit continues. Strong public support. Agreement will be on next agenda for approval.
MLUPA Update: Forrest Sanderson reported that Interstate Engineering proposed expanded scope; planning board recommended but costs are under review. Mayor not in favor of additional cost. Public expressed dissatisfaction with Interstate’s performance.
Smith Garson Update: In-person visit scheduled for October 30, 2026, with infrastructure tour and public meeting during business day.
Downtown Infrastructure Budget Increase (Resolution 4): $200,000 increase requested to cover MDT crosswalk timers, stormwater changes, and out-of-scope paving. Project ahead of schedule. Will be on next agenda.
Lura Bernhardt Improvements (Resolution 3): Task Order 8 for $69,000 for crosswalks and approaches. Recommended for approval.
Askin Construction Intake Contract (Resolution 5): $16,000 for excavator work at water intake. Permits pending.
InControls Cybersecurity Contracts (Resolutions 6 & 7): Yearly contracts for water/sewer plant cybersecurity, costing ~$7,000-$9,000 and $5,000. Supported.
Temporary Substitute Driver Position (Resolution 8): One temporary substitute driver for FY26-27 to ensure transit service continuity.
Cemetery Land Sale Discussion: Federal offer to purchase 10 acres for $271,000 considered too low. Mayor to prepare counteroffer with appraisal. Council supports negotiation.
Procurement Policy Updates: Plan to raise mayoral purchasing limit from $5,000 to $10,000 and clarify policies. Discussion only.
Bike and Scooter Safety Discussion: Council reviewed draft ordinance; state law restricts some provisions. Emphasis on education and past successful safety rodeos. No ordinance adopted; further discussion.
Legal Update: Land Use Litigation (CARED): Attorney Ryan Addis updated on options: join as party (bond required) or file amicus brief (preferred). Council leaning toward amicus.
Court of Record Update: Recommendation to rescind 2025 resolution making city court a court of record due to low appeals. Rescinding resolution on next agenda.
Cybersecurity Grant Award: Grant with no match for replacing nine network switches.
Emergency Water Main Replacement (Askin Change Order): Mayor approved $137,000 emergency replacement of broken water main on West 7th Street, funded from water fund. Council ratification will be sought.
Recording in progress. Good evening. Welcome to uh the City of Laurel workshop meeting Tuesday, October 6th. Uh, by your presence in the city council chambers, you're participating in the process of representative government. To encourage that participation, the city council is specified times for citizen comments on its agenda. Once following the consent agenda, at which time citizens may address the council concerning any brief community announcement not to exceed one minute in duration for any speaker, and again, following items removed from the consent agenda at which time citizens may address the council in any matter of city business that is not on tonight's agenda. Citizens may also comment on any removed item from the consent agenda prior to council action, and we won't have any action tonight since this is a workshop. Um for public input, citizens may address the council regarding any item of city business that is not on tonight's agenda. The duration for an individual speaking under public input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the council will not take any action on any item not on the agenda. During this time, I'm gonna ask how how many um of the public are here to comment on the DEA agreement or the uh fire agreement because we may just move uh the order of agenda. So we're gonna we're gonna move on to items number thirteen and fourteen. Um, just because there's uh so many people here. What's that? Or twelve and thirteen on sorry. Um and we're gonna start with uh item number twelve, and I'll just read this before we do that. Um before we begin the next two items. I want to clarify the purpose of tonight's discussion. We have before us two agreements uh that uh commit the city, city personnel and potential city resources to ongoing relationships with outside agencies under the Laurel City Charter, the city council is a legislative and policy to determining body of the city. The charter also provides that the mayor executes contracts and written obligations of the council subject to the council approval. Our purpose tonight is therefore to review these agreements from the standpoint of city authority policy, financial and operational commitments, duration, termination rights, liabilities, staffing impacts, and whether the city wishes to continue modify, approve, or decline those arrangements through the proper city process. Whether those commitments are appropriate for the city, and what formal action the city should take going forward. So the first item that we're gonna uh discuss is uh number number 12 of the CHS fire coverage and mutual aid agreement. Um and then we're also gonna add which is one that we found that we need to have you review today, uh the Yellowstone County Wildland Fire Agreement in JW. I'm sorry, I didn't bring extra copies of that, but you could speak to that as well. But if you want to cover the CHS just agreement for us in uh uh the mutual aid aspect of it. So the CHS 101? Yeah. Okay. So uh JW Hopper Fire Chief. Um so the CHS agreement has been in place since approximately 1975, um was the year that uh the latest one that we can that we can find that was was signed, and then again in 2008, um it was signed again. Um and then it came up just after I had taken over as fire chief um to to redo it. So we worked with uh past Mayor Wilson or Wagner and past attorney Brockman to work through that with CHS and Jim Jim Irwin was the um the refinery manager at the time.