Laurel City Council Meeting – October 27, 2026

The Laurel City Council met Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The council held a public hearing on the FY 2026-27 budget amendment, approved all scheduled resolutions by 5-0 votes, and received updates on the MLUPA planning process and a court ruling allowing the city to file an amicus curiae brief.

Consent Calendar

• The council voted 5-0 to approve the consent agenda, including claims entered through October 23, 2026, and the payroll register for PPE 10/11/2026 totaling $270,902.38.
• Reports of boards and commissions were listed: Budget/Finance Committee minutes of October 13, 2026; Emergency Services Committee minutes of September 28, 2026; Laurel Urban Renewal Agency minutes of September 28, 2026; and Cemetery Commission minutes of July 21, 2026.
• No items were removed from the consent agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the FY 2026-27 budget amendment public hearing, one proponent said the budget change was fine and expressed pride in the police department for obtaining grants to help the city. No opponents testified.
• Elizabeth Gilk of Laurel, Montana, stated that the City Administrator's contract violates the Laurel City Charter because the charter requires a two-year contract and the current contract is longer. She also said the contract's insurance benefits are unfair compared with those of other city employees and indicated she would have more to say at a later meeting.
• During community announcements, Elizabeth Gilk noted that the City of Laurel's motion for leave to file an amicus brief had been granted.

Discussion Items

• Budget Amendment FY 2026-27 (Resolution R26-99): Staff presented the amendment, which increased revenue and appropriations for the police department to account for a $68,000 State Homeland Security Program grant for police vehicle mobile data terminals that had not been budgeted. The amendment also increased the general fund appropriation for equipment and related costs to prepare the donated K-9 police vehicle for operational use.
• MLUPA Update: Forrest Sanderson reported that the Planning Board recommended returning to the original scope of the MLUPA document and extending the deadline to March 31, 2027. Planning Board workshops were planned monthly at regular meetings in November, December, and January 2027, with a Planning Board public hearing and resolution anticipated in February 2027 and council presentations/public hearings with consultant Interstate Engineering in March 2027. Sanderson said Interstate Engineering had sent a revised scope and contract and that he needed to review it with the City Administrator. The mayor requested that Sanderson attend the workshops on behalf of the city.
• Resolution R26-87 (LURA Sidewalks and Lighting Improvements): Forrest Sanderson requested approval of Change Order No. 2 with Knife River. The original project budget was estimated at $3 million; additional expenditures were expected to exceed the $280,000 contingency, including roughly $133,000 in changes made by MDT and other city-requested changes. Staff asked for an additional $200,000 in spending authority from tax increment financing (TIF) funds, not general funds. Sanderson said the project would cost about $2.7 million if all authorized funds were spent, remained on schedule, and had about two to three weeks of underground construction left.
• Resolution R26-98 (Columbarium): Richard Closey presented the request to purchase and install a 96-niche door octagon columbarium from Dakota Granite, citing increased demand for above-ground burial and the space savings niches provide in the city cemetery. The item was budgeted.
• Resolution R26-100 (SHSP Grant): Jared explained that the police department had applied two years earlier for the $68,000 State Homeland Security Program grant for mobile data terminals. Because the city had also budgeted approximately $31,000 for five Toughbooks and the total cost is now about $78,000, the grant plus roughly $10,000 to $11,000 of capital funds would be used.
• Resolution R26-101 (MDT Purchase): The council authorized the purchase of police vehicle mobile data terminals and mounting brackets using State Homeland Security Program grant funds and budgeted capital funds.
• Resolution R26-102 (K-9 Vehicle): Jared reported that Detective Booth had applied about two years earlier for a K-9 vehicle through the Gary Sinise Foundation's First Responder Outreach Program. The foundation pays the dealership directly, so no city funds are used for the vehicle, and the K-9 donation fund has enough to equip the vehicle.
• Resolution R26-103 (2nd Response Upfitters): The council authorized the mayor to execute an independent contractor service contract with 2nd Response Upfitters.

Key Outcomes

• The public hearing on the FY 2026-27 budget amendment was opened and closed with no opposition.
• The council approved the consent agenda and all scheduled resolutions by unanimous 5-0 votes: R26-87, R26-98, R26-99, R26-100, R26-101, R26-102, and R26-103.
• The council received notice that the next workshop was moved to Monday, November 2, 2026, at 6:30 PM because the following Tuesday is a holiday; MLUPA is on the workshop agenda, with action planned for November 10.
• Mayor updates included a court order granting the City of Laurel leave to file an amicus curiae brief; the plaintiff consented to the motion and the State of Montana opposed it.
• Council discussion included a reminder about a Thursday trunk-or-treat event at Riverside Park, a chili cook-off, and the upcoming time change.