Plains Council OKs fees for public documents

Plains Council unanimously passed Freedom of Information Act fees during Monday night's council meeting.

All council members were present except for John Roesler. 

The meeting, which was lightly attended by the public, started off with the approval of the minutes of January’s regular and special meetings. The council approved financial and payroll reports. 

Mayor Joel Banham started off his report thanking the council for helping him during his first month as mayor. Banham next spoke about the current state of the town’s water usage. Approximately 3.13 million gallons of water were pumped in January with 2.22 million gallons sold for a loss rate of 39%. 

A substantial portion of the loss was contributed to a large water main break on the corner of Cook Street and Carr Lane that will require more extensive repairs when the ground thaws in the spring. 

Banham next spoke about the purchase of five new computers for the police and clerk departments from First Call. 

Banham said, “The ones we have are 12 years old and problematic. The police department has been frustrated with them.” 

The town is still working with First Call to complete the Microsoft 365 software migration. 

“The town is hopeful that Big Sky Networks and First Call will work amicably to make that happen,” he said. “We will see where that goes.”

The town has met three times in January with Public Works, citizens in town, representatives from Plains-Paradise Rural Fire River Rescue as well as Plains Community Ambulance to talk about opening the pool this summer.

“We have some good ideas for recruitment and for bringing in maybe some trainers from the river rescue and getting them trained as lifeguard trainers,” Banham said. “It is going to be a bit of a tight schedule for them to potentially train our lifeguards for this summer. We really want to get the pool open this summer.”

Next on the agenda was the department head’s report. 

Plains Fire Department Chief Tony Young was not present to give his report. 

Police Chief Brian Josephson reported that the department answered 44 calls for service with 5 arrests and 76 warning/citations written. Josephson reported that a new Police Reserve officer, Kenny Hamilton, started today. Hamilton has an extensive history in law enforcement as an employee with the Montana State Prison system, past police chief in Alabama and is Post certified. 

The Public Works department head Bruce Newton said the town will try to open the pool on June 3. Newton said the town is working on filling potholes and trying to fill the holes that could tear up vehicles. He said the material that the town uses to fill the potholes is hard to get this year. 

Under unfinished business items on the agenda, parking of motor vehicles, road district, house numbers and purchasing of a new lawnmower were each tabled for review at next month’s council meeting. 

The only item to move forward under unfinished business was the Freedom of Information Act resolution. This resolution was unanimously passed. It establishes a fee schedule for documents provided to the public. 

The fee schedule is as follows. Black and white copies 8-1/2x11” 25 cents each; color 50 cents. Faxes $1 per page. Scanning, up to 10 pages is a $2 flat fee, 11-50 pages $6 flat fee, 51-100 pages $10 flat fee, over 100 pages $15 flat fees. Digital flash drive copies, up to 8GB, are $20 each.

All items requested to be prepared will be subject to reimbursement for staff time required to fill the request as follows. First 15 minutes no charge, administrative/clerical $30 per hour, legal review will be $225 per hour.

Under new business the council members were assigned to the following committees. Budget committee: Connie Foust, Lana Dicken, JD Crabb. Public Works are John Roesler, Chad Cantrell, and John Sheridon. John Sheridon was chosen as the new Council chairman.

The last item covered Monday evening was about a state law requirement that municipalities query voters on whether to review local government. If residents back the idea at the ballot box during the June 4 primary election, officials will form a commission of three members.

    Plains Council members Lana Dicken, Chad Cantrell and Connie Foust review the town's new lawnmower purchase. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)