Plains Council sets date to fill empty ward seats

The first Plains Town Council meeting of the year was called to order last week by the newly appointed Mayor Joel Banham. 

The Council, convened with two ward seats empty, approved various reports and previous meeting minutes. 

The judge’s report consisted of the two previous months. There were 69 new cases in December 102, pending cases, 152 disposed cases and 90 active warrants. Total funds paid to the town was $5,086.

Fire Chief Anthony Young discussed his department’s call outs that included one house fire. Police Chief Brian Josephson’s report consisted of 31 calls for service, four arrests made, 182 citations and warnings written. 

Public Works department head Bruce Newton discussed the replacement of a fire hydrant on Sixth Avenue after waiting four months for parts.

The mayor’s report announced that the town is still in the process of changing over to a new IT vendor. 

Banham expressed his desire for the Harvest Church’s construction project to continue and thanked the Montana DNRC for the help in explaining the floodplain issues and viable solutions to the town.

Each of the unfinished business items on the agenda, parking of motor vehicles, road district and new lawnmower were tabled until the two empty ward seats are filled. 

Under new business, the house number ordinance and a Freedom of Information Act resolution were tabled. 

The third item was the filling of the two vacant Ward seats. Four individuals have applied for the two empty seats. 

For Ward 2, JD Crabb and David Costner applied. Tim Kinsinger and Lana Dicken expressed interest in the Ward 1 vacancy. A special Council meeting will be held Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

Two people gave public comments at the meeting.

First up was Cindy Thomas, an employee of the library, who is working on a tourist information section in the town’s library. Thomas was looking to install a two-sided sign along the greenway directing tourists to an information center at the town’s public library. The cost of the sign would be funded by grants. Various locations were discussed with a proposal being on a pole in front of the library. 

The last individual to speak during the public comment period was Matthew Jaramillo, who requested the Council to review the current dog ordinance.

“There is a lot of confusion online,” Jaramillo said. “It was publicly announced that chickens and goats needed to be registered and according to your ordinance that is not so. Just dogs only and in order to be registered they needed to be vaccinated for rabies. Chickens don’t get rabies. It needs to be updated a little bit.” 

He asked where animal permit funds go and who enforces the law.

Police Chief Josephson said, “It’s our responsibility to go around door to door.” 

People are required to obtain a permit to house chickens and goats. 

Council member Connie Foust said, “It’s seven chickens and no roosters.”

Jaramillo continued his discussion with the council about the lack of enforcement with stray dogs. 

Josephson said that the department has cited stray dog owners but does not have the equipment and time needed to catch all the stray dogs.

    New Town Mayor Joel Banham at the first council meeting of 2024. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
  

    Matthew Jaramillo discusses the Plains animal ordinance. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)