City Council Welcomes TEB Members, Talks Blight
The Wolf Point City Council held their regular meeting March 21. Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board members Alex Smith and Lawrence Hamilton were in the audience and spoke during the Fort Peck Tribal Council report. They said they were at the meeting to answer any questions the council may have and to make themselves available.
“We’re here to help,” said Smith. Mayor Chris Dschaak discussed meeting schedules with Hamilton. Council members Lance Fourstar and John Plestina thanked them for coming.
“I’m glad to see some representatives here,” said Plestina.
Council member Dean Malhum said the city’s urban renewal committee would be an opportunity for the council to work in new ways with the TEB.
City attorney Anna Rose Sullivan said working with the Fort Peck Tribes to address blight in the city is a top priority.
Dschaak provided an update about fuel incentive efforts at Wolf Point’s L.M. Clayton Airport. He said the program is working to help stimulate fuel sales, but said there may be further obstacles to increasing overall sales. Due to staff shortages at Cape Air, flights may be cut coming into the airport.
John Bach from Interstate Engineering spoke to the council about a Fort Peck Housing Development Project. He said the Tribes are looking to develop 20 single family lots with sewer and water entitlements in Wolf Point. He said a preliminary meeting with city officials had been promising. He said a letter in support of the project would be helpful. Council member Fourstar asked that project designers communicate with the Tribal Historic Preservation Office to ensure that construction isn’t violating any historic sites.
“Sewer is my only concern right now,” said Dschaak. He asked about the city’s lift station. Bach said it would be a slow process, unfolding over the next 15 years. The council approved a letter of support for the project.
Improvements to the city pound were reported as completed.
Council member Fourstar introduced a scent preservation kit for use in Missing and Murdered Indig- enous Persons cases and missing persons cases generally. He said at least 2,500 kits will be distributed in the community. The council passed a motion accepting the kits for distribution to community members by the Wolf Point Police Department.
Council member Jeff Wozniak raised concerns about the low number of city officers currently cross-deputized in the department. Three officers remain uncertified. No firm timeline for cross-deputizing the three officers was available.
Chad Hanson from Great West Engineering gave an update about watermain and wastewater projects. The council passed a resolution to decline all current project bids.
Mahlum gave an update on the urban renewal. He said ideas are being discussed for handling vacant tribal housing. The committee will meet again April 14.
Wolf Point Police Officer Dave Bets His Medicine has submitted his resignation effective March 1.
The council passed a motion to advertise a water clerk position and the police officer position.
Sullivan spoke to the council about he King Well property. She said the council needs to amend the minutes to include Elsie Hanson’s name to the agreement. Dschaak said he would reach out to the family in question to confirm the name and add it to next month’s agenda.
Minutes were passed for the Feb. 22 regular meeting and March 9 special meeting. Claims and payroll were passed, as were revenue and expense reports for February, treasurer’s cash report and securities.
