Council adopts mayor’s advisory-board appointments; Cardwell updates council on TIF financing, grain-elevator site and wastewater repair

Belgrade’s City Council unanimously adopted the mayor’s slate of advisory-board appointments and recommendations after a short discussion and no public comment.

The packet listed reappointments to the City-County Planning Board and to the Belgrade Police Commission. City Manager Cardwell described three TIF advisory-board recommendations, including district nominations from the school superintendent (DeeDee Semirand) and a county commissioner (Scott McFarland), and asked the council to designate a council representative who would also serve as chair. Council Member Russ Guffey volunteered to serve as the council’s representative and was nominated by the mayor; the council then adopted the mayor’s appointments by unanimous vote.

Cardwell gave the council several operational updates. He thanked HR and department staff for completing performance evaluations and said the city has initiated budget season. He told the council that financial-advisor Stifel and Associates provided estimates indicating the TIF district and the parks district could likely issue debt by June, which would allow planned projects to move forward. “It looks like by the June time line both the TIF district and parks we’d likely be able to issue the debt,” Cardwell said.

Cardwell also reported progress on the grain-elevator property: the liquid-storage tanks have been removed, which clears a last hurdle for closing a lease with BNSF and advancing redevelopment. Finally, Cardwell said the city’s oxidation ditch at the wastewater plant is damaged and under an emergency order; he reported the plant can continue treating effluent but said the city will need to fund repairs and would present options at a future workshop.

Council adopted the mayor’s appointments and recommendations unanimously.