Laurel, MT

City Council

The Laurel City Council is meeting to consider several resolutions and ordinances, including a proposed moratorium on annexation applications to evaluate infrastructure capacity and growth plans, and multiple measures affecting fire department compensation and training pay. The agenda also includes routine approvals of minutes, claims, and payroll, as well as reports from boards and committees.

• Ordinance O26-04 / 26-4: Moratorium on annexation applications
• Resolution R26-78: Increase monthly compensation for designated fire officer positions
• Resolution R26-79: Increase firefighter call-out pay
• Resolution R26-80: Repeal drill pay, establish training pay for volunteer firefighters
• Payroll register for PPE 8/30/2026 totaling $288,085.08

Budget/Finance Committee

The Laurel Budget/Finance Committee is meeting to review and approve routine financial items, including purchase requisitions, council claims, the payroll register totaling $288,085.08, and utility billing adjustments. The agenda is largely procedural, with no major policy decisions or public hearings listed.

• Approve payroll register for pay period ending August 30, 2026, totaling $288,085.08
• Review and approve purchase requisitions
• Review and approve Council Claims entered through September 4, 2026
• Review and approve August 2026 Utility Billing Adjustments
• Review Comp/OT report for pay period ending August 30, 2026

Library Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

City/County Planning Board

General

Public Works Committee

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

Emergency Services Committee

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Tree/Park Board

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

Library Board

Budget/Finance Committee

General

Public Works Committee

Cemetery Commission

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Emergency Services Committee

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

Library Board

Budget/Finance Committee

Public Works Committee

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Emergency Services Committee

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Library Board

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Public Works Committee

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Emergency Services Committee

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Library Board

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Public Works Committee

City Council

Cemetery Commission

City/County Planning Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Emergency Services Committee

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Library Board

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Public Works Committee

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Emergency Services Committee

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Library Board

Public Works Committee

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Emergency Services Committee

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

Tree/Park Board

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Library Board

Public Works Committee

Cemetery Commission

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Emergency Services Committee

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Library Board

Public Works Committee

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Emergency Services Committee

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

City Council

Tree/Park Board

Budget/Finance Committee

Library Board

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City Council

City/County Planning Board

Public Works Committee

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Emergency Services Committee

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Tree/Park Board

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Library Board

Budget/Finance Committee

City Council

Public Works Committee

City Council

Cemetery Commission

City/County Planning Board

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

Emergency Services Committee

City Council

Budget/Finance Committee

Tree/Park Board

City Council

The Laurel City Council is holding a workshop meeting to discuss and potentially act on several resolutions and an ordinance. Key items include a proposed moratorium on annexation applications, multiple resolutions authorizing agreements for engineering, water supply, stormwater, and utility work, and several measures affecting firefighter compensation and training pay. The agenda also includes a resolution for managed network services and guidelines for project proposals and funding requests.

• Ordinance No. 26-4: Moratorium on annexation applications to evaluate infrastructure capacity and growth plans
• Resolution authorizing change order with Knife River for Lura Sidewalks and Lighting Improvements
• Resolution establishing and increasing monthly compensation for Laurel Fire Department officer positions
• Resolution approving increase in firefighter call-out pay
• Resolution repealing R21-57, terminating drill pay, and establishing training pay rate for active volunteer firefighters

General

Budget/Finance Committee

The Budget/Finance Committee is meeting to review and approve routine financial items, including purchase requisitions, council claims, the payroll register for the pay period ending August 16, 2026 (totaling $284,692.19), and the July 2026 monthly financial statement. The agenda is largely procedural, with no major policy decisions or public hearings listed.

• Payroll register for pay period ending August 16, 2026, totaling $284,692.19
• Council Claims entered through August 21, 2026
• July 2026 monthly Financial Statement
• Comp/OT report for pay period ending August 16, 2026
• Next meeting scheduled for September 8, 2026

City Council

The Laurel City Council will consider a public hearing on FY 2025-2026 budget amendments and then vote on resolutions adopting the final FY 2026-2027 budget and levying taxes for general and specific purposes. The agenda also includes a proposed moratorium on annexation applications, several special district levies, and agreements for a school resource officer and public transportation. Consent items include claims and a payroll register totaling $284,692.19.

• Ordinance No. 26-4: moratorium on annexation applications to evaluate infrastructure capacity and water demands
• Resolution R26-52: adopting final FY 2026-2027 budget
• Resolution R26-53: levying taxes for general and specific purposes for FY 2026-2027
• Resolution R26-67: agreement with Laurel Public Schools for School Resource Officer program
• Resolution R26-68: agreement with Allies in Aging for public transportation cost sharing

Emergency Services Committee

The Laurel Emergency Services Committee is holding its regular monthly meeting. The agenda is largely procedural, consisting of approval of the previous meeting's minutes, updates from emergency services departments, and standard items like public input and announcements. No specific action items, contracts, or ordinances are listed for decision.

• Approval of minutes from 07/27/26
• Updates from Emergency Services Departments

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

City/County Planning Board

The Laurel City/County Planning Board is meeting to handle routine business: approving July minutes, appointing a new vice chair, and reviewing a geotechnical investigation report for the Glantz PUB project. The board will also get an update on the LUPA (land use planning) process. The agenda is mostly procedural, with no major decisions or public hearings listed.

• Appoint new vice chair
• Glantz PUB - Geotechnical Investigation Report
• LUPA Update
• Minutes from July 15, 2026
• Citizen correspondence

City Council

The Laurel City Council will consider an ordinance imposing a moratorium on annexation applications to evaluate infrastructure capacity, water demands, state law changes, and growth plans. The council will also adopt the final FY 2026-2027 budget, levy taxes, and approve several resolutions including a school resource officer agreement and public transportation cost-sharing.

• Ordinance imposing moratorium on annexation applications
• Resolution adopting final FY 2026-2027 budget
• Resolution levying taxes for FY 2026-2027
• Resolution approving School Resource Officer agreement with Laurel Public Schools
• Resolution authorizing agreement with Allies in Aging for public transportation

Public Works Committee

The Laurel Public Works Committee is meeting to approve minutes from July 20, 2026, and receive an engineering update. No other substantive action items are listed on the agenda.

• Approval of minutes from July 20, 2026
• Engineering update

Library Board

The Laurel Library Board is meeting to handle routine business including approving July minutes, reviewing circulation reports, and discussing donations. New business includes a board member resignation, changing the meeting day, a budget update, and Farmers Market activity. Old business covers the summer reading program, community room rules, and by-laws updates.

• Approval of minutes from July 2026
• Circulation report
• Board member resignation
• Budget update
• Community Room Rules Policy

Budget/Finance Committee

The Laurel Budget/Finance Committee is meeting to review routine financial items, including purchase requisitions, council claims, the payroll register totaling $285,037.14, and utility billing adjustments. The agenda is largely procedural, with no major policy decisions or public hearings listed.

• Approve payroll register for pay period ending August 2, 2026, totaling $285,037.14
• Review and approve council claims entered through August 7, 2026
• Review and approve July 2026 utility billing adjustments
• Review Comp/OT report for pay period ending August 2, 2026
• Approve Budget Finance Committee minutes of July 28, 2026

City Council

The Laurel City Council will vote on routine consent items including claims and a payroll register, and will consider resolutions to reschedule a meeting on Election Day and to authorize the mayor to sign a legal services agreement with attorneys Susan B. Swimley and Tara Depuy. The agenda also includes a motion to allow Council Member Banks to be absent from the city for more than 10 days, plus public comment periods.

• Approval of payroll register for PPE 8/2/2026 totaling $285,037.14
• Resolution authorizing mayor to sign legal services agreement with Susan B. Swimley and Tara Depuy
• Resolution authorizing mayor to reschedule City Council meeting set on Election Day
• Motion to allow Council Member Banks to be absent from the City for more than 10 days
• Claims entered through August 7, 2026

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

The Laurel Urban Renewal Agency is meeting to approve minutes and receive updates on several downtown improvement projects, including lighting, landscaping, crosswalks, a railroad crossing, and ditch covering. The agenda is largely informational, with no votes on new contracts or ordinances listed.

• Project update: Downtown Improvements
• Project update: Lighting on SE 4th St
• Project update: Landscaping by Underpass
• Project update: Crosswalks/Approaches on Bernhardt
• Project update: Railroad Crossing on E Railroad

Tree/Park Board

The Tree/Park Board will meet to discuss several park enhancements and facility updates. The agenda includes discussions on new amenities and infrastructure for various city parks.

• Floating Island for South Pond
• Billie Riddle Splash Park toilet discussion
• Sensory Park in Murray Park update
• Chip seal walking path around Lions Family Park
• Elsie Johnson Memorial Bench discussion

The Laurel Park-Tree Board approved a motion to treat a partnership agreement with the Laurel Montana Community Foundation (LMCF) for the Sensory Park at Murray Park as an emergency resolution for the August 18 council meeting. The board also discussed preserving the POW sign at Riverside Park, approved a $100K budget for Billie Riddle Splash Park toilets, and planned to request quotes for seal coating the South Pond walking path. No public input was received, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:37 PM.

• Approved July 2, 2026 minutes (motion by Wilke, second by Edgmond)
• Approved motion to treat Sensory Park MOU as emergency resolution for Aug 18 council meeting (motion by Wilke, second by Rutt)
• Approved $100K budget for Billie Riddle Splash Park toilets, tasked to engineer
• Discussed removing POW sign at Riverside Park for preservation, no decision
• Discussed re-purposing concrete benches for Elsie Johnson Memorial Bench, to be researched
• Discussed new key and payment system for Riverside Hall/Lions Club rentals
• Discussed working with BB gun group to protect walls at Riverside Hall
• Noted camper in lot 14 tagged for removal

Tree/Park Board

City Council

The Laurel City Council will meet on August 4, 2026, to receive updates and discuss several infrastructure and municipal projects, including progress on the MLUPA Project, West 7th Street reconstruction options, and stormwater discussions for West Railroad Street. The meeting also includes a bulk water agreement with CHS and a presentation on budget training.

• West 7th Street Reconstruction Options Discussion
• West Railroad Street Project – Stormwater Discussion
• CHS Bulk Water Agreement
• MLUPA Project Progress Update
• Budget Training

Budget/Finance Committee

The committee will review city expenditures, including purchase requisitions and council claims. Members will consider the June 2026 Monthly Financial Statement and a payroll register.

• Payroll register for period ending July 19, 2026, totaling $273,312.25
• June 2026 Monthly Financial Statement
• Council Claims entered through July 24, 2024
• Comp/OT report for period ending July 19, 2026

The Budget/Finance Committee approved several purchase requisitions, including $12,201.55 for backhoe repairs, $6,669.93 for a fire-damaged pickup truck transmission and wiring, and $12,189.40 for eight fire department garage door openers. A requisition for crosswalk repairs was initially put on hold pending LURA funding, but LURA later agreed to pay. The committee also approved minutes, claims, payroll, and the June financial statement.

• Approved July 14, 2026 meeting minutes
• Approved $12,201.55 backhoe repair requisition
• Held crosswalk repair requisition pending LURA decision; LURA later agreed to pay
• Approved $6,669.93 pickup transmission and wiring repair
• Approved $12,189.40 for 8 garage door openers
• Approved claims and check register through July 24, 2026
• Approved payroll register totaling $273,312.25
• Approved June 2026 Monthly Financial Statement

City Council

The City Council will review several resolutions to authorize the Mayor to execute task orders with Morrison-Maierle for water and planning assessments. The body will also vote on payroll and claims approvals.

• Payroll Register for PPE 7/19/2026 totaling $273,312.25
• Resolution R26-45: Water Model Assessment with Morrison-Maierle
• Resolution R26-46: Laurel Industrial Park MFE Review with Morrison-Maierle
• Resolution R26-47: Casa Linda Sub. Block 4 MFE Review with Morrison-Maierle
• Resolution R26-48: FY27 RRG Planning Grant Assistance with Morrison-Maierle

Emergency Services Committee

The committee will meet to approve previous minutes and receive updates from emergency departments. No specific legislative actions or contracts are listed on the agenda.

• Approval of June 22, 2026 minutes
• Updates from Emergency Departments

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

The agency will receive a presentation from Knife River/Triple Tree Engineering. Members will discuss updates on several downtown and street improvement projects.

• Presentation by Knife River/Triple Tree Engineering
• Downtown Improvement updates
• Lighting on SE 4th St
• Landscaping by Underpass
• Crosswalks/Approaches on Bernhardt and RR Crossing on E Railroad

City Council

The Laurel City Council will meet on July 21, 2026, to consider four resolutions authorizing the Mayor to sign task orders with Morrison-Maierle for water modeling, industrial park review, a subdivision review, and a planning grant. The meeting also includes a clarification on City/County Planning Board appointments and employee recognition.

• Resolution authorizing Mayor to sign Water Model Assessment task order with Morrison-Maierle
• Resolution for Laurel Industrial Park MFE Review task order with Morrison-Maierle
• Resolution for Casa Linda Subdivision Block 4 MFE Review task order with Morrison-Maierle
• Resolution for FY27 RRG Planning Grant Assistance task order with Morrison-Maierle

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee will meet to discuss updates regarding engineering and pavement maintenance. The committee will also review minutes from the June 15, 2026 meeting.

• Engineering Update
• Pavement Maint

City/County Planning Board

The board tabled a request for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zone change for a 12-unit housing project pending more detailed engineering plans. The board also approved the meeting minutes from May 20, 2026.

• Tabled Steven Glantz PUD zone change request until August 19 meeting (6-0)
• Approved May 20, 2026 meeting minutes (6-0)

Budget/Finance Committee

The committee approved payroll registers totaling $581,114.43 and June 2026 utility billing adjustments. A purchase requisition for crosswalk repairs was put on hold to seek funding from LURA. The committee also agreed to renew the Montana League of Cities and Towns membership for FY 2027.

• Approved June 23, 2026 meeting minutes
• Put $7,283.47 Ace Electric crosswalk repair requisition on hold
• Approved claims and check register through July 10, 2026
• Approved June 21, 2026 payroll register ($262,203.89)
• Approved July 5, 2026 payroll register ($318,910.54)
• Approved June 2026 Utility Billing Adjustments
• Approved $14,410.00 Montana League of Cities and Towns membership renewal for FY 2027

City Council

Laurel Urban Renewal Agency

The Laurel Urban Renewal Agency will hold a meeting to approve minutes from June 22, 2026, and receive updates on downtown improvement projects including lighting, landscaping, crosswalks, and railroad crossings. No new ordinances, contracts, or dollar amounts are listed. The agenda is primarily administrative with project progress reports.

• Approval of June 22, 2026 meeting minutes
• Update on Downtown Improvement project
• Lighting on SE 4th Street
• Landscaping by Underpass
• Crosswalks/Approaches on Bernhardt

City Council

The Laurel City Council is meeting for a Municipal Summit visit. Per the agenda, the council will not hear, discuss, or act upon any item of city business during this gathering. The meeting is procedural only.

City Council

The City Council will consider an emergency ordinance (O26-03) imposing a temporary moratorium on annexation applications to evaluate municipal infrastructure capacity, water demands, and growth plans. The council will also vote on resolutions to authorize a contract with Montana Railroad Services, Inc., an amendment to engineering services with Triple Tree Engineering, and adding the mayor to city accounts. Additionally, multiple appointments to boards and commissions will be discussed, along with a lift pump installation item.

• Emergency ordinance O26-03: temporary moratorium on annexation applications
• Resolution authorizing contract with Montana Railroad Services, Inc.
• Resolution authorizing amendment to Task Order No. 2 with Triple Tree Engineering for Lura Surveys and Project 1 design
• Resolution adding Mayor Kris R. Vogele to city accounts
• Public Works: Lift Pump Installation

Tree/Park Board

The Park Board will meet to discuss several park infrastructure projects and facilities. The agenda includes updates on Riverside Park and the Billie Riddle Splash Park.

• Floating Island for South Pond
• Billie Riddle Splash Park Toilets
• Riverside Park Campground Update
• American Legion Building at Riverside Park
• Laurel Rod and Gun Club Building

The Laurel Park-Tree Board met July 2, 2026, but lacked a quorum, so no official votes or decisions were made. Members heard a presentation from Amy Mullaney of the Laurel Montana Community Foundation requesting a partnership on a proposed S.T.E.A.M. All-Inclusive Community Park at Murray Park. The board discussed the project favorably but took no action. Other items were informational only, including a Riverside Park cleanup, a floating island for South Pond, and tree planting at Veterans Park.

• No decisions made — meeting lacked a quorum
• Discussed Sensory Park partnership request from Laurel Montana Community Foundation (no action)
• Heard update on Riverside Park cleanup by Yellowstone River Research Center
• Heard update on Floating Island for South Pond sampling
• Heard trees were planted at Veterans Park to replace dead ones
• Heard $100K budget approved for Billie Riddle Splash Park toilets (engineer tasked)
• Heard mayor investigating Camp Host for Riverside Park Campground
• Heard Arbor Day in Laurel set for October 6, 2026