At a regular Missoula City Council meeting Monday, Ward 1 Councilman Jason Wiener kicked back to committee what looked like a routine contract revision.
Wiener, who said he supports the museum and holds a membership, questioned whether the city should pay for janitorial costs and maintenance of the building's heating and cooling systems. The council agreed on a voice vote to take up the lease revision again in committee.
MAM director Laura Millin declined to comment but said she had not expected the move by council.
On Monday, members of the public weighed in on another belt-tightening suggestion and also heard the director of the Public Works Department go under fire.
Matt Gibson, owner and publisher of the Missoula Independent, said he wants the city of Missoula to be able to place its mandatory legal notices in his free weekly publication instead of in a paid newspaper. The county advertises in the weekly - and saves some $20,000 a year, Gibson said.
State law limits cities to running such notices in paid publications, Gibson said, and he'd like the Montana League of Cities and Towns to take up the matter during the upcoming legislative session.
Also Monday, Will Snodgrass dropped in on the council and blasted Public Works director Steve King.
Snodgrass, a longtime critic of the city, said he has witnessed King stifle public comment and threaten senior citizens from offering opinions. He played a recorded message intending to show King lied, but the recording was unintelligible from the audience.
“Mr. King's agendas often run contrary to public process,” Snodgrass said.
His accusations drew immediate pushback from Mayor John Engen and council members, who vouched for King's dedication as a public servant. Engen thanked King for his hard work.
Ward 4 Councilman Jon Wilkins said he didn't always agree with King but he praised him just the same.
“I do think you do a fine job for the city,” Wilkins said.
The budget wasn't on the agenda Monday, but it remained top of mind in council chambers. The council adopted a budget last week without the support of five councilors, who opposed a 4.82 percent city property tax increase.
Ward 2 Councilman John Hendrickson, among the opponents, said he's received some 15 or 20 e-mails and voicemails from citizens thanking him for trying to keep the tax hike down.
“I don't think this will change next year,” Hendrickson said.
Reporter Keila Szpaller can be reached at 523-5262 or at keila.szpaller@missoulian.com.
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