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Good morning. This week we have the next steps taken by the City Council after a driver struck a middle school student walking to school, the council proposes shorter meetings and the 33rd annual Saturday Live fundraiser takes place Saturday.
But first, a weather preview ☀️
It’s looking like a clear, warm weekend for Billings, with highs of 81 on Friday, 70 on Saturday and 75 on Sunday, and overnight lows down to 45, according to the National Weather Service. This is that gorgeous fall weather we dream about throughout the year.
Traffic safety near schools gets a closer look after teen’s death
The Billings City Council will expedite a review of the speed limits around schools after a driver last week struck and killed a Will James Middle School student.
On the morning of Sept. 24, a driver hit 13-year-old Chase Lantz at the intersection of Rehberg Lane and Grand Avenue as he was walking to school. The boy was flown to Denver for medical care, where he was ultimately taken off life support, according to reporting by KTVQ in Billings, citing information from Lantz’s family.
Councilor Andrew Lindley brought an initiative in response to Lantz’s death at the Billings City Council meeting Monday night. It calls first for a review of the school zone near Will James Middle School, and then for a review of the school zones at all other city middle schools.
Lindley said the council should also do a full review of the entire policy governing traffic in school zones, but it would take more time. Lindley said they would look at middle schools “hopefully as rapidly as we can.”
Lindley said that in 1989, the Billings City Council removed the city’s high schools and middle schools from the school zone policy. He said he believes those older students still need greater protection than regular pedestrians.
Driving down Grand Avenue past Senior High School at lunchtime, “there’s an incredible number of kids walking around, walking to restaurants, etc.” Lindley said.
A handful of people spoke at the City Council Monday, urging action after Lantz’s death. Leslie Cook said her “heart goes out” to the boy’s family. Cook asked the council to review the 1989 policy that Lindley was discussing. She said Billings has grown significantly since it was written.
“If you ever drive Rimrock Road or Grand Avenue out west, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Council member proposes cap to shorten meetings
This week City Council member Scott Aspenlieder, God bless him, introduced an initiative to cap the length of council meetings.
Aspenlieder called it a “three-month test drive, if you will, to see if we can actually operate in an efficient and timely manner.”
Aspenlieder, who represents Ward 4, said meetings were running too long, and as a result, some members of the public were choosing not to participate. He said a change would help.
“That means less grandstanding,” he said. “That means doing the work before you show up to the council meeting and coming prepared.”
Several council members said they supported the goal of reducing meeting length but were skeptical about the particulars of the proposal.
“I’m concerned that limiting ourselves to two hours will be a backfire in a lot of ways because dialogue is imperative in order to come to a consensus or come to a decision,” said Amy Aguirre, who represents Ward 3.
The council voted to place Aspenlieder’s proposal on a future meeting agenda for further discussion. Voting no on that move were members Mark Nicholson (Ward 1), Denis Pitman (Ward 2) and Roy Neese (Ward 2).
Aspenlieder emailed his initiative to other council members before the meeting, but a copy was not included in the meeting materials.
The meeting Monday lasted approximately two and a half hours.
Aspenlieder’s initiative is available online at page 2 of the following link: https://www.billingsmt.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/19799
About Town 🚶
• The long-running fundraiser for Billings Public Schools Education Foundation, Saturday Live, will take place at MetraPark on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10. I remember Saturday Live as a kid, when it was still held at Pioneer Park. I remember face-painting, a troll bridge and digging through sand to find small plastic toys. Always a hit.
• The Billings Climate Coalition will host Bike for Their Lives on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Meadowlark Brewery. The 20-mile ride is part of an international series of bike rides aimed at raising awareness of climate change. Register online at https://montanahealthandclimate.org/ride-for-their-lives/
• Come help keep the wheels of democracy turning by volunteering as an election judge. Training takes place in the Community Room of the Billings Public Library on Oct. 6 from 1:30-3:30. Please see Yellowstone County Elections Administration for more information.
Game of the Week 🏆
Shining a spotlight on some teams outside of Billings Public Schools, Lockwood takes on Central High in football Friday at the Herb Klindt Field at Rocky Mountain College. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Public Notice 🧐
County commission back in action
🗓️Tuesday, October. 6
⏰9 a.m.
📍2825 Third Ave. N., boardroom 309
ℹ️ The Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners is back from the Montana Association of Counties conference in Helena. Last week’s regular meeting was canceled due to the conference. An agenda for the Tuesday meeting will be posted on the county website on Friday.
