PRESS RELEASE
September 14, 2011
9:00 AM 

Captain Jeff Schoenen appointed ‘Acting Fire Chief’.

City Manager Ed Meece is announcing that Fire Captain Jeff Schoenen has been appointed ‘Acting Fire Chief’, effective October 1, 2011. Currently, Captain Schoenen oversees the department’s fire inspection and staff training responsibilities, as well as other administrative and special projects. 

Captain Schoenen joined the Livingston Fire & Rescue Department in 1992,   and was promoted to Captain in October 2008. Captain Schoenen is also a veteran of the United States military, with active duty service overseas. 

“Captain Schoenen’s leadership, at this time of transition, will keep a steady hand on the pulse of departmental operations. I look forward to working with him in this role, and know the entire department will support him in this capacity.” 

An Internal Only application process will be opened later this week, with intentions of selecting a new Chief by December 2011.

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PRESS RELEASE
September 9, 2011 

The City of Livingston announces that patrol officer John Leonard has been promoted to the position of Sergeant with the Livingston Police Department. Leonard was promoted following the resignation of Sergeant John Mathias in August. 

Sergeant Leonard is a 9 year veteran with the police department. He has acquired a significant amount of formal training in various areas of law enforcement, including police supervision. Police Chief Darren Raney says, “Sergeant Leonard has proven to be a motivated officer who goes above and beyond to fulfill the needs of the department. I am confident that he will serve well in a supervisory capacity.” Leonard is one of three sergeants who are assigned supervisory responsibilities for patrol operations of an assigned shift. 

The department is currently in the process of hiring to fill the vacant patrol officer position. Applicants must be on the Montana Law Enforcement Testing Consortium list of eligible applicants. The consortium, consisting of participating Montana law enforcement agencies, administers several testing cycles each year in Billings, Great Falls and Helena. Applicants must successfully pass written and physical abilities tests to be placed on the hiring list for a period of 18 months. Anyone interested can check out the MLETC website at www.mtletc.org for more details. 

For more information, contact Chief Darren Raney, 406-823-6025.

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PRESS RELEASE
September 8, 2011
1:00 PM 

Robyn Keyes promoted to Recreation Director.

City Manager Ed Meece is announcing that Ms. Robyn Keyes has been appointed Recreation Director/Summer Fest Coordinator. Ms. Keyes has served as ‘Acting’ Recreation Director since May of this year, when Cathy Bergsing retired from the position. “Ms. Keyes brings a lot of energy, as well administrative expertise, to the position; we’re very excited to have her in this role.” 

Robyn Keyes joined the City of Livingston in 2007, as a Management Intern from Montana State University. In October of 2008, she was hired as the City’s first Human Resources Associate. Since that time, she has worked to enhance, and establish, considerable change in the City’s personnel systems; to include job classifications, pay studies, personnel policies, recruitment and selection methods, labor relationships, and disciplinary investigations. 

Recently, Ms. Keyes also accepted responsibility for managing the City of Livingston’s social media communication efforts. 

Ms. Keyes is a graduate of Park High School (Valedictorian, 2004), and Montana State University (BA, Political Science, 2008). She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration from Montana State University.

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PRESS RELEASE
September 8, 2011
1:00 PM 

Chief Alan Davis resigns from Livingston Fire & Rescue.

City Manager Ed Meece is announcing that Chief Alan Davis’ has resigned his position with the City of Livingston (effective 9/30/11); in order to return to Georgia and deal with unexpected family considerations. “Since day one, Chief Davis has made important contributions to our management team at the City of Livingston. He has the highest level of integrity, and he will be missed.” 

At this time, the Administration is evaluating the best option for selecting a new Chief; with a recommendation to the City Commission resulting from that process. 

Chief Davis came to the City of Livingston in 2008, after a successful career with the City of Columbus, Georgia; retiring from that department as a Battalion Chief.

Most recently, Chief Davis has been helping lead an effort to develop a fire training facility, in Livingston, that could be utilized to train fire service professionals on a regional and state-wide basis.

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PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2011
9:00 AM 

FEMA issues ‘Letter of Final Determination’ on Livingston Flood Maps.

Yesterday, the City of Livingston received notice that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a ‘Letter of Final Determination’ regarding the recent flood map revision process that has been underway for more than five years. “This is great news for the community. It has taken a lot of effort on the part of local citizens, the City Commission, staff, and consultants – in the end, we have a scientifically accurate set of flood maps and a lot of structures were taken out of the regulated flood plain,” said Ed Meece (City Manager).

In previous communications to the City of Livingston, FEMA has indicated the new flood maps will become effective exactly six (6) months from the date that the ‘Letter of Final Determination’ is issued; it would appear, for Livingston, that date will be October 18, 2011.

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PRESS RELEASE
March 22, 2011
4 PM 

Cathy Bergsing, Recreation Director, to retire in May. 

The City of Livingston regrets to announce that Cathy Bergsing, Recreation Director, will retire from local government in May. Starting her career with the City of Livingston in 1999, Mrs. Bergsing has made contributions to the success of the Recreation Department, to include: 

• Teaching community Art lessons
• Initiating the ‘Tot Time’ program for toddlers
• Design of t-shirts and posters for Summerfest
• Assistance with start-up of Friday Skate Nights 

Mrs. Bergsing is well liked by community members, and co-workers, alike. “Cathy always brings a smile to everything she does”, commented Ed Meece. 

Ms. Robyn Keyes, Human Resource Coordinator, has been appointed Interim Recreation Director (effective 5/16/11). Ms. Keyes will serve in this interim capacity while the city evaluates any necessary organizational changes created by Mrs. Bergsing’s retirement, and during the search for a new director.

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PRESS RELEASE
March 22, 2011
10 AM 

City of Livingston Receives GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for FY 2011 Budget 

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) is pleased to announce that the City of Livingston has received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its FY 2011 budget.  This is the second consecutive year the City has received this prestigious award.  

The GFOA Budget Presentation Award recognizes local governments that are committed to the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the City had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as: 

• a policy document
• a financial plan
• an operations guide
• a communications device 

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award. 

To view the City of Livingston’s award winning budget, please visit www.livingstonmontana.org.

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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
3/8/11

The City of Livingston (City) has been awarded an $11,200 Urban and Community Forestry Program Development Grant from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). Funds will be used to purchase 56 native trees to be planted in Livingston community parks and recreation areas. 

This project is designed to assist the City’s urban forest in three specific ways. The purpose of the project is to:  1) remove safety hazards posed to community members by dead and/or dying trees; 2) beautify the City and offset carbon emissions by planting trees in place of ones that have been or are slated for removal; and, 3) create a 10-year management plan that will allow the City to properly budget for removal, replanting and maintenance of trees within the City limits. 

If you have any questions, please call the Public Services Department at 222-1142.

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PRESS RELEASE
February 14, 2011
11 AM 

City of Livingston receives five (5) ‘Automatic External Defibrillators’  through Rural Access to Electronic Devices  program.

Today, the City of Livingston  received five (5) ‘Automatic External Defibrillators’ through a grant from the Rural Access to Electronic Devices program (Montana Department of Health and Human Services). “Last fall, the Administration began an aggressive campaign to place these important life-saving devices in community facilities”, commented Ed Meece (City Manager).  “Thanks to the Rural Access to Electronic Devices program, and our partnership with Nittany Grantworks, we’re going to be able to provide our citizens an increased opportunity at surviving a heart attack.”

Automatic External Defibrillators utilize advanced technology to diagnose arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, and appropriately apply electrical shock to stop the arrhythmia and return the heart to a proper rhythm. Since these functions are performed without external manipulation, AED’s may be used in emergency situations, by individuals with little to no training.  According to the American Red Cross, every minute that a person in cardiac arrest goes without successful treatment (defibrillation) the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent.

The Livingston Fire and Rescue Department will coordinate the placement and maintenance of the new AED’s at five locations in the community: Civic Center, City/County Complex, Livingston-Park County Library, Park High Football/Track complex, Livingston Public Works.

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PRESS RELEASE
November 30, 2010
10 AM 

City of Livingston continues snow storm cleanup.

The City of Livingston continues to address difficulties created by the recent snow (and wind) storm that threatened to make primary transportation routes impassable in the community. At this time, the Public Works Department is concentrating its snow removal efforts on:

• Keeping Primary transportation routes, school bus routes, and access to Livingston Memorial Hospital open;
• Alleys necessary to complete that day’s solid waste collection routes;
• Secondary streets;
• On Wednesday evening, city crews will do another cleaning/removal effort in the downtown area – to prepare for the Christmas Stroll on Friday.

Throughout the weather emergency, the Public Works Department had all available staff on continuous 12-hour shift rotations (including Thanksgiving Day); those shifts did not cease until 7 PM Sunday evening. To date, total storm related costs are approximately $25,000; which will be absorbed in the City’s ‘Street Maintenance Fund’ in order to limit the impact on operational budgets within the General Fund and Utility Funds.

The City of Livingston appreciates the patience of our citizens during our response to this difficult weather event -- and the willingness of neighbors to help neighbors in need when public resources were otherwise deployed.

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PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2010
8 AM 

‘Steering Committee’ created for parks Master Plan project.

The City of Livingston has created a ‘Steering Committee’ to facilitate the creation of a Master Plan to guide the planning and development of its municipal park system. The Steering Committee will have 19 members, comprised of representatives from city and county government, recreation program partners, and the Livingston school district, as well as three At-Large citizen members. The Steering Committee will assist the City in developing a Request for Proposal to solicit a professional consultant, and choose a smaller evaluation committee for the purpose of recommending a finalist for contract award. Following vendor selection, the Steering Committee will likely also have a role in other aspects of the Master Plan development process. 

Livingston residents interested in applying for one of the three (3) At-Large seats should contact the Office of the City Manager; or download an ‘application for appointed office’ from the City Commission’s page at www.livingstonmontana.org .

"Park City (Utah) - Livingston Leadership Exchange"

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Press Release

Please note that the Civic Center will be

CLOSED TO ALL ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER AND POSSIBLY THE FIRST TWO WEEKS IN NOVEMBER 2010

The City of Livingston has received a grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant for $156,975 for energy efficiency retrofits to the Civic Center. NorthWestern Energy is providing rebates for the retrofits in the amount of $41,783. The purpose of the Livingston Civic Center Energy Retrofits Project is to reduce energy consumption in the City-owned Civic Center and to create and sustain jobs in Montana.  The City of Livingston proposes to make the following modifications to the building which will result in energy savings that pay for the project over a period not longer than 15 years: installation of insulation and a thermal barrier to the walls, roof, rim joists and attics; installation of insulated commercial overhead doors and openers for the shop; furring out of the shop and office walls with 2x4 framing and addition of drywall, tape, texture, and paint over the insulation; replacement of all 35 single pane windows with double pane Low-E insulated glass windows; and, replacement of existing lighting controls with high efficiency lighting and occupancy sensor controls.  The City of Livingston would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to possible renters. Once the updates are completed the Civic Center will be open and available for rentals of all types.

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PRESS RELEASE
August 4, 2010
1 PM 

FEMA to hold Public Meeting regarding Preliminary Map process for new Flood Maps in Livingston & Park County. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in cooperation with the City of Livingston, Park County Commission, and State of Montana DNRC, will hold a public meeting on August 12, 2010, 7:00 PM, at the Livingston Civic Center. The purpose of this meeting is to explain the results of recent flood study/map efforts, and answer questions regarding the Preliminary Map Approval process; as well potential impacts on affected residences and businesses. 

The public meeting will be conducted in a ‘Drop-In” format with maps and studies on display, and organizational representatives available to answer questions, discuss issues, and take comments related to the preliminary map approval process. Likewise, copies of the currently proposed flood study maps are on display in the City-County Building, 414 E. Callender Street.

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PRESS RELEASE
April 9, 2010
10 AM

5th Street Intersection to be closed on April 13, 2010 – All Day

The City of Livingston has received notice that Montana Rail Link will close the 5th Street Intersection/Crossing ALL day, on April 13, 2010. This closing is necessary in order to replace several defective rails within the crossing apparatus. Citizens are advised to adjust their travel plans accordingly.

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  PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2010
9:00 AM

2010 State of City/Schools/County Event

The City of Livingston, Livingston School District, and Park County Commission will host the 2010 State of the City/Schools/County' event, Monday, January 25, 6:30 PM, at the City-County Complex. The annual State of' event is an excellent opportunity for citizens to engage policy makers in a discussion of the challenges and opportunities that these institutions faced in 2009 – and what lies ahead for 2010. "Last year, as the inaugural event, we had a lot of opportunity for open discussion; that type of exchange is important to developing effective public policy in our community," commented City Manager Ed Meece.

The session will start with brief, prepared, comments from Superintendent Hannibal Anderson, Park County Commissioner Marty Malone, and City Manager Ed Meece. Following these presentations, the public is invited to participate in an open question/answer session. There will also be an opportunity for individual conversation during an informal reception to follow the session. Stephen Matlow, Managing Editor, Livingston Enterprise, will serve as the moderator for the evening.

For more information contact Ed Meece, City Manager, 406-223-7422

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City of Livingston puts new cardboard compactor' into operation at municipal transfer station.
 
The City of Livingston has started operation of a new Cardboard Compactor', at the municipal transfer station on Bennett Street; as part of its continuing enhancement of local recycling opportunities. Purchased in the FY 2010 annual budget - for approximately $20,000 - the new compactor allows the public to dispose of, and compact, their cardboard materials.

In the fall of 2008, the City of Livingston notified local businesses of its intention to stop picking up commercial cardboard bins in October of 2009. Instead, the COL purchased the cardboard compactor, and businesses/residents can either transport the cardboard to Bennett Street OR hire a private firm to haul away their cardboard. This operational change creates significant savings for the City of Livingston (and its solid waste customers), by eliminating the human/equipment resources necessary for cardboard pickup and transportation to disposal vendors. A private firm removes the compacted cardboard, in return for the value of the cardboard that is sold.
The new Cardboard Compactor is open for public use during business hours for the transfer station (TUESDAY/THURSDAY, 1:00 PM TO 4:30 PM; SATURDAY 9:30 AM to NOON and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM), and is designed for very safe self-operation. If desired, the public may request that transfer station staff give an orientation to the compactor's proper operation.
Contact: Ed Meece, City Manager, 406-223-7422

Media Contact:

406-823-6000

Ed Meece, City Manager