golf course expenses from page 5
Over the years, property owners and the city have debated who was responsible for what level of maintenance, repair and snow removal, in discussions that typically ended in a stalemate. Meece, along with commissioners Carolyn Pardini and Brodie Moll, have been meeting with landowners over the past year. Their efforts culminated in the agreement to classify JB Drive as a city street and establish policy for its upkeep. Accompanying the draft resolution was a non-binding petition in its favor, signed by 18 property owners. Both commissioners Moll and Pardini praised Meece for his leadership in resolving the longstanding conundrum. In other business: • The commission supported a contract between the city and the Department of Health and Human Services that will help low-income residents pay their water bills. The Low Income Water Assistance Program is in effect Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2023. More information is available at City Hall or online at dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance/. • The commission rejected a proposed ordinance to standardize procedures for filling a vacancy on the commission. The language, authored by city attorney Skylar Bagley, called for a “secret ballot” cast by each member with the mayor voting only to break a tie. A few commissioners objected to a secret ballot. “The public should know who I voted for,” said Pardini. Mayor Paul Briney worried that if only three of the six commissioners were present, a vacancy could be filled with just two votes if the mayor was only allowed to break ties. “The city charter and Montana code are silent on the exact procedure for filling a vacancy,” Meece said. “That’s what we’re trying to get to with this ordinance.” The ordinance was voted down, with the understanding that the measure would be rewritten and returned to the commission for its consideration. • Commissioners officially approved emergency construction of a connecting line between well no. 8 and the existing system. Construction of the line began during last summer’s drought, which led the city to declare a water emergency and limit water usage. While the state gave emergency clearance for the project, the commission’s approval was required to allow the city to exceed the $80,000 cap imposed on projects that aren’t formally released for bid. Meece told commissioners that the current project cost is around $90,000 and said the well would be hooked up next spring.
vj
6 - November 24, 2021
Schedule, design plans for Hwy. 93 expansion shared by Summer Goddard / Valley Journal
RONAN — Design plans and a preliminary construction schedule to widen U.S. Hwy. 93 from two to four lanes north of Ronan were shared last week during two virtual open houses held via Zoom. A team of engineers and officials with the Montana Department of Transportation and KLJ Engineering provided project updates to the public Nov. 15 and 16. Originally called the Ninepipes Ronan project – part of the larger U.S. 93 corridor expansion from Missoula to Polson – the complex project, which involves a couplet through town, has since been separated into smaller pieces. The Ronan-North U.S. Hwy. 93 project, involving the stretch of highway from Lake’s corner north of Ronan to the stoplight at Round Butte Road, is the first piece to be completed. The reconstruction area will widen the highway from two to four lanes and includes the initial portion of the couplet for the southbound lane, which until the Ronan-Urban project is started, will serve as a turning lane for Round Butte Road. The couplet will begin just after Pizza Café and continues south through the former Boys and Girls Club location, entering Round Butte Road where Tribal Health offices are currently located. The project includes a new traffic light at Old U.S. 93 and Third Avenue, the permanent closure of Spring Creek Road at U.S. 93 and a new shared use path that will connect Round Butte Road to the existing path that runs adjacent to the highway north of Ronan to Pablo. During construction, traffic Valley Journal
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF KLJ ENGINEERING
will be routed over paved surfaces as much as possible said Bob Vosen with the Montana Department of Transportation. Questions from the public concerned access to businesses during construction as well as safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Responses were that all accesses to businesses will be maintained during construction and new pedestrian features for improved safety are part of design plans. The walking path will cross the highway at the new light signal at Old U.S. 93 and Third Avenue and continue alongside the northbound traffic
lane into Ronan. The Ronan-North project is still in its design process as right of way acquisitions are made and utilities are relocated. Engineers anticipate awarding the construction contract in spring / summer 2022 with construction possible by summer / fall 2022. Project construction will shut down for the winter of 2022 / 2023 and resume during the spring / fall of 2023 until complete. Presenters noted the estimated schedule is subject to change and to check the website for updates: https:// mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/ronanurban
