Leader news briefs

Jan. 29,2009

MVA fundraising plans discussed

At Monday night’s Mission Valley Aquatic meeting, budgets were approved and plans to begin the 2009 capital campaign were announced.

The non-profit organization raised $62,050 in 2008 and plans to raise $1.85 million in 2009. A total of $7.4 million is needed to begin construction of the recreational center. The grassroots organization needs an additional $5.4 million to meet its mark. The mill levy passed in January 2008, which will cover the operation and maintenance of the facility after the Recreation District assumes facility responsibilities, will begin when construction of the facility begins.

The organization has a meeting with the Murdock Foundation in March, and expects to gather funds from grant applications that have been submitted - with the help of the new campaign counsel hiree Kim McKelvey who has extensive experience in philanthropy. The Barnowsky Estate Donation of $27,335.72 and Kim McClain’s donation of $478 were also noted during the meeting and donors thanked. Sharon Murphy was approved for hire as an office assistant and the board discussed adding a cafe into the facility and will bring the plan to the building committee for further development.

-Reporter Erin Scott

Ronan City Council update

A letter of support for a new duplex project in town and approval of an open container permit for this weekend’s Firemen’s Banquet were both approved by the Ronan City Council at the Monday, Jan. 26 meeting.

Jan Niemeyer with the Ronan Housing Authority was requesting a letter of support for an application that requests funding aid from the Department of Commerce to help construct the proposed duplex development at 405 Second Avenue.

The council passed a motion by a vote of 4-1 to approve the letter of support for the construction of the duplex, with an amount in lieu of taxes to be included and determined at a later time.

The council also unanimously approved an open container permit for the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department’s Firemen’s Banquet this Saturday night at the community center.

Other issues discussed included an open spot on the Ronan Police Commission.

Assistant Ronan Police Chief Art Walgren also requested that city employees in his department be able to do payroll deductions for their dues to the new Ronan Police Association, which went into effect this month.

The department would like to begin deducting the dues on a monthly basis in February or March to go to the not for profit (501c5) organization that looks to find exclusive deals for the officers on life insurance and healthcare needs such as vision and dental. The group would also do fundraising to buy new equipment for the department that the city budget can not afford at this time.

The logistics of how the association dues deductions would be handled is still being finalized.

-Reporter Ty Hampton

Polson City Council update

Lois Hart asked for the council’s involvement in and support of the 2010 commemoration of tribal and non-tribal life in 1910, at the Jan. 21 Polson City Council meeting. Hart announced that the tribal council has agreed to partner with The Polson Flathead Historical Museum in the historic project.

“It’s a rich and important opportunity for us,” she said of the process of sharing stories, reminiscing about the past and fostering honor and respect for others.

She suggested the council come up with a plan for their involvement in the commemoration, which would look at the lives of early settlers and natives in the county 100 years ago. She said some ideas the council could entertain and further develop may be looking at the governments of that time and the policies and procedures they were facing, or creating a historical map of the city during that period.

“Do whatever you think would be of value and interest in the city of Polson,” she said, adding that she would like to know their intentions by mid-March.

“I think you’ve got a good thing going,” said council member Bruce Agrella. “Maybe we can do something.”

Mayor Lou Marchello said he is excited about the commemoration.

The council voted to unanimously approve the expenditure of CTEP funds in support of the Main Street sidewalk project.

The purchase of two 2009 Chevy Impalas, through Glacier Bank, for the police department unanimously carried with semi-annual payments of $11,000 plus interest, on each car.

-Reporter Erin Scott

Speech and drama heads to state

Ronan hosted the Northwestern Class-A Divisional Speech and Debate Tournament on Jan. 24 with 130 competitors from Libby, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Bigfork and Ronan competing in four preliminary and a final round for the opportunity to advance to the state tournament in Butte on Friday and Saturday. Polson captured the divisional drama championship and is sending 28 students from the team to state.

Ronan’s Danny Beavers took first place overall in the pantomime category and will join 11 other students from the Ronan team at state.

-Reporter Ty Hampton

Arlee discusses growing community

The Arlee Community Development Corporation is looking to expand the Jocko Valley as an arts and culture destination for tourism, as noted at the last board meeting, Jan. 12.

The board voted to proceed in applying to the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund, for a Category II Planning Grant of $25,000 to further advance this vision. At least $8,250 of funds for the project would be needed from the community, but $10,000 is preferred.

The board announced that it is looking at landscaping and irrigation of foliage installed after the highway expansion. Board president Donna Mollica said an agronomist from Helena reviewed potential landscaping plans and offered his insights as to what types of trees to plant, and where to plant them. On Jan. 14, a meeting was held with Montana Department of Transportation representatives and an CSKT engineer at the Hangin’ Art Gallery to further discussions and reach an agreement about how to proceed with the planting.

Funding and possible grants used to make the bridge north of Arlee and the pedestrian crossing bridge safer are being investigated, and construction on the bridges will not begin until the highway construction is complete. Doug Moeller said the temporarily reduced speed limit south of town - due to road construction - may become permanent. He also said traffic assessments are underway.

A proposal to the National Parks Service is being drafted and will be submitted by August for planning assistance in the planning of trails from Evaro to Ravalli, as reported at the board meeting.

Other announcements: the proceeds from the upcoming Chocolate Lover’s Festival at The Hangin’ Art Gallery on Feb. 12, will be donated to area youth programs; the library needs more volunteers; and future Arlee CDC meetings will be held on at 10 a.m. on the third Saturdays of each month at The Hangin’ Art Gallery.

-Reporter Erin Scott

Polson superintendent choice OKs contract

Polson School Board Trustee Chairman Mark Russell said he received an e-mail this past Friday stating that David Whitesell, the superintendnet candidate chosen by the board n January, has agreed to and signed his contract.

On Monday, Russell was waiting for the contract to arrive. Russell’s signature would finalize the agreement.

Russell said Whitesell will finish his tenure as superintendent of the schools in Twin Bridges and be in Polson in mid-June. Russell said.

-Reporter Jenna Cederberg