Work continues on Ronan lift station

RONAN — The Ronan City Council received an update on the Spring Creek Lift Station project during Monday’s meeting.

Shari Johnson, city engineer, was on hand to discuss the progression of the project. She said it has moved along well, and should be complete by mid-March.

“It’s been a long time coming but once it started, its been go, go, go,” Johnson said.

She mentioned there were some change orders made as different situations arose.

The project will cost more, but the stimulus money the city received should cover the difference. Some of the changes included better pumps, an epoxy seal in the wet well and mounts for a standing crane.

Frank Delgado attended on behalf of the Ronan Library Board and nominated Bill Bjarko for an open seat on the board. The council approved Bjarko as a new library board member.

The council began discussion on creating a marijuana moratorium or zoning laws in the city. They decided to table the discussion after advertising it in the paper.

The council has looked at other cities, like Billings, for reference.

After the meeting, a public hearing was held at 7 p.m. to discuss the city’s storm water.

The city began collecting storm water utility fees in November 2009, and engineers Shari Johnson and Collette Anderson presented different ways the city could utilize that money and improve the city’s storm water disposal methods.

Johnson urged the council to create a master plan that would dissect the city into zones so they can work on improving the system in an organized manner.

A second public hearing on storm water will be held at the end of March to further discuss the possible plans.

The council will next meet on March 8.