Ronan City Council hears Pioneer Days Company plans

Members of the Pioneer Days Company (PDC) came to Ronan City Council’s meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 23, to discuss their possible lease of Mission Range Events Complex land. Representatives of the PDC also planned to meet with the Lake County Commissioners on Monday, Aug. 28, about the project.

PDC member Mike Bartel discussed the 33-acre MREC property, which was purchased by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the City of Ronan, and Lake County. Pioneer Days fronted the money for Ronan.

The plans were to use the land for recreation of all sorts – softball, baseball, an arena, concerts, and powwows. It was pretty much beyond the landowners' budgets, so it has never been developed. The Tribes have their half, and the city and county have half, divvied up with two-thirds belonging to the county and one-third to the city.

Pioneer Days has a deep interest in that property, according to Bartel.

“Where Pioneer Days is right now, we would like a lease on your property. We will ask the County Commissioners for the same thing. We would like to have an extended lease – not just a couple of years. We do have some money, and we want to put it on the infrastructure,” he told the council.

The sticking point is that there is an ag restriction on the property, which has stalled negotiations in the past.

“I want to make it very clear that we do not want to control this land by any stretch,” he said. “We welcome everybody in this community, no matter what you do – if you're 4-H, FFA, baseball, the fair – if you’re whoever, come work with us. We do not want to take control of this 33 acres.”

“We’re asking your feelings on giving us a lease on your portion of it,” Bartel added. “And then we’ll go ask the commissioners.”

“We’ll build a new arena, we own a set of grandstands already ... We have an avenue with some great arena builders to come in to help,” Bartel said.

Dan James and Rob McGreevey also spoke to council members about financial assistance to improve the lagoon softball field dugouts and facilities. James, president of the Ronan/Pablo Youth Softball Association, said the dugouts are very dilapidated. They’ve done upgrades on the fields, and Lake County is putting another entrance into the field for them. The community has been very helpful this year, James and McGreevey said.

James said upgrading the dugouts is something they’re determined to do for the safety of the kids. While cinder-block walls and concrete would be the most durable materials, McGreevey said the cost of the concrete is too high. Instead they’re planning on tearing everything out themselves and using metal that matches the other softball fields to replace it. The RPYSA is asking that improvements to the facility be placed in the city's budget so that some work can be done each year.

Council members advised the men to also talk to Mission West Community Development Partners and also with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Councilwoman Julie Moore asked about vandalism at the fields, but McGreevey said they haven’t had issues with vandals this year. City planner Dan Miller said the city has put up lights and locked the gates when no one’s there.

Steve and Deborah Miller approached the council regarding property they purchased on Ag Services Lane, which includes two houses. They plan to sell the house on the east end of the property, then remodel the other house, and build three-bedroom, two-bath spec houses, on the rest. The long side of the property fronts Round Butte Road. The property is slightly over four acres and the initial proposal shows 10 lots (two of which have houses on them).

The city planner explained to the Millers that the first step would be for them to petition to annex into the city, and apply for a subdivision permit before they present the project to the Lake County Planning Board. There would need to be a discussion about extending sewer service since Western Building Supply is at the end of the city’s sewer line, he said.

The council unanimously approved awarding the Ronan ARPA Water Project construction contract to Prospect Construction, the lowest bidder. Shari Johnson, Ronan City Engineer, spoke to the council about the prospect of the city needing a new well in the next 10 years.