MREC flip-flop: County makes counter-offer

Meetings between the Lake County Commissioners and the Ronan Pioneer Days Committee concerning the Mission Recreation Event Center property in Ronan are not unusual. 

But on Monday, there was some movement.

The goal of the meeting, held at the commissioners’ chambers in Polson, was to take action on a letter of intent and buy/sell agreement submitted by the City of Ronan to purchase Lake County’s portion of the MREC property for Pioneer Days.

Lake County Commission Chair Gale Decker launched the meeting by asking each commissioner to explain his position on the proposal. 

“I think the idea of putting the properties together under one ownership is a good idea,” he said. “We have 20 years of showing nothing has happened.”

He added that he would prefer the property be under Lake County ownership in an agreement similar to the arrangement between the county and Polson Fairgrounds Incorporated. The county owns the property, and PFI leases it, with the stipulation that the non-profit commit to $10,000 annually in improvements, which can include labor. 

“I would like to see the county buy out the city … Maybe there could be a trade there somewhere,” he suggested.

Then the county could lease out 10 acres or so to Pioneer Days –  whatever they needed for a rodeo arena. 

“I want to see it developed, but I want to see a place where we can go to get some money to develop it,” he added.

Commissioner Steve Stanley said he’d like to keep seven acres in the northwest corner and sell the rest to the city. 

“But I will agree with Gale to buying the city’s portion out with a guarantee that 10 acres will be leased to Pioneer Days,” Stanley said.  

Commissioner Bill Barron agreed with the buy-and-lease-back proposal. “I think it’s better to be under one ownership, too, then things can be done. I”d like it to be the county’s. Even inside the cities, things come up the county needs land for,” he said. 

Mike Bartel, representing Pioneer Days, told the commissioners that 10 acres on the southside of the MREC parcel would probably be enough for a rodeo arena.

He added the organizers are optimistic about holding Pioneer Days at the MREC property this year. He said M5 Livestock, which supplies the stock, said they have chutes “and enough other stuff to put up an arena.” 

Pioneer Days bought some bleachers several years ago to seat 2,000 people. For other spectators,“We’ll call it the bring-your-lawn-chair rodeo,” he said. ”We’re making a start.”

Ronan Mayor Chris Adler said he couldn’t speak for the city council, but said the plan could be discussed at the next council meeting on April 24.

Bartel was asked if it made any difference to Pioneer Days if Lake County or Ronan owned the property. 

Bartel answered that “just from what I’ve gotten, Pioneer Days felt like they got stepped on when there were improvements done to the current fairgrounds. Pioneer Days did put a lot of money into those fairgrounds without people knowing for years and years.” 

Then, when decisions were made to renovate the facility, the group was excluded from the planning process, according to Bartel.

He noted that an agreement between city and county for a land swap instead of a sale would be a big plus for Pioneer Days. 

One option mentioned by the commissioners was to potentially trade a portion of the former George’s Conoco property, now owned by the county, to the city for use as a firehall. In exchange, the city could sign over their portion of MREC. 

According to Bartel, a trade would free up approximately $82,000 Pioneer Days had set aside to spend on property for infrastructure. 

“Our biggest concern is that we don’t get 10 years down the road and then all of a sudden get left out of the talks again. We enjoy putting this event on,” Bartel said. 

Barron made a motion to not accept the buy/sell agreement as presented, and the motion passed unanimously. 

He made a second motion to make a counter offer to Ronan to purchase the city’s share of MREC with a guaranteed lease of no less than 10 acres to Pioneer Days.

Stanley amended the motion to include a stipulation that MREC be annexed by the City of Ronan and that the ag restriction be dropped from zoning requirements. The resolution passed unanimously. 

Other meetings will be held regarding a proposed land trade.