Ronan council discusses service rooster and subdivision

Ronan resident Kandi Holt approached the Ronan City Council last Wednesday regarding permission to keep her “support rooster.”

Holt is raising her niece’s two children, and the rooster and a few other chickens are a project to help the kids learn to care for animals and gather eggs (from the chickens not the rooster).

“The kids love the rooster, and he helps with trauma and calming them,” Holt said.

The City, however, has fielded complaints about the rooster, and Ronan has an ordinance allowing chickens but prohibiting roosters.

Ronan city attorney Ben Anciaux referenced the chicken ordinance and a certificate Holt applied for online for support animals. Anciaux said the certificate did not meet statutory requirements, which indicate a doctor must certify the animal.

“Basically, you can appeal to the city council for a variance,” Anciaux told Holt. “… Even if you get (the rooster) qualified, that (variance) doesn’t exempt you from the noise ordinance.”

Anciaux said he’d email Holt information regarding the issue which she "can look at and see what she can do.” The issue will be continued until the next council meeting.

SID discussed for new subdivision

Dan Miller, Ronan’s director of public works, broached the subject of subdividing the city’s gravel pit, located west of town, and selling portions the city doesn’t use.

Miller said Mark Carstens offered to do the subdivision review for a discounted fee and a letter from the council regarding his donation.

"I’m not asking for a vote, just questions,” Miller said. He added that council members wanting to view the property could get a tour with him by setting up a daytime appointment.

Questions from the council included costs, which Miller said would be covered by proceeds from the sale of a portion of the property, and issues with the firing range, which Miller noted had been moved to the bottom of the pit and is used only by law enforcement officers.

Miller brought up Mark Drinkwater’s 212-lot subdivision, which received preliminary approval last year, and noted that the council had agreed to consider a special improvement district.

Drinkwater, present at the meeting, has hired attorney James Raymond to further a SID on the first phase of his subdivision, which is 59 lots.

“We wanted to kind of hear what you’d be looking for in a SID,” Drinkwater said, saying they are about to submit the phase-one subdivision plan to the Department of Environmental Quality and plan to get it in by the end of December.

“We’re hoping to get a SID for $4.5 million with the longest payback, probably 20 years,” he said.

As far as a time frame, Drinkwater hopes to get approval from the DEQ by spring, after the department replies with their catalog of changes

Raymond explained the underlying notion on SIDs is that the property owners fund infrastructure development. If the city approves a SID, the city will borrow the money from a community lender.

Banks like the security of SIDs because they’re secured by taxes, “and taxes get paid,” Raymond said. The whole system allows the city to borrow and get repaid from the new tax parcels.

The owners of the 59 parcels will have to pay the $4.5 million over 20 years, “just like a car loan, only longer lasting," according to Raymond.

He also briefly touched on bonds. A bond council would need to be hired. Both SIDs and bonds pay off the same way, and the lots provide the security for either. If the interest rates are closer, it’s easier to go with a SID, he said.

Drinkwater suggested that the city have someone contact local banks to see what is required.

“If the bank will give them (the city) a rate, we hope we get the same rate the bank gives,” Drinkwater added, because in the end the city gets roads, etc.

Anciaux suggested that administrative costs be included, since more work will be required from city clerks.

“Please go easy on the administrative fees,” Drinkwater said. “We’re all in this together.”

Carsten spoke up, saying this is basically a preliminary meeting.

"If you have thoughts, please let us know about them,” he added. “We’ve got to start someplace. Next time we’ll bring our engineer."

Council member Lindsay Myers offered to talk to local banks. The council will send the issue to its SID committee, which will look at the project more thoroughly and report back to the entire council.

Speeding up grant applications

Jennifer Ruggless from the Mission West Community Development Partners approached the council regarding a committee to “fast track” grant applications. After discussion, council members agreed they would rather deal directly with MWCDP staff than have a sub-committee meet and then report back to the entire council.

Both the council and Ruggless will continue brainstorming for a quicker solution.

During council member comments, Ryan Corum said he’s writing grants for the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department. He just received a grant for a thermal imaging drone and previously for new breathing apparatus for firefighters.

He’s now at work on a $600,000 grant and said he would appreciate positive vibes.

Community updates

Miller had updates for the council:

• Tribal Housing received a grant for supportive housing which is planned for the property at the end of 6th and 7th Ave. NW on the former Fangsrud property. Miller will schedule a public hearing for this project.

Also, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will build a space for Tribal Roads and Engineering west of the Ronan Boys and Girls Club.

• Work is ongoing on the CSKT meat-processing facility on Main Street SW and Mink Lane, right behind Western Building Center, according to Miller, who said he’s working with the engineers.

• The Council on Aging transportation center is in the dirt-work phase, Miller said. The new facility is located across Hwy. 93 from Ronan Town Pump.

• A culvert is plugged up from Main Street E. on Hwy. 93 all the way to 1st Avenue, where it comes out of the Ronan Park. Miller said a plan is in place with the Montana Department of Transportation and the Tribes to get the water flowing again.

• Also, CHS Mountain View Cenex received their permit from the Montana Department of Transportation to install the approach to their new truck fuel island, an area that will be easier for bigger trucks to maneuver in and out of, with less congestion in the regular fuel pumps. They are still hoping to pave the area this fall.

• Mayor Chris Adler will need to sign the paperwork for the Ronan Police Department’s new digs, and then they're set to move in, according to Police Chief Rob Jacobson.

• Finally, since the next meeting should have been Nov. 28, but that’s the day “everybody scrubs their turkey and bakes their toilet,” according to Council person Julie Moore, the meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 27.