Ronan City Council delves into Pioneer Days/MREC lease

The Ronan City Council officially annexed the Mission Range Event Complex land during its regular meeting on Aug. 28, and approved a change of use for the property, located west of town on Mink Lane.

The council also approved a resolution to revoke the agricultural covenant on the land, after council member Julie Moore asked City Works Director Dan Miller to explain the proposal.

Miller said that since the property will be for public use, including a rodeo arena and other public events, Montana Code Annotated allows the ag restriction to be lifted. After receiving council approval last Wednesday, the final resolution will be filed with the Lake County Clerk and Recorder.

The council also discussed a proposed lease with Pioneer Days for the MREC acreage.

Ronan City Attorney Ben Anciaux said he had emailed a rough draft of a lease with a veto provision added for the City of Ronan to council members, along with an email from Corey Kamarainen, “who had some legitimate observations,” regarding a lease on the MREC property. Since some council members had not received the email, he promised to resend it.

Kamarainen's email expressed concerns about the Pioneer Days Company "being in good standing with the State of Montana," which he said would ensure they have a proper board that meets annually and pays their fair share of taxes; that they should post and hold open meetings; and should make an annual payment in lieu of taxes.

Mike Bartel, a member of Ronan Pioneer Days and proprietor of the 325 Bar, reminded the council  that Pioneer Days wants to lease the property and be in control of who is on the land. As for alcohol sales on the MREC property, Bartel said, “State laws could and should be followed.”

Anciaux said the only liquor license that will work at the MREC land is a catering license.

Bartel noted that bars that have a catering license will be able to sell alcohol on the MREC property if they are hired by an outside company to do so, but he also noted that non-profits can apply for a temporary permit to sell beer and wine.

Council member Lindsay Myers said she had spoken with other bar owners in town who had each expressed concerns that Bartel, who owns 325 Bar and Grill and is a Pioneer Days officer, might have an unfair advantage when it comes to liquor sales for events at the venue.

Basically “what it boils down to,” she said, “is that the bars want a fair shake.”

“Not by any stretch is it in Pioneer Days’ best interest to try and monopolize this thing,” Bartel said. “I mean the more people who rent it (the MREC), that’s more money to go into the infrastructure.”

 “The end result of all this is maybe we want to hold another meeting about the lease itself,” Anciaux said. “We’re not at this moment in time ready to vote on a lease,”

The issue was tabled until the next meeting on Sept. 11. The lease committee will meet before that time.

 After the MREC conversation, the council approved a resolution cancelling the election of members to the Local Government Study Commission. Although a plurality of Ronan voters approved the commission during the primary election, no candidates have applied to serve on it.

City Clerk Kaylene Melton was quick to point out there would still be a study commission, but since no one has filed to run for the three positions the resolution means the city won’t have to conduct or pay for an election. However, they will need to appoint people to the commission.     

The council moved on to consider the 2024-25 budget and approved the mill levy calculation and wages for the 2024-25 fiscal year.