By Michael Howell
After years of effort a formal agreement between the City of Hamilton and the non-profit organization Circle 13 Skate Park and the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority to create a skate park in Hamilton has been approved. The memorandum of understanding outlines the responsibilities of the various partners in the project.
City Attorney Karen Mahar told the Council that RCEDA, Circle 13 Skate Park and the Mayor and staff had reviewed the MOU and found it acceptable. She said that the next step would involve drafting an agreement with the Ravalli County Commissioners that would designate a portion of the fairgrounds to be used as a skatepark site.
Getting an agreement from the City to take responsibility for the park and finding a suitable location to construct the park have taken years to accomplish. Although fundraising efforts have been ongoing, a completed MOU will give those efforts a big boost. Getting a firm decision on a location will also help in the fundraising efforts and in applying for the grants that will be needed to help fund the construction.
Councilor Joe Petrusaitis said simply, “This has been thoroughly discussed over the past months and years.”
The Council passed a resolution amending Part II, Section 2 of the City Council Rules of Procedure to come into compliance with the state laws requiring that written minutes be kept for all committees. The new rule requires that committee minutes be approved within two meetings following the one in which the minutes were taken.
The employment status of Police Officer Clayton Moore was confirmed unanimously by the Council.
The council authorized four actions related to well improvements and the Wastewater Improvement Project, Phase 2. A $7,500 contract for designing and construction management services for the eight-inch bypass waterline on Montana Avenue was awarded to RAM Engineering. The Mayor was authorized to sign the funding agreement with DNRC for the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program for a $100,000 grant for the Well #5 Improvement Project and a $100,000 grant for Wastewater Improvement Project, Phase 2. The Mayor was also authorized to sign the funding agreement with the Treasure State Endowment Program for a $322,262 grant for the Wastewater Improvement Project, Phase 2.