Commission holds budget vote until next meeting
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POLSON — City commissioners tabled the 58-page preliminary budget for the City of Polson at their meeting on Sept. 3. They will vote on the budget at their next meeting Sept. 17.
Mayor Pat DeVries asked commissioners to let City Manager Todd Crossett know what parts of the budget they wanted to look at before the meeting.
Commissioners approved Resolutions 1031 and 1032. Resolution 1031 revised Resolution 1021 regarding city spending policy.
Resolution 1032 established a capital improvement fund consisting of a five-year plan and providing policy for implementation.
The commissioner will need to review the plan each year by the end of May, and it will be a rolling plan with the funds continuing on to the next year.
Examples of uses for this CIP would be building a reserve for the fire department to replace equipment and for the police department to replace cars.
Matt Seeley, organizer and competitor in the Polson Triathlon, thanked the commissioners, city and county law enforcement, the city park and street departments, the businesses and individuals who gave cash and in-kind donations and the over 100 volunteers.
“I was overwhelmed by how much a community effort the triathlon was and how the community came together,” Seeley commented.
He said racers liked the event and the venue, and he hopes the number of contestants will double at next year’s triathlon, scheduled for Aug. 17. The triathlon benefited Mission Valley Aquatics.
To help out the MVA, the commissioners voted to donate a season golf pass to the MVA auction.
During city manager comments, Crossett reported that the Polson Volunteer Fire Department has been busy, with firefighters putting in a lot of time. They’ve responded to a couple of fires spreading out of burn barrels, which are discouraged. They are also doing a membership drive.
The Skyline Project is going full blast, Crossett said, and reminded every one that after construction halts for cold weather, traffic will return to two-way. The city has a right-of-way from Claffey Drive to J.B. Drive, and they plan to grade and compact it to provide a pedestrian trail to get over to the bike trail.
Crossett and the city are working with Lake County Commissioners and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to complete the portion of the pedestrian path on the south side of Commerce Drive and connect to the Carol Sampson Sherick Trail. This was part of the TIGR grant package, but proved to be cost prohibitive and was dropped.
Polson Parks Department will be revamping the Boettcher Park Playground, using $25,000 donated by the Paul McCann Foundation, next week.
Mayor DeVries and Crossett met with the Mission Valley Cruisers to discuss Cruisen’ By the Bay and some bumps in the road at this year’s car show. It is a great event for Polson, but the Cruisers are looking for volunteers to help out next year, Crossett said.
The city compiled warranty issues on Main Street and will walk through the area this week with the contractor.
Polson won a two-year, $100,000 Orton Family Foundation Heart and Soul grant to help Polson citizens. imagine and achieve a better future. The Heart and Soul advisory committee has a full docket of community events scheduled for the next few months, according to Crossett, but they are still looking for diverse representatives to serve on the team.
With no public comment on significant matters to the public not on the agenda, Mayor DeVries adjourned the meeting at 8 p.m.
