Ronan City Council discussed giving Public Works Director Dan Miller authority to approve change orders on the water improvement project to keep work moving forward in a timely manner. The matter came up at the council’s regular meeting Nov. 8.

Change orders are required any time there is a change in time or price on a project. Discussion centered around the complexity of arranging emergency meetings, phone meetings, texts in order to contact commission members to approve the change orders. 

After much conversation and consultation with Ronan City Attorney Ben Anciaux, a plan was made to have a resolution on the next meeting’s agenda that would allow Miller to approve up to $5,000 worth of change orders, vetted by city engineer Shari Johnson.

Council members also voted unanimously to allow Mayor Chris Adler and City Clerk Kaylene Melton to submit two grant applications, one for a Montana Coal Endowment Program Infrastructure Planning Grant and another to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. 

The total amount applied for was $59,000. The funds will be used to update Ronan’s Professional Engineering Report (PER), which outlines updates needed for Ronan’s water supplies and systems, according to Miller. 

The council also approved the preliminary city budget so Melton can begin entering relevant information. 

The next Ronan City Council meeting was moved to Monday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.