The Ronan City Council’s March 26 meeting began with Ronan Police Chief Rob Jacobson presenting Ronan Police Officer J. Gilliland a commendation issued by the Montana Public Safety Board Standards and Training Post Council for outstanding conduct and excellence in public safety.

The award stems from a minor crash Sept. 19, 2024, which Officer Gilliland responded to. He noticed the man whose motorcycle had been hit had collapsed and was unresponsive. The officer began CPR, coordinating bystanders to help, and continued CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived. 

“I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for this man standing here,” Kris McGoldrick said in thanking the officer. McGoldrick and his wife, Dell, were present at the meeting. After a round of applause for Gilliland and photos with the officer and his family, the council dealt with other business. 

Chuck Holman, chair of the Local Government Review Commission, reported that the group is required to have an ex officio member to advise the commission and to be a liaison with the Ronan City Council. The council unanimously passed a motion to elect member Larry Hall to serve in that capacity.

In further information from the government review commission, Holman noted that he, along with Niko Jackson, Rebecca Galiazzi and Todd McDonald are completing the training course supplied by Montana State University Extension. Council will also need to establish a budget for the review commission.

Holman added MSU Extension officials will hold a public meeting for the commission on April 15 at the community center so the public can learn about the commission’s voter-approved mission, which is to study Ronan’s city government, and share their opinions. 

The council approved: 

Resolution 20-25-04 adopting 2024 Montana Western Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. 

Resolution 20-25-05 supporting designation of a portion of Hwy. 93 in Lake County as Tech 4th Class Laverne Parrish U.S. Highway. 

Resolution 20-25-06 for the Environmental Justice for Thriving Communities grant making program. 

A public information meeting on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai supervised transitional housing apartment complex will be held at 6 p.m. April 14 at the Ronan Community Center. This meeting offers members of the community an opportunity to ask questions and comment on the project, which was approved five or six years ago.

In a plan suggested by Dan Miller, Ronan’s director of public works and council member Lindsey Myers, Sandy Wirz, a 30-year veteran with Ronan Pablo Youth Softball Association and her board will manage the softball complex. Ronan City Attorney Ben Anciaux will draft an agreement providing a baseline for RPYSA to use at the facility.

Area bankers Jamie Buhr, Valley Bank, and Brennan Grainey, Glacier Bank, will share information on Special Improvement Districts at the April 9 Ronan City Council meeting.

Council member Larry Hall reported on a Zoom meeting with Courtney Ellis, a bond counselor from Dorsey & Whitney LLP. Hall talked with Ellis regarding liabilities that will rest on the city with an SID. Hall said he wants Ronan to grow reasonably and correctly, and affordability is part of the equation.

Mayor Chris Adler counseled the group to listen to all the information, all sides of the story when the bankers come to educate council on SIDs. “Everybody gets a say,” Adler said. 

The next council meeting will be April 9.