Time Capsule: Ronan Water rates, Annexation, economic growth

The Ronan Pioneer, March 10, 1988

Water rates to go up, hearing set March 28

With hope that local citizens will keep an eye on the benefits and not the increased water costs, Ronan city councilmen Monday set March 28 for a public hearing on new water rates that will be implemented to handle costs associated with the city's new water system.

The new system, scheduled to be under construction by this summer, will be funded by a St. 1 milion loan and an $800,000 grant from the Farm Home Administration. It will include the installation of a new ozone water treatment system, the replacement of the main line from Crow Creek to the city, the building of a 750,000-gallon water tank and the replacement of 60 percent of the distribution mains under the city's streets.

The new rates will become effective Jan. 1, 1989. The hearing will be 7 p.m. in the Ronan Community Center.

The new rates are designed to pick up the cost of retiring the 40-year FmHA note, estimated at $66,000 a year, and additional operations costs, to include a federal requirement that $6,600 be placed in reserve each year for the first 10 years of the loan and the hiring of a part-time meter reader. The new water system will require that all users be metered … 

Annexation, HUD agreement on agenda

Annexation, new talks with the Salish Kootenai Housing Authority on Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreements, and permission for a special sales trailer were all approved by the Ronan City Council Monday.

The council also set a hearing date for new water rates to cover costs of its new water system. 

The city passed a resolution of intent to annex 7.8 acres of land north of the city at the junction of U.S. 93 and Airport Road. Tom Walchuk plans to develop a recreational vehicle park on the property, which will include the construction of a central building to house an office, bathrooms and laundry.

A public hearing on the annexation will be held 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 21, during the council's regularly scheduled meeting. Unless city residents raise serious objections to the annexation, the council is expected to formally approve the annexation at that time.

The council also agreed to approach the Salish Kootenai Housing Authority to work out a new agreement on Payment in Lieu of Taxes … 

Certification: Polson - Ronan businesses join efforts for economic growth 

A spirit of cooperation is being fostered between business planners in Ronan and Polson.

It's designed to get these old-time rivals to restrict the most bitter contests to the athletic fields and work together when it comes to attracting the kind of developments that will benefit all communities in Lake County.

That spirit of cooperation is coming through a shared effort in the drive for the two towns to be included in the Montana Certified Cities project.

"It's time we realized that we depend on the same market area and that what's good for one town is good for us all," Dick Wollin, a member of the Polson certified cities committee, told a recent meeting of the Ronan Chamber of Commerce.

And Jay Preston Jr., part of the Ronan certified cities effort, agreed, saying that much of the data each town is collecting in the certified cities effort could be shared, saving time and expense and providing more complete data for both communities.

St. Ignatius has also announced that it will take steps to enroll itself in the program. 

The Ronan Certified Cities project has enlisted the support of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes …