Water loss, tourism and a new Christmas tree among agenda items at busy council meeting

The October Plains Council meeting was well attended with several important issues being considered.

Treasurer and payroll reports were approved, and the judge’s report was read.

Mayor Chris Allen’s report started out with a discussion about the success of the Plains fall cleanup day. Councilman Garrett Boon, who oversaw the cleanup day, said that around 22 volunteers assisted. While most of the planned projects were completed, several others were not due to time restraints, complexity of the projects and available workers.

Allen discussed the larger-than-normal water loss within the town water system during September. He attributed the 31% loss to three large water line breaks during the month.

Pickleball president Shauna Firestone stepped up to the podium to discuss her decision to not build pickleball courts at the town’s pool park. The group will start looking for another location to build.

Allen next reported on the progress of the water main and service lines being rerouted and replaced near the Town Pump. The $400,000 project is mostly being funded by grant money.

Next on the mayor agenda was the water drainage problems around the old jail. Currently, ground water is flowing into the old jail and surrounding properties. Remediation of the problem may require the town to purchase a small piece of property.

The last item in the mayor’s report was a request from the Lions Club to plant a Christmas tree on the greenway. The Council approved the request, with the location of the tree to be discussed at a later date.

Several items that have been carried over from previous council meetings were discussed. The parking ordinance was tabled again. Two possible grant proposals for acquiring new trees were considered. A grant request to the Arbor Day Foundation required too many restrictions to be considered. The Urban Forestry Grant money will still be pursued.

The second reading of the amended Decay Ordinance was read and approved by the council and will take effect in 30 days.

Under new business, Larry Neilson, maintenance officer for the Plains Community Ambulance, spoke to the council about the need to acquire a new ambulance. He said they have had a series of mechanical issues with four of their ambulances. Neilson said his inquiry was informational only, to find out ways to fund the purchase of a new vehicle, with a price tag approaching $300,000. Currently, the ambulance service has 22 volunteers with only six or eight working on a regular basis.

Plains Librarian Cindy Thomas spoke about the increasing number of tourists stopping at the town library asking for information about services in the area. Thomas has contacted Glacier Country Tourism, which offers grants to help set up visitor information centers in communities around Montana. The grant money would help acquire visitor information ahead signs, brochure racks and brochures. The brochures are paid for by businesses that place the ads in local racks. The racks would be placed in the Plains public library, with the visitor information ahead signs being erected on town property if possible. The council voted to proceed with the project.

With only one candidate, Joel Banham, running for mayor during this election, the council decided that ballots will not be sent out. This will save the town approximately $5,000. The last election ballot mailing saw only 40% participation.

The council had a long discussion on mask mandates and was centered around the freedom of personal choice to wear masks if required by other government agencies. Council members couldn’t come up with appropriate wording for a proposal and it was tabled for further discussion later.

The town of Plains is having a surplus property sale. Items for sale can be found on the town’s Facebook page, Town of Plains Government. Sealed bids will be accepted at the town office during the fourteen days the six items are being offered. Contact the town office for further information.