Ronan City Council members sworn in for next year
Karen Peterson
Julie Lynn Moore, Ellen Kaphammer and Cal Hardy take their seats on the Ronan City Council in January.
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RONAN – During the last Ronan City Council meeting three board members were sworn into office, but they don’t officially take those positions until January.
Only one is a new member. Serving for her first time, Julie Lynn Moore will replace council member Robert McCrea. Incumbent Ellen Kaphammer was re-elected. With an opening in Ward Two but no candidate in the November election, Cal Hardy earned the top write-in vote with eight and agreed to continue serving on the council.
Public Works Director Dan Miller reported to the council that a broken water pipe was fixed. It broke at around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29 on Main Street SE and Third Avenue SW.
“A police officer saw water bubbling out of the ground,” he said. “A hole was dug to repair it and water shot into the air.”
He said the broken pipe was probably put in some time in the 1930s, and to repair it, water to many homes needed to be turned off.
“We shut three valves off,” he said. “The hospital and school called wanting to know why the water was off. We got a pump truck to come in from Missoula to pump out the water so we could get it fixed.”
Miller also reported that the Friends of the Fairgrounds want to fix up a building at the fairgrounds with insulation to make it more comfortable for indoor recreation. It was noted that baseball teams use the building for pitching practice. The board elected to waive the building permit fee on the project.
The path extension on the city park near the police station is finished. State inspectors have approved the project and the board authorized project payment. Miller said money was left over from the project and that it could be used to add more lighting.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, it was asked why the city hadn’t painted center street lines on Main Street. It was explained that the city doesn’t have enough money for paint at this time. Mayor Kim Aipperspach said that the council would try to find funding in next year’s budget.
Mayor Aipperspach noted that past council member Dick Silberman died recently, and he recognized the work Silberman did on the council.
“He was a fine and outstanding person,” he said.
