City commissioners approve city manager’s contract
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POLSON — Dampness from installation of the new heating and cooling system at Polson City Hall Commissioner’s Chambers caused the city commissioners to meet at the fairgrounds fire station for their May 16 meeting.
Even with a change in venue about 40 community members packed the meeting room to voice their opinion on the renewal of Polson city manager Todd Crossett’s contract. Most of the attendees were in favor of rehiring Crossett
Crossett would receive the same salary of $75,000, city attorney James Raymond explained. “The only thing Todd asked for was another week of vacation.”
Commissioner Elsa Duford disagreed with 25 days of vacation. She said city employees have to work 21 years to get 24 days vacation.
“… To me that was a positive,” commissioner John Campbell said of Crossett’s willingness to take less money in exchange for more time with his young family.
“I don’t know how Todd does it,” area businessman Paul London said. “He’s at early morning meetings, he’s at late afternoon meetings. He’s very, very approachable … he’s going to get us where we want to go.”
Resident Murat Kalinyaprat was not in favor of approving Crossett’s contract because he said Crossett brought a proposition to the city commissioners at the last meeting to buy a certain building for $200,000 or $300,000 more than it was worth. He commented that this one transaction could have cost the taxpayers a lot.
Commissioners eventually approved Crossett’s contract, and he received 25 days of vacation.
Crossett commented on the following issues:
• The mission statement workshop held before the meeting involved the commissioner, the mayor and all city department heads. The group is working on a vision statement for the city of Polson
• Three alignments for proposed routes for Hwy. 93. One is for Hwy. 93 to remain the same, although it will need to be widened at some point. The other two routes involve Claffey Drive, one going south to near the dog park and the other even further south.
• The Mission Valley Mariners and the Mission Valley Rockies came to an agreement about using O’Maley Field.
• City engineer Shari Johnson, Ron Melvin and City Water and Sewer superintendent Tony Porrazzo are working with Stelling Engineers, Inc., so Phase 1 of Skyline Drive can begin on July 1.
In other business, commissioners approved an open container waiver for the Flathead Cherry Festival. The festival plans a street dance on July 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. An open container waiver was also approved for the “Light Up the Town, Celebrate Our City Center” party on the evening of July 8.
A new restaurant, Pop’s Grill, received a right-of-way encroachment revocable permit so chairs and tables can be placed on the sidewalk at 212 Main Street, next to the Crow’s Nest Gallery.
Two other motions approved by the commissioners authorized Crossett to sign a Skyline utility infrastructure project memorandum of understanding and to contract with Alpine Landscaping for the Streetscape Project.
Crossett explained the MOU will allow the city to get the right utility infrastructure in now. Extending the stormwater pipes three more blocks beyond the end of the Skyline Project would allow water to flow into the larger water main instead of flooding basements.
When commissioner Mike Lies questioned why there was only one bid for downtown landscaping, Crossett said the landscaper had done the design work and had done extensive volunteering and donated work for the fundraising committee.
The next Polson City Commissioners meeting will be held June 6 at Polson City Hall.
