Commission chooses Smith for Ward 1
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
POLSON —Todd Coutts, Lou Marchello and Don Smith submitted letters of interest in the Ward 1 City Commissioner vacancy. Polson City Commissioners voted at the meeting on Nov. 1 and unanimously for Don Smith. The unanimous vote followed two deadlocked votes.
Smith, 57, has lived in Polson all his life and been in business since 1978.
Polson City Treasurer Bonnie Manicke delivered Polson City Manager Todd Crossett’s city manager comments due to Crossett’s illness.
Manicke said the Streetscape Celebration will be held Nov. 5 from 5 until 8 p.m. with ribbon cutting by Mayor Pat DeVries at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited for food, entertainment and to sign up raffle prizes.
Stop signs are in place, and city personnel will be analyzing what will work best.
Polson Business Community President Ken Avison also extended an invitation to the commissioners and city employees.
As Manicke continued with Crossett’s notes she said the city’s reserve on June 30 was $400,000, not enough to carry the city through until December when taxes arrive. City employees and departments were urged to cut as many costs as possible to keep within the budget.
In other business, Charlene Lefthand, a speech- and mobility-impaired young woman, let the commissioners know about safety issues for handicapped people in the community, such as high curbs she couldn’t cross and handicap ramps in the middle of the block.
Mayor DeVries asked Lefthand and her mother Corrine Irvine to let the commissioners know how handicap accessible Main Street is after the Streetscape revamping.
Polson Police Chief Doug Chase and Assistant Chief John Stevens informed the commissioners the police department received a COPS grant, which would pay wages for a 13th officer for three years and then the Polson Police Department would need to pay the officer for the fourth year.
The Police Department must keep its numbers at 13 officers, and the officer hired under this grant cannot be hired into the department during the four-year span.
The commissioners tabled the item until Crossett could look at the issue.
Polson Redevelopment Agency committee member Jules Clavadetscher said the PRA ‘s recommendation was that Tax Increment Funds should be used to reduce the SID on Main Street.
The next city commission meeting will be held on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
