Thompson Falls mayor resigns

by Shannon Brown

and Annie Wooden

Thompson Falls is once again searching for a mayor. Mayor Jerry Lacy submitted his letter of resignation last Thursday.

"Due to health concerns I am no longer able to continue with the duties of mayor of Thompson Falls," Lacy wrote in his resignation letter. "I apologize for any complications my leaving may cause." Lacy did not respond to a request for additional comment from The Ledger.

The city will now accept letters of interest from residents interested in filling the position.

At the October 9 council meeting, a Thompson Falls resident proposed Main Street parking changes to the Thompson Falls City Council. Joseph Altman, representing the Sunflower Gallery, proposed diagonal parking near the east ramp on Main Street. Altman's plan suggested building a concrete wall of 109 feet to accommodate approximately 17 parking spaces on the east side of the ramp and approximately 19 parking spaces on the west side of the ramp. Altman said the area is relatively flat with utilities in the area and the city would lose some of its sidewalks. It was put to a motion and passed that Mayor Jerry Lacy would reach out to the railroad to ascertain the possibility of putting in diagonal parking spaces on the east end of Main Street.

Gussie O'Connor from Gus Z Barber Shop proposed putting in automated speed detectors or flashing speed limit signs on both ends of the city limits. "People drive too fast through town," O'Connor said. She suggested a solar speed warning lighted sign that flashes the driver's speed to encourage them to slow down. Other ideas were discussed with Kayla Mosher suggesting that the purchasing of signs may fall under safety grants. The motion was passed for the mayor to check with the chief of police on the matter.

Mosher provided an update on the plan to install wayfinding signs throughout Thompson Falls. The signs would direct people to different landmarks, recreation sites, businesses and other services. The city has been awarded a grant through the Montana Department of Commerce Montana Main Street Program. Mosher, who works for Kaniksu Land Trust, is the grant writer and coordinator for the project. "The signs will direct people to places in Thompson Falls. The master plan is to improve Main Street," Mosher said. There will be matching logos to go on the signs to help people find the places they are looking for, she added.The project is in the planning stage. The council approved a draw of $16,000 from the grant for the first half of the project.

Mayor Lacy said that the county is interested in buying the asphalt that was removed from Main Street over the summer. "The materials were given to the city at no cost," he said. Council member Shawni Vaught said the going rate for asphalt is $9 to $10 a ton. The county offered $9 per ton. Several citizens who were present at the meeting asked to be notified if the sale happens and requested the option to buy some of the remaining asphalt for their personal road repairs. The motion was moved to sell a volume of 28,000 tons to the county. Five council members voted for the motion, Katherine Maudrone abstained.

The wastewater projects are in planning stages and construction stages. Phases 1 and 2 are in construction mode in the wards above the railroad tracks. Phases 3 and 4 are in the planning stage and have been approved. The water project request for reimbursements was tabled. The General West Engineering Company will do the project planning to upgrade the wells and water mains in the upper part of town that were added in 1936 and 1949, according to Mayor Lacy. This will bring the systems up to standard for the Department of Environmental Quality, he added.

In the public comments Tamera Raiche-Shear voiced her concerns about the traffic in her neighborhood. She is concerned with safety issues for pedestrians and motor traffic on her corner. She was asked to save her complaints for a private meeting with the mayor and council members. Raiche-Shear did not want to stop until she got some answers. The mayor asked her to leave several times and then called for an officer to escort her out. Raiche-Shear complied and stayed to listen to the rest of the meeting. "We will have a meeting with her on Thursday to go over city ordinances. There are two violations that need to be addressed," Mayor Lacy said.