Town of Plains offered help with grants, seeds

The Plains Town Council last Monday was offered help to apply for a grant to build tourism in a manageable way while another person offered a way to pretty up the town.

Council members again tabled two items of old business - a parking violation ordinance and an update and review of the billing of water shutoff - before moving on to new business and committee reports.

Plains resident Kim McMahon addressed the council about getting in on a state community tourism grant program that could total up to $2.75-million through Montana Senate Bill 540. "It aims to build tourism in a manageable, sustainable way to stimulate and diversify local economies, protect and enhance resources, and foster community pride without compromising the qualities that make local communities so special," said McMahon, who is volunteering with Ray Brown of the Sanders County Community Development Corporation to promote the program.

"We're trying to get a group together to take a look at this and see if it's a good fit for Sanders County and our own communities if there are projects that we might consider in a package deal like this," said McMahon. The bill is designed to enhance tourism in local communities, especially smaller rural communities. It's a five-year process with the first year for planning, which would come with a maximum of $250,000.

She talked about such things as RV parks, a splash park at the pool, and a dog park, and other projects that could be done through the grant. "We could put together a package that really meets the needs of who our visitors would be, but also benefits our local residents," she said. The bill was passed last year and applications are due in April 2025. In addition, there are no matching funds requirements for the grant, which is through the state's Department of Commerce.

"At this point, my goal is to see if there is interest in the county in forming a group to improve infrastructure that serves both visitors and residents. It's a very involved program that will require commitment to see it through," said McMahon, who added that it might be a case of different communities getting together to form a plan that spans the length of Sanders County.

"The Sanders County Community Development Corporation could act as the fiscal sponsor for the grant program. I just wanted to be sure that the Town of Plains didn't miss out on an opportunity to be involved if they want to," she said. "I see it as a way to utilize my experience and knowledge for the betterment of my community," added McMahon, who is a professional outdoor recreation planner by profession.

Emily Baker, the district administrator with the Eastern Sanders County Conservation District (ESCCD), also presented the council an offer to help beautify the town and at the same time attract beneficial pollinators to the area, part of the Sanders County Pollinator Initiative. The ESCCD provides free seeds that are specifically designed for western Montana to people throughout the county. Normally, they give away the seeds and it's up to the recipients to plant and care for the flowers, but Baker said they would partner with the town to plant and care for the flowers. She and a coworker looked at two sites in town.

Baker, who's been with the ESCCD for three years, said there are 19 species of pollinator flowers that would bloom from May to September and most are perennials, which come back year after year. Baker will be conducting several pollinator seed giveaways in the county this month.

During the meeting, Mayor Joel Banham talked about the first time the town had formed an ad hoc pool board, which he hopes will make the pool operation more efficient. The board is comprised of seven members from the community. He said they are still looking for lifeguards for this year's pool season. "Pools across Montana were built because we wanted to keep kids out of the rivers and we have a lot of people in the community that are here for public safety and we're trying to get them involved in the whole running of the pool from year to year and I'm thankful for those people who have helped with that," said Banham.

The mayor also announced that the Plains Community Ambulance Service has its new ambulance outside City Hall for people to view. The town had purchased the $122,800 ambulance in a partnership with the ambulance service. It is a 2024 Ford Transit all-wheel drive vehicle.

Jen Fratzke, an EMT and one of 18 certified drivers at Plains Community Ambulance Service, said the vehicle is awaiting the inside equipment and believes it'll be equipped, inspected by the state and ready for service in June. She and Larry Neilson, also an EMT with the ambulance service, attended the meeting to answer questions and show the vehicle, which came from Sawtooth Emergency Vehicles in Billings.

Greg Dicken, the town's water and sewer treatment manager, was recognized at the meeting with the 2024 Small Systems Award for "outstanding operation, maintenance and administration of a wastewater treatment system," and with the Montana Rural Water Systems Wastewater Operator of the Year Award. Dicken has been a member of the town's Public Works Department for 22 years and said that only 32 such awards have been given in the state industry. The small systems award was for the town's new treatment plant, which went into operation in January last year.

Dicken said that Banham was the first mayor during his time with the department that walked through the entire water and wastewater system with him. He said the mayor also participated in a six-hour training wastewater treatment class. "It's nice to have a mayor that wants to be part of our role as well," he said.

"We have an outstanding operator in our town and we have outstanding water in our town, and according to the state we have an award winning small system and that's not kudos to me, that's kudos to the mayors that were here before and the people that put that together," said Banham. The mayor also reported that in April, the town pumped 3,313,000 gallons of water, but sold only 2,484,700 gallons, much of the 25% loss due to a recent leak behind the old Town Pump building.

Kelly Dossett of the town's Parks and Recreations Committee discussed the horse statues on the greenway and the continued deterioration over the last couple of years. "The big thing is the horses. Apparently, they've become a public safety hazard and they need to come down," said Dossett at the meeting, but she believes the public would probably be upset if the horses completely disappear.

Dossett said the committee brainstormed and came up with the idea of having a horse silhouette herd of five to seven running horses in a narrow concrete slab. She confessed that she was out of her element with this type of project, but thought a committee of volunteers from the community could come up with a solution. She suggested the committee would include artists and people with expertise in engineering or construction. She commented that they don't want to minimize the contribution from the late Kenton Pies, the man who designed and constructed the horses there now. "But now they're falling apart and disintegrating to the point where they are now a public safety hazard and we have to replace them or just take them down and do nothing, but they have to go," said Dossett.

Bruce Newton of the Public Works Department has been periodically checking on the status of the two horse statues. They are not holding up to the weather and there is a yellow jacket nest in one of them. "If someone were to get on one it would probably collapse and kids don't always follow the signs," said Newton, who helped Pies with the first horse, which had deteriorated to the point that it had to be removed.

McMahon suggested that someone contact the high school, which at times has done special community activities. Kyle Mitchell, the shop teacher, said he would entertain something like making the silhouette horses, but with school about to end, it would have to be the next school year. He said they have a plasma cutting machine that could do the job and said it would be a good project for the kids. He added that community projects such as this are great for the students because they can see their efforts years after they've graduated.

"We didn't want to offend the family and the public loves the horses. I hate the idea of them going away altogether," said Dossett, who added that perhaps it could be a fundraising project to make new ones. "We wanted to keep the original artist's idea of a herd of horses running through the valley." She said she'd like to see them about the same size as the ones that Pies made. "We want people to step up and not just complain," said Dossett, who noted that the horse theme ties in with the school Horsemen mascot.

Banham said that no decisions have been made as to the outcome of Pies' horses. "But certainly the concern is out there as to what to do with the other horses. Anyinput from the community of people that are interested in the idea would be welcomed."

Dossett also reported that they now have picnic tables in all three gazebos and have upgraded the sprinkler system at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park (the pool park), but they'd still like to get ADA sidewalks from the parking area and streets to the gazebos. She added that they'd like to plant more trees this year.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 3, at 7 p.m.