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Libby council backs Chamber tourism grant, approves 25-year lease and routine administrative items
Summary
In a single meeting the Libby City Council approved a 25-year lease with the Area Chamber of Commerce, voted to support the Chamber's Montana Tourism grant application (including a motion to include Mineral Avenue improvements), updated the employee policies manual, approved a grant-writer recruitment ad, appointed Ethan Culp as an ex officio study-commission member, and cleared multiple license and claims items.
The Libby City Council on Monday approved a package of administrative measures that included a 25-year lease with the Area Chamber of Commerce, formal support for the Chamber's application to the Montana Tourism Development Grant (and a motion to include the Mineral Avenue improvements project), an update to the city's employee policies and procedures manual, authorization to advertise for a grant-writer position, and the appointment of Ethan Culp as the city's ex officio representative to the local government study commission.
Chamber representative Jackie, speaking for the Chamber, said the tourism-grant application (due Jan. 22) would require no direct city financial contribution and would support projects to "enhance visitor experience" including Mineral Avenue improvements. "This grant is simply the next step in that same trajectory," Jackie said, noting the grant's focus on increasing lodging and restaurant revenue by encouraging overnight visits.
Separately, a representative of the Heritage Museum presented a draft feasibility study for a Shea Locomotive exhibit, saying, "The feasibility study findings were that Libby can expect $1,200,000 per year coming in due to the train exhibit running," and that the museum would seek $550,000 of the $2,750,000 allocated in the grant. Councilors discussed whether Mineral Avenue and museum projects could be combined in one or multiple applications and agreed it was preferable to explore cooperation while preserving each project's grant competitiveness.
On the Chamber lease vote, one councilor announced an abstention because of a personal relationship with a Chamber employee; the abstention was recorded before the voice vote. The motions to approve the lease and to include the Mineral Avenue project in the Chamber's application both passed by voice vote.
Council also approved an updated employee policies and procedures manual after accepting earlier recommendations and clarifications; the mayor called the manual a "living document" that can be updated later as collective bargaining agreements or policies change. Council authorized advertising for a grant-writer position and approved the appointment of Ethan Culp as the ex officio member of the local government study commission after public comment from commission co-chair John Beebe and others urging cooperation.
The council cleared a slate of routine actions by voice vote: multiple alcohol license applications, coin-operated amusement licenses, business license approvals (one incomplete application was pulled), and claims.
What happens next: staff will work with the Chamber and museum stakeholders on grant application scope and with the grant-writer recruitment processes; the council will return to funding/implementation specifics as necessary in subsequent meetings.
