Pool, road work updates at Dayton City Council meeting

DAYTON- Mayor Roger Trump called the Dayton City Council to order at 6:00 p.m., July 9, 2024. Dayton Mayor Roger Trump and Council Members Teeny McMunn, Michael Smith, Laura Aukerman, Joann Patras, Kyle Anderson, and Shannon McMillen were present at City Hall. James Su’euga was not present.

Sheriff Joe Helm updated the council on last month’s calls to his office and reminded them that the National Night Out will be held at City Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Helm promised plenty of free food and drinks.

Anderson Perry & Associates, an engineering contractor used by the City of Dayton, awarded a scholarship to Wyntr McCauley, who intends to attend Montana State University.

Next, Dianne McKinley gave a presentation on the Parks and Recreation Pool project, which has completed a proposed budget. The district is working to secure sufficient funding. She said the Friends of the Pool has raised “a little bit” of money; however, the budget’s more costly items, including hiring an engineer to design the pool, are still unfunded.

McKinley said Parks and Recreation plans to put a levy for twenty cents per one-thousand-dollar valuation on the November ballot to provide funding for the pool. McKinley emphasized that if the levy does not pass in November, there is “absolutely no reason to have a pool district. We can’t function on air,” said McKinley.

She asked the city council to consider being a funding partner, especially within the next ten months. McKinley said citizens who wish to donate to the pool project may do so through the non-profit Friends of the Pool organization.

The council had no objection to a liquor application submitted by the Buckwheat Brewing Company, 148 E. Main St. to the state liquor board.

The city has received complaints about unsafe crosswalks, asking the city to install crossing signals. Funding was not immediately available for signals; however, Public Works Director Ryan Paulson said he might be able to install unlighted crosswalk signs in the interim.

The Otta seal project to resurface most of Dayton’s streets is scheduled to begin in the third week of July, with patching and mass laying of product around the beginning of August, said Paulson. He said the city will distribute fliers to inform residents before work starts on each street to ensure vehicles and other obstructions are removed before work. Gravel parking strips will not be resurfaced.

Paulson said public works crews must water cemetery grounds manually while bids are being submitted to repair or replace the automated sprinkler system.

Paulson said security cameras are being installed to combat vandalism. He said the railroad and Main Street bridges were recently damaged with spray paint, and the work by a volunteer church group to repaint the bridges has been destroyed.

There was no update on the wastewater treatment plant, and Paulson said it was a bit of a nightmare now. He said the city and other agencies are driving the path to a solution to find a way forward.

The council meeting adjourned at about 6:52 p.m. A workshop will be held on July 30 at 3 p.m., and the next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at 6 p.m.