Hamilton City Council update: Sewer repairs, fishing docks at Hieronymus Pond, fundraisers

Hamilton City Council approved the use of Tax Increment Financing Funds (TIFF) for a sewer system update at their Tuesday, Feb. 17 meeting. They also approved a waiver for the Heroes and Hotrods Car Show and listened to updates from multiple city departments.

Replace and deepen lift station

The Hamilton City Council approved the use of Tax Increment Financing Funds (TIFF) from the North Hamilton Urban Renewal District (NHURD) for sewer system updates.

The funding will be used to replace a lift station near GlaxoSmithKlein and is expected to cost is $1.99 million. The City of Hamilton is requesting $1.5 million from NHURD, according to City Planner Matthew Rohrbach, and the remaining $499,000 will come from the sewer enterprise fund.

Lift stations are mechanically operated systems which move wastewater and sewage from a low elevation to higher elevation helping to prevent backups.

Some of the costs to replace and deepen the lift station include concrete work, electrical utilities, equipment and materials.

“This negates the need to put in another lift station so we can serve that whole area with just the two lift stations,” Rohrbach said. “This will allow for gravity sewer to go into Old Corvallis Road.”

Rohrbach said they are planning to complete the lift station project first so NHURD can move forward with a road improvement project, adding that getting the underground infrastructure done is necessary beforehand.

“We don't want to go pay for a new road and then rip it up to put in gravity sewer,” Rohrbach said.

Hieronymus Pond and Claudia Driscoll Park

Hamilton Director of Parks and Urban Forestry Amy Fox says she is applying for funding to make improvements to Hieronymus Pond such as an ADA accessible floating fishing dock and non-ADA dock, as well as funding to help clean up and remove cattails around the pond.

“I met with a couple of fisheries biologists here in town, and we were just trying to come up with some easy ways to improve fishing access out of the pond,” Fox said.

Claudia Driscoll Park bathroom project had previously been held up by permit issues, but the state of Montana has given approval Fox said. The project can now move forward. Estimated time of completion for the bathrooms is mid-to-late March.

Fireworks and fundraising

Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf has applied for a grant to help fund the July 4 fireworks show at the fairgrounds this year. The Light Up the Night Sky grant is offered through Town Pump specifically to help organizations with firework displays for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Farrenkopf requested $5,000 which is the largest amount Town Pump allots through the grant.

The council also gave approval for Farrenkopf to pursue funds through a new group called the Montana 250 Commission, which is dedicated to helping aid the 250th birthday celebration of the United States. If he secures funding from the group, one of the stipulations is the event must be tied to veterans in some way. Farrenkopf suggested holding a barbeque for veterans before the fireworks event.

Other ideas for fundraising included bringing back pint nights like they have done in the past and the dunk tank where people throw balls at a target to make the mayor fall into a tank of water. Farrenkopf said if anyone would like to help raise funds or has any ideas for fundraisers to please reach out.

Heroes and Hotrods Car Show

The Hamilton City Council approved a waiver of Hamilton municipal code which will allow cars to park on the grass at Hieronymus Park during the Heroes and Hotrods Car Show fundraiser on Memorial Day. This is the eighth year for the annual car show, and organizers expect 150-220 cars this year with proceeds going to help local veterans according to committee chairman for Heroes and Hotrods, John Meyers.

Concerns were raised about parking on the grass due to the new irrigation system. Meyers said he is working with Parks Director Amy Fox to make sure nothing is damaged.

The group has given away $30,000 for local veterans and their projects in the last eight years, Meyers said.