The Helena City Commission approved Monday its half of a joint city-county resolution reauthorizing the Helena Regional Airport Authority for the next 10 years.
The previous 10-year resolution was set to expire July 1, and City Manager Rachel Harlow-Schalk initially presented the reauthorization process to the city commission as an opportunity to address some grievances it had with the airport, chiefly a backlog of unpaid assessments totaling more than $300,000.
An internal memo from Harlow-Schalk indicated city staff has raised concerns the airport has neglected to pay about $344,000 in assessments owed to the city and county. The delinquent payments stretch from 2019 through 2020. It is a substantial amount, the city of Helena Finance Director Sheila Danielson said during an April 14 city administrative meeting.
Missoula County Lifts Some COVID Restrictions, Modifies Mask Mandate
Missoula County’s Board of Health converted many of its COVID-19 rules for bars, restaurants and gyms to recommendations Thursday. The county’s mask mandate will remain in effect, but with some changes.
Members of the health board approved the changes in light of COVID cases in Missoula remaining relatively low. The changes shifted what were rules on capacity and social distancing at bars, restaurants and gyms down to recommendations.
The county’s mask mandate remains in effect until 60% of residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. As of April 12, 53% had received at least one dose, and 33% of residents were fully immunized. The rule changes also increased the threshold for when masks are required at outdoor events, raising the limit from 25 to 50 people.
On the Agenda: April 5 City of Helena Commission Meeting
Jonathon Ambarian
and last updated 2021-04-05 13:23:44-04
HELENA â On Monday, April 5 the Helena City Commission will hear several items including a letter of support for the proposed multi-sport complex, an update on City COVID-19 procedures and special improvement lighting districts.
A presentation will be given by City Manager Rachel Harlow-Schalk on the City s operations that will transition from responding to COVID-19, to living with COVID-19 through the end of May 2021.
This transition will include an evaluation of changes to operations and services that, due to efficiencies, will remain in place. Additionally, the business community will be engaged in a one-day event whereby City staff will request input on ways in which businesses can be supported during the transition to living with COVID-19.
Helena Fire Department Chief Ken Wood continued to sound the alarm over the city s need for a third fire station during a Helena City Commission meeting this week.Â
City leadership gave City Manager Rachel Harlow-Schalk and Wood permission to continue exploring the need and feasibility following Wood s presentation, which painted a bleak outlook for HFD s ability to respond to emergencies in the future without the construction of a third fire station near the Helena Regional Airport.
Wood told the City Commission he projects average response times for the two existing stations to climb to nearly eight minutes by 2025, well outside industry standards, without the construction of a third station near the airport.Â
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