Troy voters to elect mayor

By Roger Morris Western News Publisher

Building a new city water system, future energy costs and economic development were the main topics of discussion on Oct. 19 at a "Meet the Candidates" evening sponsored by the Troy Area Commerce Association.

Mayor Jim Hammons and Councilman Don Banning, facing off on next week's ballot for mayor, agree that the city water system project needs to continue for future economic development as well as quality of life in Troy.

"I think it's very important, we have to do it, "Hammons said.

"We need this water system," Banning said. "I can't remember the percentage but a lot of water is leaking back into the ground. This project will save us money."

The city's engineering firm is preparing the project for bid with expectations of beginning water main replacement, construction of a new water well and tank on the southside of town and installation of water meters next year.

Jim Hammons was appointed mayor in July after Mayor John Brown resigned. He was first appointed to the council in 1993 and worked under three different mayors in a five-year period. He took six years off to manage a couple of businesses as well as work at the Libby mill. He was elected to the council 2004.

In addition to completing the water project as proposed, Hammons believes Troy needs to continue improving or building infrastructure to make the town attractive to small businesses, new residents and investment.

"I really believe that as far as Troy goes we're not going to see the timber and mining we've seen in the past," Hammons said. "I see Troy has having more little shops and cottage industries."

Among the things needed are high-speed Internet access, wireless telephone service, curbs and sidewalks and "cleaning up the town," he said.

"We have to show we're a community serious about attracting industry," Hammons said.

At the same time, Hammons urges caution on how much the city should give away to attract investors and industry.

"There's only so far you can go," he said. "You don't want to give the town away. We're a poor town so you have to be careful."

Hammons supports efforts to bring planning and zoning to the city. He remembers when he was shouted down for suggesting it at a public meeting. "Now that people are seeing change happening here, people are changing their opinions," he said.

But first things first, Hammons said.

"We have to take care of infrastructure first," he said. "We have to take care of what's underneath the streets first."

After the water project is completed, Hammons would like to start working on improving the corridor from the highway to Roosevelt Park, which has become a major city attraction.

"We have to take the initiative to do it," Hammons said. "Once the water project is done, I want to work on it."

Another major concern for Hammons is the termination in 2011 of the electrical supply contract with the Bonneville Power Administration. Presently, Troy's long-term contract for electricity provides city residents with what is said to be among the lowest power bills in the Northwest.

"We all know that we're going to take a big hit in six years and we'll be paying as much as everyone else," he said. "I think we should be looking at biomass, which is working well in other places in the country."

He called the idea "doable" if everyone works together on it.

"The price of oil products is making it more doable," he said. "The cost of providing power is going to reach a point when it makes it possible. One of the things that drives this is economics and that's making it more feasible. The world is changing. I'm going to pursue this before we hit the wall. We have nothing to lose."

Don Banning returned to Troy from Southern California after being gone for 40 years. He had graduated from Troy high School and then left for the Navy, including three years of college in Hawaii. He retired 15 years ago.

He was first appointed to the city council in 2000.

"My basic belief is service to fellow man," Banning said. "When I returned I spent a lot of time driving around town talking to people and I thought the city council was a good place to start."

Banning has represented the council and city on the Kootenai River Development Council, the Northwest Region Resource, Conservation and Development council and other economic development forums.

"We have a lot of needs in Troy, we have lots of problems," Banning said. "We have drug problems, alcohol problems, problems getting what we need to build our infrastructure."

Everyone in Troy dreams of the city attracting a big industry with jobs but he said it's not going to happen.

"We don't have the infrastructure or the area," he said. "Expanding city boundaries seems to be a big problem."

Efforts are under way to attract jobs to southern Lincoln County and "if jobs are in Libby, Troy people will take them," he said.

Banning would like to see broadband access utilized for Troy's economic advantage.

"We do have fiber optic cable in Troy and it's not lit up," he said. "Fiber optics is here and with the help of Homeland Security perhaps we can get wireless (cell phone service). We need to work with our congressional delegates to get it."

Banning said the community needs to right the course on alcohol and drug abuse.

"Troy is rated among the top echelon in Montana for drug and alcohol use among children," he continued. "We have to take care of that. We can't be Mr. Nice Guy."

Banning believes the city can play a role in attracting businesses and investors through tax breaks, utility breaks, helping provide locations or buildings.

"But they are not going to move here without broadband," Banning said. "As a city we need to work with them."

Banning supports ongoing planning commission efforts to create a zoning plan for Troy.

"We need areas for people to live in peace and quiet and we need areas for people to work and make noise," he said. "We don't want uncontrolled growth of things like single-wide trailers. It devalues everyone's property value.

"We need to have ordinances on the books," he continued. "And we have to have an operational inspection system."

He said the planning commission is working on these issues and will be seeking public comment.

Like Hammons, Banning is concerned about funding for future infrastructure development.

"We have resources available to find the money," he said. "Raising taxes is not the way to do it. Maybe a little more control on what we do with the money we have."

Banning isn't opposed to biomass but he has concerns about the cost to study it and where in Troy that money could be used for something else.

"It takes years of research," he said. "You have to bring in companies to do it."

He also questions the availability of forest waste for fuel since the plant near Thompson Falls had to switch to coal.

There are two city council candidates seeking the two open seats in the Nov. 1 election: Laura Schrader is seeking re-election and Larry Baker is seeking his first term on the council.