Article published Nov 20, 2007

Commissioners to tour Centene Park, in addition to some routine business

By Tribune Staff

City commissioners will conduct some routine business at meetings tonight. But, for something different, commissioners also will take a tour of a baseball field.

Their 5:30 p.m. work session today will feature a tour of Centene Stadium, formerly Legion Park, home of the the Great Falls White Sox minor-league baseball team. City officials will tour the stadium, which is owned by the city, and hear from club officials on progress made renovating the facility.

The regular meeting will include a public hearing to increase annual fees businesses pay for safety inspections by $10, the first increase since 2004. City staff recommended the 20 percent hike.

Also at the meeting, the commission is expected to amend the boundaries of a tax increment district north of Great Falls to include property on which a new Montgomery Energy gas-fired power plant is to be located. The industrial site already includes a malting plant.

Assistant City Manager Cheryl Patton said adding the gas plant to the special taxing district will improve the city's prospects of purchasing a rail spur in the industrial area from International Malting, so various property owners will have access to the track.

Local officials promised International Malting the city would buy the spur, but funds have been short of the amount needed so far.

One issue that might prompt some comment tonight is the reappointment of Robert Pancich to a six-year term on the Electric City Power board. Pancich, the board chairman, would serve through 2013 if appointed. Electric City Power has drawn some fire from opponents of the coal-fired Highwood Generating Station, as well as from people skeptical about city efforts to provide public power.

A public comment period takes place at the end of the meeting. Speakers have five minutes to speak their piece.