Memorial Field tops Sandpoint council agenda

SANDPOINT — The restoration work at Memorial Field is progressing smoothly as council members prepare to examine the latest designs.

The city will provide contracted engineers with direction that will influence the ultimate cost of the project at the regular council meeting Wednesday, set for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. In particular, the meeting will cover alternative approaches to the design that will lower costs in the event of a budget shortfall.

It will be the first update in the project since council members reviewed a refined design in April. The design showcased grandstands primarily made of concrete and brick with a total seating capacity of 1,474, including 14 ADA-approved wheelchair seats. The design aims to establish a look that calls back to the field’s history while providing an affordable and easy-to-maintain structure.

City officials will also examine a grant that could move the establishment of a local fiber optic network forward. Planning Director Jeremy Grimm will request approval to apply for an up-to-$50,000 Idaho Department of Commerce grant for work associated with the network development. Alternatively, the money could be used for wetland delineation in and around the Sandpoint Airport and industrial zoned property or for importvements at the city-owned Bonner Business Center. If successfully acquired, the money will come from the department’s Idaho Gem Grant program,  which helps rural Idaho communities plan and implement economic development projects.

Long considered a top priority by city officials, affordable access to high speed Internet is cited as a major goal to promote long-term economic success. With the city now courting software and technology development companies to move into town, officials say the availability of generous bandwidth may be a crucial selling point.

Other issues on the agenda include approving the installation of a new HVAC unit at Bonner Business Center. The contract is proposed to go to Johnson Heating and Cooling, which posted the lowest bid at $21,276. Finally, members will discuss increasing the amount of money reimbursed to city employees and department heads for meal costs in meetings or while traveling for training.