Helena considering options to fund Fire Tower repairs
By:
Jonathon Ambarian
and last updated 2021-05-25 10:17:12-04
HELENA â Helena leaders say theyâre looking at options for funding repairs to the cityâs historic Fire Tower, after the Montana Legislature declined their request for a grant to cover some of the costs.
The city applied for $25,226 through the Historic Preservation Grant program. Lawmakers passed House Bill 12, which appropriated almost $5.5 million for those grants, but the final version of the bill did not include any money for the Fire Tower.
Since the tower was damaged by a suspicious fire in 2016, leaders have been trying to find the best way to move forward with repairing the structure. Helena Parks, Recreation and Open Lands director Kristi Ponozzo said the state grant would have helped them start the work sooner, but that they still have other options for funding the project.