Pavilion named after former mayor
Posted: Thursday, Mar 13, 2008 - 10:31:53 am MDT
By HOPE NEALSON
The Western News
The Libby City Council unanimously voted to name a structure to be built in Riverfront Park the “Fred Brown” pavilion, after the former Libby mayor and school teacher, Fred Brown.
Libby Mayor Tony Berget said he and the Libby Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Wood wanted a way to honor Brown's contribution to the community, which included 37 years as a teacher and 25 as a mayor.
“He has done a lot of good things,” said Berget, noting Brown's work on the water treatment plant and Cabinet Heights projects, as well as teaching.
“So many students that came through Libby had him as a teacher,” said Berget. “He served his community. He worked. He helped mold the city to what it is today.
“The more I was in office the more I respected the guy,” he added.
According to Berget, Wood approached Brown and his family about naming the facility after him; the family was honored the city would consider naming it after him.
“As I followed in his footsteps, I realized there were some big shoes to fill,” he said. “It's so easy to be on the outside and have preconceived ideas of what is going on, but once you're in those shoes you realize there is a lot more to the job than meets the eye.”
The 4,000 square foot pavillion will be constructed by Lloyd Miller's company, Meadowlark Log Homes, and located on a gnoll above the boat ramp along the Kootenai River.
“The city is trying to create a facility - a nice, outdoor communal area where there will be wholesome community activities like weddings, concerts and reunions,” said Miller, who was approached by the mayor about a year ago to design the pavillion.
“The Amish are such an intrical, beautiful part of the community,” said Berget. “I've always envisioned a nice big pavillion, but what they proposed there was beyond my vision.”
Miller's architect, Don Jordan completed the plans which were reviewed by an engineering firm and approved last week.
“We're giving this from our heart because it's the right thing to do,” Miller said. “Our family is committed to establishing a relationship between our community and city officials for the time to come - to work on a project that will benefit and bless future generations.”
The 11-acre property was donated to the city by W.R. Grace in 1994 when Brown was mayor of Libby.
Brown began a study on the possibilities of how to use the property while Berget was on the city council.
In 2000, the discovery of vermiculite by the EPA stopped the project temporarily while they cleaned up the site.
Trent Oelberg, the leader of Libby Main Street Association, said they have raised $52,000 for other costs with the pavillion.
Although Miller is donating his company's time and materials, costs for electrical, plumbing, roofing, engineering, and donor's plaques will be covered by the extra donations.
According to Oelberg, they are meeting with the EPA today at noon at Libby City Hall to plan the final stages of escavation work for the park.
This won't affect the pavillion, which will be placed once the snow melts.
“Once the foundation is in, it's going to go fast,” said Oelberg, who said the pavillion will hold up to 400 people and have an area for food preparation.
A meeting to plan the Riverfront Park itself will be included in a special city planning meeting at 7 p.m. in Libby City Hall on Tuesday, March 18.
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