Malta City Council Meeting: Public Works, Parks, and old 'Mud Wagon'

The Malta City Council met for their first meeting of April last Tuesday evening and talks covered what the Malta Public Works team are currently up to, happens with the Parks and Rec Department and a discussion about the old “Mud Wagon” that ran on the Zortman Stage Line from 1904 until 1915 that is meant for the Modes of Transportation Museum on Highway 2 but has been sitting in a shop for the past several years.

The Old “Mud Wagon” was a passion project for Doc Jim Curtis who recently passed away, and Malta Mayor John Demarais said the topic of the wagon was brought to him shortly after the local legend’s funeral in Zortman.

The wagon was gifted to the City of Malta many years ago by Emma Trafton Campbell, widow of Ray L. Campbell, long-time Sheriff of Phillips County, many years ago. Shortly after the opening of the Modes of Transportation Museum opened in September of 2014, it was shipped away to be refurbished because it was in rough shape and was falling apart.

Mayor Demarais said the outstanding payment on the wagon’s overhaul hoovers around $35,000, and although the City of Malta was told that they would not need to cover any of the cost, nearly five years later, the outfit that fixed the wagon has yet to be paid and the wagon is still in that company’s possession.

Malta Councilman David Rummel, who is also a part of the Phillips County Historical Society said the museum is working on grants to cover the cost of the wagon’s repair and Mayor Demarais said that he hoped the City of Malta could also chip in to bring the very valuable, and rare, coach back home. Anyone who is interested in helping with the costs of the repair or has fundraising ideas are encouraged to contact the Phillips County Historical Society.

During the Public Works portion of the meeting, Director Jim Truelove informed the Council that the City Crew has been busy patching streets and will continue to for the foreseeable future, adding that last winter took a toll on the City’s streets. Director Truelove said the street sweeper is out each morning and will probably continue to be until next fall. Tree cutting is taking place at Trafton Park and that location should be open to the public by the time of this printing. The new cell at the City of Malta’s Landfill has been opened and final preparation is underway to close the old cell. Director Truelove asked the Council if it would be possible to bring back the city-wide clean-up from years ago in another attempt to beautify the area and clear junk from city alleyways. The Council agreed, 4-0, and that process will begin April 29 and run until May 3. (See that story on page 1A of this week’s PCN.)

In his last bit of information, Director Truelove said that Consumer Confidence Report on the City’s water has been finalized and the City’s drinking water is safe (see that public notice on page 3B of this week’s PCN or on the City’s website.)

Malta Parks and Rec Co-director Julia Tatafu informed the Council that co-ed youth kickball is currently underway and boasts nearly 80 children. She said that since the park where the games are generally played hasn't dried yet that Malta Elementary School has allowed the games to be played on their playground. Co-Director Tatafu said that Little Youth Cheer Camp and Spring dances classes will hold a recital at City Hall on May 10; the First Annual Malta Beer 5K Run — in conjunction with Blue Ridge Brewing — will be held on May 18, and the Community Clean Up day will take place April 23 (a day after Earth Day because of the Easter Holiday.) See that advertisement on page 5A this week.

The next regularly scheduled Malta City Council Meeting is slated for Tuesday, April 23 starting at 5 p.m. at City Hall.