Grant will fund design for Lamont town hall

Lamont has received a $24,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce to begin designing a new multi-use town hall and community building.

Mayor Steve Lacy said the town is looking to build a building that will serve as town hall, a library branch, a new station for rural Fire District No. 5 and a sub-station for Sheriff’s deputies on patrol.

Century West Engineering of Spokane was awarded the design contract.

Lacy said Lamont will likely apply for another round of grants to fund construction of the building.

The current town building lacks running water and restrooms. Lacy added it is not easily accessed by citizens with disabilities.

Lacy said the inadequacies of the town hall have been an obstacle for residents to attend town meetings.

The substation for deputies would also be an improvement, he added. It will provide deputies an office to fill out paperwork after responding to calls in Lamont. Deputies currently have to either sit in their patrol cars or drive at least as far as St. John to complete reports.

The new building would also be used to provide Lamont with a library. The town currently does not subscribe to library services, which means residents have to travel to St. John or Sprague and pay to access a library.