City Commissioners approved a lease for the Montana Veterans Memorial, which is located on city parkland.

The 20-year lease with the Montana Veterans Memorial Committee includes an option to renew for another 10 years at the city’s sole discretion.

Both the city and committee have the option to terminate the lease with 60 days written notice.

The memorial is located at 1025 25th St. N.

The Park and Recreation Advisory Board voted in March to recommend approval of the lease.

Parkland leases require a four-fifths affirmative commission vote under city code.

With new leadership, the committee approached city staff to formalize a written agreement that “clearly defines the roles, obligations, and responsibilities related to maintenance, facility upkeep and repairs, existing structures, and future plans for improvements and expansion. Previously, these responsibilities were guided by an informal verbal agreement, which provided no clear accountability or recourse for either party. Establishing a formal lease agreement not only creates a structured and transparent working relationship but also requires the committee to obtain and maintain liability insurance for the property and all elements within its defined boundaries. In the past, the committee did not carry insurance, leaving both the memorial and the city exposed to potential risk,” according to the city staff report.

During the May 5 meeting, Star Darko thanked the city for their help with the lease.

She said that they’ll be installing nearly 100 new tiles for Memorial Day.

The memorial honors both living and deceased veterans, she said.

The committee has recently added five new benches and a north patio, she said.

Commissioner Rick Tryon said he was “proud to support this resolution,” and that his brother and father had tiles on the memorial.

He thanked Mike Winters, former mayor, for his role in establishing the memorial.

A group of locals came together in 1999 to explore the idea of creating a Montana veterans memorial, from which the Montana Veterans Memorial Committee was formed, according to the staff report.

The committee raised funds through tile sales, grants and community fundraising efforts to build the memorial.

In September 2005, the 12-foot warrior angel statue was installed on land donated to the city and veterans. The committee has raised and invested more than $2 million into the memorial park since its creation, according to the staff report.

The lease is $1 annually with the committee assuming responsibility for the operation, maintenance and upkeep of the memorial, reducing Park and Rec’s ongoing maintenance costs and resource allocations, according to staff.