Senate Joint Resolution No. 10

Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________

A Joint Resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of Montana urging the Board of Land Commissioners to lease the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office to the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation for the purpose of enhancement of the Montana Territorial Prison museum or for other community purposes.

WHEREAS, the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation has since 1980 maintained the Montana Territorial Prison, more commonly known as the old Montana State Prison, in Deer Lodge in Powell County, Montana, as a museum and regional tourist attraction, expending substantial sums of money in the upkeep of the prison; and

WHEREAS, the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office, formerly the office of the warden of the Montana Territorial Prison, also located in Deer Lodge, is now empty and could be used to enhance the museum and regional tourist attraction or could be used for other appropriate community purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation would like to lease the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office from the state; and

WHEREAS, use of the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office to enhance the Montana Territorial Prison museum or for other appropriate community purposes would fulfill a substantial government purpose by contributing to the community life of Deer Lodge and Powell County and by providing for the care and upkeep of the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

(1) That the Board of Land Commissioners be urged to transfer the interest of the State of Montana in the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office by a lease to the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation or its successor to be used to enhance the Montana Territorial Prison museum or for other appropriate community purposes.

(2) That the terms of the lease for the old Registrar of Motor Vehicles Office be added to the 99-year lease of the Montana Territorial Prison to the Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation entered into pursuant to Chapter 480, Laws of 1993.

(3) That the Board of Land Commissioners be urged to establish appropriate conditions to protect the interests of the state on the transfer of the property, including a provision for reversion should the property cease to be used to enhance the Montana Territorial Prison or for another appropriate community purpose, and that the commitment to expend sums of money and the dedication of the property for public use for the benefit of the people of Deer Lodge or Powell County be considered by the Board of Land Commissioners as part or all of the consideration necessary to constitute full market value if it is determined that the state cannot transfer the property without obtaining full market value for the property.

(4) That the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the Board of Land Commissioners.

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