City officials on Monday stressed that ballots for this fall's city election are still valid as commissioners voided erroneous ballots for the Helena Citizens Council -- an advisory group of neighborhood representatives.

The Citizens Council election has been postponed to Jan. 8, with ballots going out in the mail in mid-December.

The old ballots, sent out Oct. 19, were rendered invalid because of a clerical error.

But the problem didn't affect the city ballot, a separate document offering choices for two City Commission seats, the City Court bench, a parks-improvement bond and two war referenda.

Several officials and candidates in recent days have said they've heard from a number of residents who believed the city ballots had been voided.

The races are still on, with mailed ballots due back Nov. 6. Late registration and voting is ongoing at the Clerk and Recorder's Office.

The January Citizens Council election won't include a new filing period for additional candidates, but interested citizens may lobby their neighbors and run as write-in candidates. For more information, contact the council's volunteer coordinator, Martha Eberle, at 447-8493.

Also at Monday night's meeting, commissioners approved funding for sidewalk projects near two Helena schools, heard an update on work at the Bill Roberts Golf Course and noted the receipt of an accounting award.

Commissioners formally accepted $50,000 in federal funding, which when combined with about $80,000 in state transportation grant money allotted to the city and a $12,385 match from Helena Public Schools, will be used to construct 1,100 feet of sidewalks at Bryant Elementary and Helena Middle School.

The project will address gaps in the sidewalk network at Bryant and along 15th Street near the middle school.

Parks and Recreation Director Randy Lilje told commissioners work on driving range improvements at the golf course may begin this fall.

The $207,000 project includes expansion of the tee, a new instruction area, earthwork, irrigation equipment, new grass across the entire range, additional netting and poles, a new equipment storage building and a clubhouse patio cover.

Lilje said the work should make the range more cost-effective and profitable.

For the 19th consecutive year, the city of Helena has received an award for excellent accounting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

Commissioners thanked Controller Glen Jorgensen and his staff for their work, and noted the implementation of new performance compliance audits -- internal controls run by Jorgensen's team to ensure departments are using sound accounting methods.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com.