Outgoing mayor: 'I don't feel safe in my own town'

As Mayor Jolie Fish prepares to relinquish her seat next month, there's at least one item of city business that remains on her mind.

"I'm concerned about the city and the closure of the jail," she said in a recent interview. "I think that may prove to be a difficult direction."

Fish has been outspoken in her opposition as the city prepares to close its jail this spring when it merges into the Flathead County 911 Emergency Communications Center. The change will leave the city without dispatchers to watch its prisoners, forcing the jail to close.

"I don't feel as safe in my own town," Fish said of the change.

After the merger, prisoners are expected to be transported to the Flathead County Detention Center, as space permits. Which prisoners are held would be prioritized based on offense, with those accused of misdemeanors released to allow space for those charged with felonies.

"I fear it would give our citizens the impression that misdemeanors are not that important," Fish said. "A lot of people think a misdemeanor is a kid caught smoking. There is misdemeanor DUI (drunk driving) and misdemeanor sexual assault."

City officials have said continuing to operate the jail would require the city to hire at least five officers, effectively doubling the force. It's a cost that city officials have said is prohibitive to continuing operation.

While Fish said she still supports the 911 consolidation, the jail is too important to close.

"It's a financial burden to keep the jail open — where's the money going to come from," she said. "Some things are important enough you need to find the money."

THE FUTURE of the city is still a concern for Fish, who was born and raised in Columbia Falls.

Fish, the director of Flathead County family court services, chose not to seek re-election this fall after serving only one term as mayor. She was appointed to the city council in January 2000 and elected to a four-year term before serving as mayor.

Fish said health concerns forced her not to seek re-election. She was absent from several council meetings over the last year.

"I didn't feel I could serve the city like I should," she said. "It was disappointing. I signed on to do my duty and part of it's being there. Once I couldn't be there I didn't feel I was an asset."

Don Barnhart ran unopposed this fall and will be sworn in as mayor in January. Fish said Barnhart has the experience to lead the city.

"I don't always share the same philosophy as Don, but he always has the city and the citizens' best interest at heart," Fish said.

Fish is optimistic about Columbia Falls' future.

"All the past council members have gotten us to where we are and the future council members will take us into the future," she said.

When Fish was elected as mayor in 2005, she cited planning for growth as one of her major concerns. Since then subdivision planning has slowed considerably, and several subdivisions in the city remain empty.

"With this economy we haven't had much growth," she said. "We're certainly at a point where we can handle more. When I was first elected major I think we were growing too fast. Now I'd like to have more growth."

AS SHE looks back, Fish said, she has enjoyed serving the city for the last nine years.

"Overall, I'm proud of the work we've done on roads and the water and sewer 'system)," she said. "I'm proud we got the River's Edge Park."

The City purchased River's Edge Park in 2007 for $945,000. The 28-acre park has access to the Flathead River. At the time, the purchase was controversial among residents and its subsequent development has remained a point of contention.

"I know it was expensive, but the fear was that there'd never be a time we could buy land on the river, which is so valuable for the city," Fish said.

As the city sorts out how best to use the park, Fish recognizes that the park might not have room for what everyone wants.

"I'd love to accommodate all of them, but we need to keep it in somewhat of a natural state," she said. "We never purchased it with the idea of it being fully developed into a picture perfect park."

Fish said she enjoyed reading her council packet each week and knowing more about how the city operates.

"I've learned a lot. There's a good reason why the roads aren't always fixed as soon as I'd like. Money is not just floating out there in the tax base," she said.

She credits City Manager Bill Shaw and Financial Director Susan Nicosia for keeping the city financially sound and also the council members for guiding the city.

"Just being a part of it all," Fish said is what she'll miss of serving Columbia Falls.