C-Falls trail builder throws hat in ring

Darin Fisher, a trail builder for the Forest Service's Hungry Horse Ranger District, joined incumbent Julie Plevel as a candidate for this year's Columbia Falls City Council election. Three seats will be up for election. June 30 is the final day for registering as a candidate.

Fisher moved here 2 1/2 years ago from West Yellowstone. Before that he lived in Wyoming and Ohio. He and his wife Carla, an adjunct professor at Flathead Valley Community College, own a home on Second Avenue East with views east toward Columbia Mountain.

With a bachelor's degree at Bowling State University, Fisher began work at the University of Wyoming on a double master's degree in environmental and natural resource studies and American studies. He said he didn't finish because he wanted to go back to what he really enjoys - trail work and packing mules.

Fisher said he doesn't offer any ground-breaking ideas. He's new to town and loves Columbia Falls, he said, and he wants to contribute to the community.

Besides attending some council meetings, Fisher became an active community member when he developed on his own time and money a plan for construction and funding a primitive path from Columbus Park to River's Edge Park.

The original plan for a biking and walking path across the steep slope was estimated to cost $600,000. Fisher's plan relied on simpler building methods, volunteer labor and in-kind donations, and it would cost the city about $50,000 to build.

For more on the primitive path plan, see the story below on the city parks capital improvement budget.