Kalispell Council makes a way for reappointment of Solid Waste rep

It appears that Hank Olson may be returning as Kalispell’s representative to the Flathead County Solid Waste Board after all.

At least eight Bigfork-area residents recently complained to the Kalispell City Council about Hank Olson – whose term is expiring Dec. 31 – and requested that they not reappoint him to the Solid Waste Board.

After Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher nominated former Kalispell Councilman Dale Haarr to the position Nov. 4, the council vote that down 4-5. Fisher subsequently refused to take up Olson’s nomination requested by Kalispell Council members Randy Kenyon and Kari Gabriel. Fisher said this is because Olson has served on the Solid Waste Board for 14 years and she believes in term limits.

Monday, Kalispell Council approved the second and final reading of a new ordinance that changes the way the city appoints board members. The ordinance, 1766, states that the mayor will make a recommendation, but if council does not approve, the council can make an alternative recommendation. The measure passed 5-3 with Fisher recusing herself, which she attributed to her “lame duck” status. Fisher will be replaced by incoming Mayor Mark Johnson in January. The terms of council members Hafferman and Jeff Zauner are also ending.

In the meantime it appears that Olson could have the necessary votes to be reappointed come January.

Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell said yesterday that he’s not sure when council will take up its Solid Waste Board appointment, but added that it will likely be in January after he consults with Mayor-elect Johnson.

Kalispell Council is scheduled to meet Jan. 6 and 20.

The Solid Waste Board is scheduled to meet again Jan. 28. The board’s December meeting was cancelled.

On Monday, Johnson spoke during public comment at the Kalispell Council meeting and called the new ordinance “bad legislation.” He said the legislation was drafted out of frustration and not wise.

He noted that the new ordinance does not give a time limit upon which the mayor must make a recommendation for a board appointment, Johnson suggested it be within 30 days.

Councilman Tim Kluesner motioned that council table the item until its second meeting in January. Hafferman seconded the motion, but it failed 2-6 with Fisher recusing herself.

“The president and governor make recommendations and the Congress or Legislature votes it up or down,” Hafferman said. “For all these years the mayor makes a recommendation and the council votes it up or down. That’s the mayor’s prerogative. I can’t see making a change just because of an incident.”

Councilman Jim Atkinson called the legislation “a good tweaking of the government, an opportunity to right a wrong.”

Paul Mutascio, president of the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, wrote a letter to Fisher Oct. 24 requesting that she consider appointing a new representative to the Solid Waste Board. In his letter, Mutascio referred to “controversy surrounding the Solid Waste Board’s intention to eliminate nearly all of the Green Box sites in the County ... This drastic change in County service to Flathead residence (sic) is being led by Hank Olson ... He is adamant in wanting to close the Green Box sites now operating in Bigfork, Lakeside, Creston among others that have already been closed.”