Flathead County solid waste district postpones vote on new leader

by Caleb M. Soptelean Bigfork Eagle
| February 12, 2014 2:14 PM

The Flathead County Solid Waste Board delayed naming its new chair at its regular meeting last week.

The board voted 4-2 on Jan. 28 to table the appointment of a chair and vice-chair until the board’s Feb. 25 meeting. Members Wayne Miller, Greg Acton, John Helton and Alan Ruby voted yes, while Gary Krueger and Susan Nicosia voted no.

Previous board chair Hank Olson’s term expired at the end of December. Olson was serving as Kalispell’s representative on the seven-person board. He had served 14 years.

Olson came under fire from Bigfork residents concerned about the board’s plan to close the Bigfork Green Box site.

At least eight Bigfork residents complained to Kalispell Council and requested they not re-appoint him.

Mayor Tammi Fisher declined to re-appoint Olson late last year. Kalispell Council then decided to change the requirement that the mayor appoint board members. Previously the mayor’s recommendation required approval by four council members, which would give the nominee a five-person majority on the nine-person council. Under the new policy, if the mayor’s recommendation fails to get the required number of votes, a council member can make an alternative recommendation, which would then be voted on.

The Kalispell Council deferred their appointment to the Solid Waste Board until a work session last month and decided to reopen the vacancy in order to allow others to apply. That appointment would still need to be confirmed by the county commissioners.

recycling update

Mayre Flowers from Citizens for a Better Flathead noted that Target recently reduced their recycling options behind its Kalispell store.

Patrons were putting the recyclables in the wrong bins, she said.

Target decided to do away with plastic and aluminum recycling, but still takes glass and phone batteries, the latter are recycled at the front of the store near the customer service desk.

Target is the only glass recycler in Flathead County. It has offered the service since April 2010.