Commissioners balk at water project

Completion of the Bigfork stormwater project met another obstacle Monday.

The Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee approached the Flathead county commissioners for a third time in hopes of moving forward with a resolution of intent to create a Rural Special Improvement District.

Creation of an RSID is necessary to complete the 7-year old project, as it will provide funds for final construction and ongoing maintenance of the project, which would help protect Flathead Lake water quality. Creation of the district is also a requirement for a $100,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation that would go toward creating the RSID, and project construction.

The Bigfork Stormwater Project applied for the grant in 2012 and received approval for it in 2013, contingent on the creation of an RSID to fund ongoing maintenance. An RSID needs to be in place by the end of 2014, or the grant money will be withdrawn.

After an informational survey in 2012 that showed support for the project, the stormwater committee recommended the Bigfork Water and Sewer District boundary, which contains about 3,000 parcels, be used as the boundary for the district. The commissioners asked that a smaller district, based on the basin drainage, which contains 582 parcels, be considered.

At Monday’s meeting commissioner Gary Krueger motioned that they move forward in the process using the smaller district based on the drainage.

The smaller district could be detrimental to the project, as all the costs would be placed upon a smaller group of people.

Once the commissioners distribute the resolution of intent to create the district, the affected community members would have 90 days to protest. If the residents in the 582 parcels didn’t want to pay associated taxes, the RSID wouldn’t be approved, and the project would die.

Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee chairman Sue Hanson said there is no way the RSID would pass with the smaller district.

From the beginning of the project, which was initiated in 2007 by the Flathead County commissioners to address minor flooding, it has been understood that creation of an RSID would be necessary for completion.

The stormwater advisory committee first approached the commissioners about a resolution of intent to create the RSID in October of 2012. The commissioners voted against the initial petition largely based on the cost of creating the district.

Since, the stormwater committee has been given approval from the state to use part of the grant money to create the district.

They approached the commissioners again in October 2013 and were again deferred and asked the committee to return later.

Krueger’s concern with the tax district based on the Bigfork Water and Sewer boundaries is that it encompasses subdivisions, which were designed to meet Department of Environmental Quality standards when they were built. He is concerned with charging those residents twice for stormwater care. Engineer Brett Walcheck pointed out that much of the contaminants come from the roads. All paved roads, even from outside areas carry pollutants to downtown Bigfork and to the bay.

“It’s really more than just the drainage area,” Hanson said.

After the commissioners decision on Monday, Hanson and Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork President Paul Mutascio began communications with the state to see how the decision will affect the grant and what options there are to extend the grant until a better resolution can be reached. Hanson and Mutascio will speak with them next Monday.

Hanson said she feels strongly that it’s irresponsible to spend the state grant money on the process when there is no way it would be passed with the smaller boundary.

“It’s a matter of okay, now what?” Mutascio said. “The issue is, do we lose the money that they’ve earmarked for the project already?”

Currently the project is only half completed, with filtering systems installed in 2011.

Sample analysis since that installation shows the system is working, and is reducing the amount of pollutants going into the bay. “It’s pretty amazing the difference between pre-construction and post construction,” Hanson told the commissioners. “We’re really asking for the county to be proactive.”

Charles Sutfin spoke on behalf of the Flathead Lakers in support of the project. He said the part of the system that is now in place is helping to prevent nutrients entering the lake that cause algae growth.

CFBB member and president of Flathead Bank Jerry Bygren pointed out that the quality of Flathead Lake matters to the whole valley, not just Bigfork.

“The water in Flathead Lake affects all of us, from Polson to Columbia Falls,” he said.

The last phase of the project would address Bridge Street north and south.

It would build a storm drain system along Electric Avenue to the steel bridge. Strom drain conveyance systems would run from Montana 35 and Montana 209 to the steel bridge. A stormwater treatment system would be installed on both sides of the steel bridge, similar to the ones installed on Grand Avenue in 2011.

“It’s quite a bit of work,” Hanson said.

Over $1.2 million went into the first phase of the project, all from grants. The final phase is estimated to cost another $1.5 million, and would come from the state grant and taxes from the tax distrit.

“It was always meant that the taxpayers would pay their share,” Hanson said. “This has not been a project that was taken lightly.”

“I think it’s up to us to take advantage of any opportunities that there are,” Bygren said. “If we don’t’ take advantage of these opportunities then they’re lost forever.”

QUICK FACTS

Estimated average semi-annual maintenance cost is $7,377

Semi-annual payment per parcel based on 582 parcels is $12.68

Semi-annual payment per parcel based on 3,000 parcels is $2.50

Estimated construction costs $1.8 million

Semi-annual payment per parcel based on 582 parcels $76

Semi-annual payment per parcel based on 3,000 parcels $15

Estimation of costs to initiate the resolution of intent is $15,500