Report from the Interlocal

We have been holding Interlocal Meetings for over twenty years now and, in my opinion, the one this week was one of the best ever. Not because I chaired the meeting in my usual inept way.

Not even because the agencies, as usual, gave excellent reports with enough humor to make them interesting. Not even because our State Representative Zac Perry and County Commission Chair Pam Holmquist were present. All of the above contributed to the value of the meeting but what made it one of the best ever was the lunch provided by the NFLA. Karen McDonough and Chris Heitz organized the main course—Karen’s super sloppy Joes—folks then pot-lucked side dishes and desserts, the entire Ulrichsen family pitched in to set up the Hall and afterward took down and stored the tables and chairs, aided by others who helped serve. Over 80 attendees passed through the line in jig time and the meeting started right on the dot at 1 p.m.

Cutting across most of the presentations was the problem of tourism numbers increasing by over 20 percent every recent year, bringing with them vastly increased traffic and more and more speeding, especially by vehicles towing boat trailers. All of this made more complicated by invasive mussel inspections, minimal trail maintenance and limited parking and camping sites, especially in Glacier Park as well as more and more floaters on the river and building fires and filling dispersed campsites on Forest land on the west side of the river.

Unfortunately, I heard few solutions, mostly due to every agency being short of funds and taxpayers opposed to higher taxes. Still, I think most folks in attendance were united in wanting more—some—enforcement of traffic laws even though there was conversation that the Sheriff’s Office is already understaffed and covering so many non-traffic calls that they don’t have time to do traffic and that we need to petition the Montana Highway Patrol for at least minimal coverage on the North Fork.

There were a few positives too. Floaters can at least launch and take out boats just south of the bridge at Polebridge. The site is a bit primitive but usable until a new double ramp is installed—probably next year.

A lot of weed spraying has been done but this is a battle that is ongoing just to contain infestations at current levels.

Numa Lookout is and has been manned and will remain so. Sondreson Meadow campers have been mostly in compliance with rules although a resident reported cleaning up garbage and a campfire that was left burning.

Glacier’s ‘Inside Road’ will see problems at Logging Creek and Lovers’ Leap fixed this year and at Anaconda Creek within two to three years.

Glacier View has a trail supervisor coming on board on Aug. 20 filling a several year vacancy. Plus MCC workers on staff.

The Forest Service will have the slump on Hay Creek Road repaired within the next two weeks.

There have been no bear confrontations on the North Fork and an MCC crew has done brush removal at Ford School and Kintla Ranch.

Next weekend is a busy one. First, Friday night, July 27, at 7 p.m. is the annual pie auction and Crazy Hat Dance at Sondreson Hall. Ruth Kinsolving is becoming our new Granny Chrisman pie baker with her featured ‘traditional style’ Florida Key Lime Pie. She has assured me she will be there along with an assortment of others including huckleberry, cherry, apple and more. See you there. Bring money to support next year’s dust abatement and fill your belly. All calories removed before baking.

Saturday, July 28 is the Bob Grimaldi Memorial at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1185 Old Reserve Drive in Kalispell.

Larry Wilson’s North Fork Views appears weekly in the Hungry Horse News.