City backs off annexation

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls appears, at least for now, to be backing away from annexing property in the Mosquito Flats neighborhood.

The City Council had previously approved a resolution of intent to annex its River's Edge Park and property adjacent to the park. A vote to finalize the park annexation passed, but the fate of adjacent property has remained undetermined.

However, on Monday City Manager Bill Shaw reported to the council that the property immediately to the south of the city park has been designated as agricultural land.

Shaw said the Department of Revenue notified the city of the designation.

Under state statute, the city can't annex land with such a designation.

Kenneth and Carole Bell own the property. They previously owned the land that became River's Edge Park.

At an earlier meeting, the Bells told the council the remaining property is still used as a working farm to raise hay and livestock. They claimed annexation would put them out of business.

Also on the list of owners in the intended annexation are R.D. Buchanan, Samuel and Bernadette Kemler, David and Kimber Erb, Roy and Elaine Countryman and Northwestern Corp. Transmission and Distribution.

Shaw also told the council that the Buchanan property has requested to be excluded on an agricultural basis as well, but the property is not considered as such.

After hearing earlier concerns about annexation, the council chose to postpone hearings on the annexation.

The council has since not shown its intent to either hold a public hearing or dismiss the resolution of intent.

The council did previously vote to annex River's Edge Park so that it would be able to enforce city rules within the park.

The idea of annexing the adjoining property began because of planned work on Third Avenue, which is a city street. Because all of the proposed properties can only be accessed from the city street, the properties are considered to be wholly surrounded by the city.