Park sellers irked about annexation

By HEIDI DESCH / Hungry Horse News

One Columbia Falls couple is upset about the city's plans to annex their property.

Kenneth and Carole Bell asked the Columbia Falls City Council Monday to not annex their property.

Earlier this month the council passed a resolution of intent to annex its River's Edge Park and property adjoining the park.

"We oppose the intent to annex our property," said Carole.

Carole told the council their land is used as a working farm to raise hay and livestock.

"The increase in taxes will put us out of business," she said. "We are opposed to this and we will fight it here or in court."

The Bells previously owned the land that is now River's Edge Park. The city purchased the land last fall for $945,000.

"If we had known it was on the city's agenda to annex we would have never sold," Carole told the council Monday.

The annexation intent includes land on the eastern boundary of the city. The city lists the owners of the property in addition to the Bells, as R.D. Buchanan, Samuel and Bernadette Kemler, David and Kimber Erb, Roy and Elaine Countryman and Northwestern Corp. Transmission and Distribution.

A public hearing on the proposed annexation had been set for July 7, but the Bells addressed the Council Monday because they would be unable to make the later date. They requested the city move the hearing date to allow more of the property owners to attend the meeting.

The council voted to separate the River's Edge Park and the other properties into two meetings.

Currently, city police are unable to enforce park rules at River's Edge because it is outside the city limits. Police are able to enforce state laws.

"We need law enforcement to enforce our regulations," said councilman Don Barnhart.

The council agreed that it would be best to continue with the park annexation. Also property located on 12th Avenue West near Burger King will be included in that hearing. The land was inadvertently left out of a previous annexation and is surrounded by the city.

A hearing on the land adjacent to the park will be held in September. A final vote on the annexation will come after the hearing.

The city began considering annexation because of planned work on Third Avenue, which is a city street. Because the properties can only be accessed from a city street they are considered to be wholly surrounded by the city.

Previously City Manager Bill Shaw said that adjustments could be made to the street assessments owners would pay because of the large lot sizes in the area.

The Bells argued that their land should not be annexed because they would be unable to continue operating their farm.

"There are specific requirements that determine a farm," Shaw told the council. "We will have to determine if there is a legitimate reason they shouldn't be annexed."

Shaw told the council there would be more information presented on the requirements at the public hearing.

The Bells also pointed to property that is north of the park that also accesses Third Avenue, but was not included in the annexation.

Shaw told the council that land could be included if they wish to add it. The Council did not vote on adding the land.

Councilmen Doug Karper and Dave Petersen were absent from the meeting.

In other news:

? The council approved a conditional use permit for First Baptist Church. The Church plans to construct a 60- by 90-foot multi-purpose building next to the church, which is located on U.S. Highway 2. Conditions of approval include having 83 parking spaces and paving the lot within five years.

? The council approved a request by Columbia Falls Seventh-Day Adventist Church for a conditional use permit. The church, located on Second Avenue East North, is adding a 19- by 26-foot addition for a fellowship hall. The church is required to add 26 parking spaces to its lot and pave the lot within five years.

? Approved a line-item budget amendment of $18,000. The money will be added to money previously set aside for a Rotary International donation. The city donates $28,316.93 to Rotary, which in turn, gives a $51,675.65 grant to the city. The money is being used to improve the city tennis courts at Columbus Park. As a requirement the city will make the courts handicap accessible.

? Voted to dispose of surplus city property. That includes; 1974 Ford Dump Truck Chassis, 1974 1-Ton Ford F-350 Flatbed Truck, 1985 Ford 3/4-ton 4x4 Pickup Truck, 1992 Chevrolet Caprice, 1996 Olds Cutlass Ciera, rotary snow blower attachment for front end loader, five-yard dump box for dump truck and old Stahl utility bed for older Dodge chassis.