BSC hears community reports

The Bigfork Steering Committee had plenty to take in last Thursday, not least of which was digesting that it was the first gathering since the committee's vice chairwoman, Elna Darrow, passed away on Feb. 26.

Kim Crowley, director of the Flathead County Library, spoke to the group about options for the Bigfork Branch, and gave assurances that Bigfork had not been forgotten amid the county library's many projects.

BSC member Leslie Budowitz suggested that a local committee might be organized to help the library keep up with Bigfork-specific issues.

In other business, Budowitz also updated the committee on the progress of the North Lake County Planning and Zoning Committee, a sub group of the BSC that has been working for a few years to create a zoning district for the northeast corner of Lake County.

Budowitz said the committee sent a mailing to all landowners in the proposed district on Friday, March 13, with an update on the committee's progress, a schedule of activities and meetings and a sheet requesting comments on topics ranging from what a landowner thinks the future density of their property should be, to ideas about zones.

She said responses were requested back by April 20, so the committee could have time to compile the information leading up to the summer meetings in July that will be held for landowners to ask questions or give suggestions. One of those meetings is scheduled for July 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church, and Budowitz said information about another meeting and more specifics would be forthcoming.

Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman stopped by for a portion of the meeting and gave brief presentations about the fate of LC0118 — better known as the Village Bill — and questions about potential conflicts of interest on the county planning board.

Brenneman said in response to letters from the Bigfork community he has received regarding board member George Culpepper Jr., that there must be proof of direct financial benefit to constitute a legal conflict of interest.

Culpepper is a paid "Government Affairs Director" for the Flathead Building Association.

"If you're a lobbyist for an organization, it's pretty hard to prove you're getting direct financial benefits," Brenneman said.

Regarding the Village Bill, which was tabled in Helena two weeks ago, Brenneman said that though it garnered virtually no support, he didn't get any direct feedback about what was wrong with his proposal that would have created a middle ground of government between unincorporated communities and full incorporation.

"Basically I took notes, but nobody said anything," he said.

Brenneman said if there was significant community support, he would be willing to continue looking into the possibility.

On the upside, he said, the bill achieved something that no other proposal will likely get this session: "Opposition from both sides."

The committee also encouraged members to attempt to rally as many people as possible to attend the March 25 planning board meeting where the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan will be up for discussion after getting tabled at a hearing on Feb. 11.