Owners split on Bad Rock Drive paving plan

Landowners who might be forced to pay for paving Bad Rock Drive acknowledge the road is dusty, but don't think they should shoulder the costs of paving the road.

The Flathead County Commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal to create a Rural Special Improvement District or RSID for the area east of Columbia Falls. As part of the RSID, landowners would pay for paving the road through increases on their tax bills. The plan received mixed reviews from those in attendance.

"The people I've talked to want costs for these improvements to be spread around," said Tom McKay. "Just because it's in their backyard they shouldn't have to pay for it all. It's grossly excessive."

McKay lives on Blue Jay Way, which intersects with Bad Rock Drive. He said the RSID would increase his tax bill by 20 percent.

The commissioners did not comment on the proposal Tuesday and voted to continue the matter on Thursday. A time of that meeting was not available as of press time.

The county is proposing to double-chip seal the road as part of the district. The portion slated for paving is between Middle Road and Columbia Falls Stage Road. The district is made up of 54 parcels to the north and south of Bad Rock Drive.

The total cost of paving the road is estimated at $204,505. The cost per tract is estimated at about $3,788 — which would be spread over a term not exceeding 10 years.

County Administrative Officer Mike Pence said owners may actually pay less than the estimate if the RSID is created.

The county will pay for the base work to the road and also a percentage of the other costs. That percentage is based on traffic studies that estimate the through traffic on the road.

"The number you received in your notice — it will be lower. The assessment amount will be lower," Pence told owners.

For some the cost still seems to be too high.

"The cost seems like a huge amount for taxpayers when this is a through road," said Jennifer Ashe. "This is not just a dead-end road that we're just using — it's a county road."

An RSID is created as a way of financing infrastructure improvements. It can't be formed if it's protested by 50 percent of landowners.

The county only received 12 protest letters. Of those five are from parcels that have waivers of protest on the face of the plat. Those waivers guarantee inclusion in an RSID, if created.

Blue Jay Way is one of the areas with a waiver.

Doug Barth, a Blue Jay Way resident, said he's in favor of the district.

"People live on the road and create dust and just don't take care of it," said Barth. "The developer or the landowners have to take care of the dust eventually."