Bigfork residents have to Dec. 24 to decide on new runoff system

It’s now up to the people.

Owners of 564 properties around the core of Bigfork have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24 to have their say in the creation of a new tax district that would pay for upgrades to Bigfork’s stormwater collection system.

The Flathead County commissioners voted last month to create a rural special improvement district that would fund the final phase of the Bigfork stormwater system. 

Notices regarding the resolution have been sent to property owners who would be subject to the new tax. 

Flathead County initiated the stormwater project in 2007 because of concerns of drainage pollution to Flathead Lake from runoff around Bigfork. The project is designed to reduce stormwater pollutants running into Bigfork Bay, the Swan River and Flathead Lake. It was divided into four phases. The first three phases were completed in 2011.

The final phase depends on the creation of a tax district to fund the remainder of the project, as well as ongoing maintenance to keep the system functioning properly.

The final phase of the project will focus on installing new stormwater pipes along the north and south sides of Electric Avenue to the Steel Bridge, and from Montana 35 and Montana 209 to the Steel Bridge. To improve surface runoff, curbs and gutters will be installed that parallel the road. Additional catch basins would be installed and runoff caught in the conveyance pipes would then travel through two filtration systems — a hydrodynamic separator and a cartridge filtration facility.

There are 564 parcels in the purposed special improvement district, which is based on the drainage area around downtown Bigfork.

The 564 parcels are owned by approximately 203 different individuals, and about 30 of the lots are undeveloped. Condominium units within the district are counted as a full parcel and subject to the same share of costs as all other parcels.

The county would issue up to $1.206 million in rural special improvement district bonds to pay a portion of the costs of the stormwater improvements. The bonds would be repaid from special assessments levied against properties in the tax district. That cost would be split among the 564 properties, making the total cost to each property $2,138, exclusive of interest on the special assessments. Special assessments will be spread over 20 years in equal installments of principal and interest. Property owners would have the option to prepay all or a portion of their special assessment or to pay it on a semi-annual basis over the course of 20 years.

In addition, if the tax district is created, a maintenance district with the same boundaries as the tax district will be created to cover maintenance costs of the stormwater system. The maintenance costs would be assessed annually and would likely change each year. The estimated maintenance assessment to each parcel for the first year is $29.54.

A report released in September showed that the improvements in 2011 reduced pollution of total suspended solids by at least 75 percent, and there was a 50 percent reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen.

Maintenance costs on Bigfork’s existing system currently come from the Flathead County road and bridge department’s general fund. 

Protests regarding the tax district must be submitted to the County Clerk and Recorder no later than 5 p.m. on Dec. 24. Owners of condominium properties must file their protest through their condominium owners association.

The Flathead County commissioners will have a public hearing Dec. 29 at 10 a.m. at the commissioners’ chambers to decide on the creation or extension of the district. 

The full resolution of intent can be found at http://flathead.mt.gov/commissioner/bfs_rsid.php. 

For information call 758-5503.