Kalispell council to finalize fee increases, budget

The Kalispell City Council will decide Monday, Aug. 21, whether to increase residents’ urban-forestry and stormwater assessments.

In July the council passed a resolution of intent to raise the urban forestry assessment to a level that translates to an increase of about $27 annually for average residential property owners and $93 for commercial property owners. The city needs money to take care of a backlog of tree maintenance and expects the assessment increases to help cover about $400,000 worth of work over two years.

Stormwater fees are on track to increase from $44.55 to $89.21 for an average residential lot by fiscal year 2022. Commercial assessments bump up from $624 a year to $1,250. Along with financing the fund for 10 years and meeting its new requirements, the money raised through the higher assessments would go toward growth-related projects.

The additional funding means the council could consider a future 50 percent reduction in the stormwater impact fee.

The council got an earful from city residents during a public hearing earlier this month on the two assessment increases. Seniors on fixed incomes said the increases would cut deeply into their pocketbooks.

Others spoke in favor of the higher fees, citing the city’s mounting needs.

THE COUNCIL has a full agenda for Monday’s meeting.

The city’s final budget of $92.4 million will be considered for approval. The council held a public hearing in July on the fiscal year 2018 budget and made several changes, including $50,000 for a fire/EMS study; $50,000 for a dog park; $64,829 for an additional full-time maintenance employee; $200,000 to address city tree hazards and $400,000 to increase the service level in the forestry department; and an $8 million increase in the TIGER grant budget.

Final plat approval for the 29-lot Southside Estates subdivision will be considered. That subdivision is planned on 8.8 acres and would include 16 single-family lots and 13 duplex townhouse lots, for a total of 42 housing units. Southside Estates is planned near the intersection of Pintail and Merganser drives.

The council will consider the annexation and initial light industrial zoning of 3.89 acres along Airport Road where Stampede Packing Co. operates a meat-processing business. The property is under a state administrative order for discharge permits and permit limits for its existing drain field, according to the staff report to the council. The annexation will allow for connection to city sewer.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.