Stormwater completion plans still on hold

Last Thursday morning’s meeting with Flathead County commissioners left the Bigfork Stormwater Advisory Committee no closer to moving forward with the remainder of the stormwater project, which is waiting for approval to continue with plans for forming a Rural Special Improvement District.

“This is do or die,” said BSAC chair Sue Hanson.

BSAC is dependent on county approval because the money currently in the committee’s budget is grant money allocated for education and outreach.

“They were insistent that the community fund some of this,” Hanson said.

The first three installments of the updated Bigfork stormwater system was completely paid for with grants. Those projects took place on Electric Ave., Grand Ave. and River Street, and totalled to about $1.2 million.

The committee needs about $7,000 in county funding to establish a boundary zone for the RSID, to pay the engineering firm, 48 North, to prepare for the RSID’s resolution of intent, and to pay for a final round of surveys to be sent out to residents within the boundary area.

Tax-based RSID districts are used to finance infrastructure improvements and are generally formed to pay for new roads. According to state law, an RSID can’t be formed if 40 percent or more of the affected landowners protest it.

An RSID would pay for the last installment of the stormwater project on the north and south ends of Bridge Street. Construction costs are expected to be about $1.2 million. Without the county’s help, the stormwater project can’t be completed.

Last Thursday, member’s of the stormwater committee made their case to county commissioner’s Dale Lauman and Cal Scott. Pam Holmquist was absent from the meeting, so a decision was held off until a later date.

Hanson said the committee has applied for a grant that is contingent on the RSID passing. That grant could potentially reduce the cost of the RSID by $100,000. She also said there are property owners, such as Western States Insurance, on Bridge Street that currently put thousands of dollars into mitigating the effects of water run-off because of inadequate road drainage.

She pointed out to commissioners that putting the stormwater system in would help alleviate damage caused by run-off, adding that eventually property owners could hold the county responsible for maintaining proper drainage on Bridge Street.

If the RSID doesn’t go through, BSAC board member David Christensen told commissioners that eventually the Department of Environmental Quality could hold the county responsible for updating the stormwater system because it doesn’t meet DEQ run-off standards.

“Costs will spiral with the management and oversight that come with it,” Christensen said.

Commissioner Lauman said he was interested in any kind of funding help the county could get.

Until the decision is made, Bigfork residents who would like to submit comments on the project to the county commissioners can do so by emailing them. Emails to commissioners can be sent by visiting http://flathead.mt.gov/commissioner/contact_us.php and filling out the form.