Kalispell sees its destiny in sewer extension
"Sewer" and "destiny" were close to synonymous Tuesday night when the Kalispell City Council showed initial support for a $1.841 million plan to extend sewer services beyond city limits north of West Reserve Drive.
Laying lines there could give the council more say in how Two Rivers - a planned 1,836-acre multi-use project - develops in the future.
"We can control the destiny of the city if we put this sewer line in," councilman Bob Herron said.
That word peppered a lengthy conversation during the council's work session.
"If we're going to control the city's destiny," councilman Duane Larson weighed in, "I think this is an important part of it."
The Two Rivers project is the largest landowner-proposed growth policy amendment in the Flathead Valley's history.
The landowners want to change the land-use designation from agricultural to an assortment of commercial, residential and industrial and open space uses.
The development is under review by the Flathead County Planning Board, which has asked city officials if municipal sewer and water services could be extended.
Council members speculated that sewer lines would give Kalispell a voice in how Two Rivers and surrounding areas develop. And that means some control over the destiny of the city's northern border, the majority of the council said.
"It's a given," Mayor Pam Kennedy said. "We know we're going to grow in that direction, so let's get on with business and let's get this accomplished."
Kennedy's comment echoed the sentiment of most of the council, but that didn't mean some concerns weren't raised.
The council discussed whether growth could be predicted accurately enough to justify the project expense. The council talked about construction time lines and the inconvenience to drivers if Whitefish Stage Road were ripped up for sewer installation.
And the council considered whether or not the city should put money into a project outside city limits.
"Rather than sending out our tentacles," councilman Bob Hafferman said, "we should be consolidating our boundaries."
The council also talked about finding partners (probably developers) to help fund the project. The consensus was to wait for commitments from partners before beginning construction.
The city has in place system development fees that would pay for the project. New users pay the fees when they connect to city services, and a portion is reserved for growth-related projects.
"Current rate payers don't pay for this," Public Works Director Jim Hansz said.
The city likely would sell bonds to cover costs before money from new users started coming in, Hansz said.
Development partners who would provide up-front money would bring down the city's price tag - an option that appealed to the council.
The council decided that at its March 7 meeting, it will vote on a resolution of intent to continue working on the project and to find partners, essentially making official the council's interest in laying sewer lines north of the city.
The council also reviewed a report on extending water services to the north, but it rejected the idea, saying landowners can pursue other options.
The sewer project calls for placing underground lines in the center of the northbound driving lane of Whitefish Stage Road from West Evergreen Drive to Rose Crossing.
The project could start this spring if the council approves it. About 10,900 feet of sewer lines would be put in at a rate of up to 500 feet per day.
The new lines, though, would not serve all of the Two Rivers development. The city outlined a service area that would be directly accessible to the new main line and would not require new lift stations. So any property east of the Whitefish River would have to put in lift stations to hook on to the main line.
The service area would cover about 2,000 acres and would be directly accessible for properties such as the proposed Glacier Mall that are not included in the Two Rivers plan.
Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com