Sewer extension gets initial go-ahead

Extending sewer lines north of Kalispell got an initial go-ahead from the Kalispell City Council on Monday night.

But the council is inclined to get developers to pitch in on the $1.84 million project to extend sewer lines along Whitefish Stage Road north of West Reserve Drive.

On a 6-3 vote, the council approved the first step in the project.

"It's time we step up and show our intent to sewer," councilman Bob Herron said.

The council's resolution states the city will go ahead with soliciting the private sector for proposals to help fund the project.

The council hopes the action will show the development community Kalispell is serious about running sewer lines north of town to the Two Rivers area - and entice developers to help fund the extension.

Council members heard from a dozen people before voting.

Two Rivers is a proposed 1,836-acre multi-use development north of city limits. Flathead County has jurisdiction over Two Rivers, which will go before the county planning board March 30.

The county and the city intend to work together on planning for growth in the Two Rivers area. The City Council has said running sewer lines to the area will help solidify the city's role in planning.

"I think you're showing real leadership in working with the county," said Mayre Flowers of Citizens for a Better Flathead.

She said the city is wise to work with the county on an area that affects both city and county residents. However, the city needs to think longer and harder about the sewer extension, she said.

Monday's other comments from the public covered a range of issues. But the main theme was that developers, not the city and its residents, should cover the cost of this project and others associated with growth.

"We seem to be on the road to subsidizing developers," one man said.

Developers should pick up the tab for growth-related projects, he stated. That philosophy was echoed by several other speakers who said the City Council should not initiate or pay for projects such as this one.

Several people told the council it needs to do more planning on the Two Rivers issue and in general. And planning means letting the community, not developers, prepare proposals for what it wants to see, one woman said.

At least one councilman made the public's comments his deciding factor.

"I'm going to speak up for the public and say this is too much too soon," Randy Kenyon said.

The majority of the council, though, said Kalispell needs to lay sewer lines to ensure the city's partial control in growth north of town and to protect the area from possible problems with septic systems.

"We owe it to our community to do this," council member Jim Atkinson said.

Joining Kenyon on the negative vote were council members Jayson Peters and Bob Hafferman.

Peters said he voted no because the city is premature in voting on the sewer extension before the county has made any decisions. Hafferman opposes the project because he wants to be sure developers, not Kalispell, pay for any extensions.

The city can assess system development fees that would pay for the project, Public Works Director Jim Hansz said. New users pay the fees when they connect to city services, and a portion is reserved for growth-related projects.

The city likely would sell bonds to cover costs before money from new users started coming in, Hansz said. Any development partners providing up-front money would bring down the city's price tag.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com