New county panel hears same old road complaints

Nine months after being fined $29,000 for poor air quality caused by dusty roads, Flathead County is taking one of its first tangible steps toward mitigating the problem.

The Flathead County Road and Bridge Committee met for the first time last week.

Creating the citizen-based committee is one of the conditions in the county's Dust Mitigation Action Plan required by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

Though the meeting was primarily a "getting to know you" session, the board heard from representatives from the commissioner's office and around 10 members of the public.

County Administrator Mike Pence warned the group, "This is a difficult assignment and I think you knew that when you sign up for the committee."

Pence lauded committee members for their willingness to step forward and get to work on a complicated issue.

"It's time we got a little more involvement from the public," he said.

Members of the public then voiced a number of complaints and concerns.

Whitey Boughton of Whitefish articulated grievances that several others echoed.

"We hear this all the time, that the county doesn't have enough money to pave the roads," Boughton said. "There are a lot of different ways to raise money."

Boughton suggested the county use impact fees, increased fees on license plates and taxing a percentage from each new lot bought and sold as avenues to pay for road maintenance.

Paul Abel said he was glad the commissioners decided to set up the committee and that fairness for all residents should be the paramount priority.

Newly appointed Public Works Director Dave Prunty summed up citizens' major question as: Why isn't the county's growing tax base covering the cost of infrastructure improvements?

Prunty explained, "We certainly have a lot of money coming in, but we have many more additional costs as well."

Members of the public repeatedly asked why more money simply cannot be put into the department's coffers.

Pence attempted to explain Flathead County's operating budget to the group but eventually suggested that those with questions should visit with him on an individual basis.

Prunty said the committee probably will have to limit public comment at future meetings to ensure the board can get work done.

He said the committee probably would allow about 15 minutes of public comment at every meeting and then intermittently hold meetings where the public can speak at length.

According to Prunty, the first task for the five-member committee is to get acquainted with the practices of the Road Department.

"We are really going to be loading these guys down with a lot of information," Prunty said, although he also noted that committee members all have backgrounds in some sort of road construction or development.

Committee members are Charles Lapp, Karl Schrade, Dan Siderius, David Hilde and Mike Schlegel.

The group decided to tentatively set the next committee meeting for Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. in the Solid Waste Conference Room.

Reporter Amy May may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com