Brenneman proud of problem-solving
County Commissioner Joe Brenneman is pictured at his farm off Steel Bridge Road last spring east of Kalispell. Brenneman is running for a second term as commissioner.
As Joe Brenneman sees it, the ability to collaborate with other local governments is just as important as leadership in being an effective Flathead County commissioner.
The Democratic incumbent said one of the reasons he feels he has been successful in moving projects forward is his ability “to come up with an idea and put in place the framework for the community to solve the problem.”
He cited his involvement with a grant-funded stormwater treatment system for Bigfork, the creation of the Flathead County River Commissioner and the formation of a Emergency Medical Services board as examples of improvements he’s had a hand in accomplishing.
Brenneman, a Creston dairy farmer who is being challenged by Republican Pam Holmquist of Evergreen, said he has put a lot of time into problem-solving since he took office in 2005. It has paid off, he said, in the county’s financial standing.
“The budget shows we’ve been pretty successful in dealing with the recession,” he said.
Brenneman has pushed for consolidation that hasn’t always been popular, such as his attempt earlier this year to consolidate the elected position of superintendent of schools with the Treasurer’s Office. That plan was discarded after heavy public opposition.
“I believe the commissioners should bring these ideas up,” he said. “To not ask the questions doesn’t serve the taxpayers well.”
Brenneman said he constantly strives for government efficiency.
He has been a target for property-rights advocates who have taken issue with some of his decisions, but Brenneman stands by his votes.
That includes the controversial North Shore Ranch project at the north end of Flathead Lake. Brenneman voted against the subdivision, the developers sued the county and the county had to pay a $1 million settlement.
“I’d like to know what state laws weren’t followed,” he said about the commission’s decision to deny the North Shore project based on its proximity to an environmentally sensitive wildlife preserve.
A revised interlocal agreement for planning control of Whitefish’s two-mile planning “doughnut” is “fundamentally a good step in the right direction,” he said, because it sets up a framework for integration between the county and city over land-use regulations for that area.
The city and county are trying to find a way to settle a lawsuit filed by Whitefish after the county rescinded the interlocal agreement two years ago.
“In reading through it, I didn’t see anything that was a deal-breaker,” Brenneman said. “This is what we should’ve done two years and $50,000 ago.”
The proposed agreement still is undergoing revisions, but it essentially would give the commissioners veto power over any new laws initiated by Whitefish that affect the doughnut.
Brenneman said he has worked hard at getting grant money to help improve the county’s infrastructure.
He got $4 million for a new digital radio system for the county and brought in $1.2 million for Bigfork’s stormwater system.
Water quality has been high on Brenneman’s agenda.
Starting a Flathead County River Commission was his idea. He secured $90,000 in state grant funding that will enable the commission to develop a strategic plan for countywide wastewater treatment. For example, a bigger treatment facility for the entire North Valley may one day be more effective and cost-efficient, he said.
“Sometimes when municipalities are focused on just what they see, there can be tunnel vision,” Brenneman said, adding that the River Commission could provide a broader overview of water-treatment needs.
Public safety is another of Brenneman’s priorities. He pushed for consolidation of law-enforcement dispatch centers into one centralized 911 center. He also has been very involved with the Northern Tier Interoperability Consortium that is establishing a new communications network to link law-enforcement and government agencies across Northern Montana.
The consortium project has meant a lot of trips to Helena for Brenneman, but the results are tangible, he said.
“Flathead County has gone from being on the tail end to being one of the leaders in implementing the new system,” he said.
Coming Sunday: Republican challenger Pam Holmquist talks about her straightforward campaign message.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com