County asked to consider water quality

It’s time to think about water regulations to protect property owners around Whitefish, John Sinrud, government affairs director for the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors, recently told Flathead County commissioners.

Sinrud said the time for such discussion has arrived because of the looming possibility that an interlocal agreement related to planning in a two-mile area around Whitefish will be terminated next year.

Sinrud presented commissioners with suggestions for water quality guidelines the county could implement if that interlocal agreement is terminated. He thinks commissioners should begin a review now and start accepting public comment on the issue so that a plan could immediately be implemented if the interlocal agreement is dissolved.

Commission Chairman Jim Dupont told Sinrud it might be a bit premature for commissioners to begin considering such regulations, because the county and the city are “still in negotiations” about the interlocal agreement.

But, Sinrud countered, if mediation doesn’t work out between the two entities, getting a jump start on water quality regulations would prove beneficial to the county.

Sinrud said his organization has multiple concerns, including worries about containment areas for storm water. He’s also interested in identifying what type of construction could degrade water quality in Whitefish and what drainages are important to Whitefish.

“We feel water quality is extremely important,” Sinrud said. “Without it, you’ll have a lot of problems.”

Realtors think their ability to set prices for properties is hampered without some sort of water regulations, he said.

Realtors support rules to prevent fertilizer from being used in containment areas, which generally are a 20-foot radius around lakes, he said.

“We know fertilizer is harmful to water, and we must maintain natural habitat in the area,” he said.

Members of his association also have concerns about the slope of ground where various construction will occur, he said. When slopes reach a certain percentage, conditions need to be put in place to protect water and landowners, he said.

Sinrud suggested the county adopt regulations that allow the county planning director to review proposed construction plans.

But, county Planning Director BJ Grieve said the county hasn’t developed any water quality plans for any other parts of the county.

Sinrud offered commissioners a copy of the city of Whitefish’s water quality protection ordinance as a model for a set of county regulations. Grieve said the framework used by Whitefish “would be difficult for our office to administer” because of the differences between the county planning office and the city’s planning department.

Commissioners in July gave a one-year termination notice to the city of Whitefish that would result in the end of the agreement. And, in November, Whitefish voters will decide if they want to repeal a 2010 city resolution that put a revised interlocal agreement in place.

Supporters of repealing the referendum say it cripples the city’s ability to govern itself effectively because Whitefish City Council members are unsure how the county might react to city legislation that affects the 2-mile zone.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.