10 votes: 911 bid still loses
<p>Flathead County Finance Director Sandy Carlson and others recount more than 30,000 ballots on Friday in Kalspell. The recount confirmed that voters narrowly defeated a request to form an emergency dispatch district. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Flathead County’s emergency services ballot measure came up 10 votes short of a win in a recount on Friday.
A crew of 28 people — mostly county employees — conducted the manual recount, tallying 15,207 votes in favor of creating the special district to provide ongoing funding for the 911 dispatch center, and 15,217 votes against the measure.
The recount yielded five more “no” votes and six more “yes” votes. The measure went into the recount process with an 11-vote spread, with 15,201 in favor and 15,212 against.
“This reaffirms how accurate the voting process is,” Elections Manager Monica Eisenzimer said.
It took 3 1/2 hours to conduct the recount.
Flathead County Clerk and Recorder Paula Robinson oversaw the recounting process. She said using county employees “saved us a bucket load of money.”
The last county vote recount occurred in 2012 with a close vote between Republican county commissioner candidates Jay Scott and Gary Krueger; Krueger prevailed and was elected commissioner later that year.
Robinson said there never has been a recount for a county ballot issue that she can recall.
Turner Askew of Whitefish, a previous 911 center board member, petitioned for the recount by collecting signatures from at least 10 registered voters.
The ballot request would have created a special district to raise about $1.8 million annually for the operation of the consolidated 911 center.
County Administrator Mike Pence said the Flathead Emergency Communications Center Administrative Board that oversees the 911 center has discussed how to move forward and likely will consider putting the measure on the ballot again, either for the 2016 primary or general election.
Pence speculated the city of Kalispell’s emergency services levy, which also failed in the November election, may have been a factor for some voters when considering the county measure.
The county and incorporated cities of Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish operate the consolidated center through an interlocal agreement, but the initial funding strategy didn’t provide for capital improvements such as technology upgrades or replacement of equipment.
“We had capital funds to start out, but they’re diminishing,” Pence said, adding that the capital account has dwindled to about $100,000. “We should be assessing for both operations and capital.
“It will be a difficult discussion,” he said about how to manage financially in light of the rejection of the special district.
The interlocal agreement has a funding formula based on population, with the county footing about two-thirds of the budget and the cities providing the other third.
The proposed district would have been funded with a flat annual fee of $25 per residential unit and $50 for each commercial unit, up to a maximum of 30 units.
Because the 911 center is of equal benefit to anyone who calls it during an emergency, the funding committee sought a formula that recognized that value and didn’t penalize anyone unduly.
The administrative board includes Sheriff Chuck Curry as chairman, Columbia Falls City Manager Susan Nicosia, Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial, Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson, Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist and County Attorney Ed Corrigan.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.