Kalispell council to talk about EMS levy request

 The Kalispell City Council will hold a work session tonight that will include a discussion about the city’s proposed emergency medical services levy that will be on the November ballot.

City Manager Doug Russell said in a memo that there will be another measure with implications for the city — one put on the ballot by Flathead County to establish a special district for the county 911 operation. 

“As the November election is less than two months away, we will revisit and discuss with council the background on the two issues, efforts that are taking place to provide information to the public, and related matters that council may wish to discuss regarding the two issues,” Russell wrote.

The city is requesting voter approval of a special tax levy to raise $736,000 a year to fund emergency medical services.

Separately, the county is requesting formation of a special district to fund 911 dispatch services. That would cost up to $25 per residential unit or $50 per commercial unit.

Also on the agenda, the council will hear about a proposed ordinance that would require pawn shops or secondhand dealers to submit records to a different database than the one the city is currently using.

“Unfortunately, the method identified in the current ordinance is problematic to enforce as it presents a burdensome recording and tracking system for the operations and the department,” Police Chief Roger Nasset said. “The proposed ordinance would require electronic reporting to a database which provides for a more efficient search of potential stolen items.”

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall on First Avenue East.