Council to approve loan, discuss EMS rates

The Kalispell City Council tonight will hold both a regular meeting and work session discussion, with just a few items on the agenda.

The council will vote to approve the terms of a $45,000 loan from the Montana Board of Investments Intercap Loan Program.

The loan, which was included in the annual city budget approved in August, is for financing a used wood-chipping dump truck the city Parks Department purchased on Dec. 8. If the terms are approved, the loan would be available on Jan. 8, 2016.

In other business, the Kalispell Police Department will accept a $5,822 award from Flathead Electric Cooperative to purchase 10 tactical duty uniforms. The money will come from Flathead Electric’s Roundup for Safety initiative, where participating utility members allow the cooperative to round their bills up to the next dollar.

The council will also hear the second reading of an ordinance to update the city parking code to match rules and regulations already outlined by signs put up by the Kalispell Parking Commission.

Because Monday’s meeting agenda is short, the council will roll directly into a work session.

The work session will include a discussion on the rate structure for city emergency medical services. The current fees for an ambulance call range from $700 to $1,032.

The council will discuss the emergency service rates used by the city of Great Falls to help determine Kalispell rates. Great Falls’ basic rates fall between $901 and $1,059.

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. today in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.