Kalispell City Council weighs energy efficiency projects at work session

Kalispell City Council debated Monday how best to use an expected influx of federal grant dollars for various energy efficiency improvements.

The municipality stands to receive $75,940 through the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy. In order to secure the dollars, local officials must adopt an energy efficiency strategy and include goals for the city. 

Federal officials have provided municipalities with a set list of suggested goals, according to a memo City Manager Doug Russell prepared ahead of the Nov. 13 work session. Of those, he recommended Council adopt the goal of reducing energy use by 50% by 2050 or sooner. 

He left the final decision up to Council on Monday evening. 

“You just have to put a goal down,” he said. “There is no inspector.”

As to what the money will fund, city staff suggested channeling the funds toward solar powered lights for the parking lot at City Hall at a cost of about $30,000. The remaining dollars could go to constructing several crosswalks with solar powered flashing lights, at a cost of about $11,000 per location, and installing solar powered driver feedback signals, which alert motorists to their vehicle’s speed, estimated at $13,000 each.

City Councilor Ryan Hunter broached the idea of using the funds as an initial payment on a larger solar project than envisioned in the city manager’s memo, suggesting erecting solar panels in the municipality. Such an undertaking might cut the city’s energy costs significantly and in perpetuity, he argued. 

His colleagues expressed unease with the pitch, citing financial concerns. Russell told Council that an effort like building a field of solar panels would likely involve a consultant and hefty fees. 

Resident Walter Rowntree, speaking during the public comment portion, said his understanding of the intent behind the federal grant was to encourage sustainable construction rather than installing or changing out a few pieces of electrical equipment. 

But if Council favored making infrastructure improvements, Rowntree said he recommended prioritizing adopting solar lights in important areas in the event of power outages. 

COUNCIL ALSO considered a request for an easement on public land in Heritage Park to allow for construction of a driveway for the development of a privately-owned lot off of College Avenue. 

Much of the ensuing discussion centered around whether taxpayers funds should be used for an adequate turnaround space for emergency vehicles, like fire engines, and whether private development justified the disruption of a public space. 

The lot at the center of the easement request is located at 375 College Ave., according to city documents. Owners David and Sharon Young have entered into a contract with Jeremy Peterson for the construction of a single family home at the site, which lacks access to city services or streets. 

The property currently houses a trailer and an old storage building, according to city documents.

Debate over how to handle the request included descriptions of the abutting park. Hunter countered criticisms of the parkland as “muck and trees” or “swamp,” by arguing that “swamps are great habitats.”

Speaking during public comment, Rowntree offered his support for granting the easement. A paved driveway would help clarify the property line, he said. During past trips to the area, Rowntree thought he might have wandered onto private property owing to the unimproved state of trails in the park. 

City Councilor Sid Daoud also recalled past trips to the park, offering his colleagues a short account of searching for ducks in the area. 

CITY COUNCILOR Sam Nunnally congratulated his colleagues reelected during the Nov. 7 municipal election and said he had spoken with county officials concerning an error that left an unknown number of residents voting with incorrect ballots. The county Election Department oversaw municipal elections across the valley earlier this month.  

Nunnally, who was reelected to Council along with Hunter, Daoud and Kari Gabriel, said he is seeking a better understanding of the scope of the error, telling his colleagues that there were “huge areas of homes who received the wrong ballots.”

Mayor Mark Johnson offered his own concerns, noting that he found that “state law does not really address the issue.” 

The county will have to determine whether the error undermined the fairness of the election, he said. 

“So we’ll see,” Johnson said. “It will be interesting, making history — not the way I really want — once again.”

Reporter Carl Foster can be reached at cfoster@dailyinterlake.com.