Public weighs in on Kalispell utility rates
The Kalispell City Council heard dozens of public comments on proposed utility fee increases, impact fee decreases and potential apartment buildings at its meeting Monday.
The Public Works Department is working on updating the city’s utility rates and impact fees, since it has been nine years since the last rate study. Under the current proposal, sewer rates would go up by about $13 a month throughout 2021 and by about $3 per month every subsequent year until 2025. Water rates would increase about $3 per month every year until 2025. However, impact fees would decrease across the board.
Shawn Koorn from HDR Engineering provided an overview of the rate study and proposed changes. He explained the need for capital improvements and capital debt accounts for about three-quarters of the water rate structure, while the sewer rate is largely impacted by the city’s agreement with Evergreen, which only pays for sewer treatment but not collection. Koorn also clarified the impact fees are calculated based on current users and potential future users.
Many residents expressed concern with the impact fee decreases and raised questions about how these changes might affect low-income and older customers. A few people also took issue with the rate increases, especially for older citizens on fixed incomes.
“I do not understand the urgency and the abrupt rise in water and sewer rates,” said Eloise Hill.
“That’s pretty scary that I can’t afford water in my own house,” added Amery Zedd.
The council didn’t take any action following the public hearing, but will review all of the public comments at its work session next Monday.
Council members also heard from 17 people on proposed ordinances that would annex property at 672 and 680 Two Mile Drive, rezone it from county to city property and potentially allow for apartment buildings to be constructed there. The 7-acre property is owned by the Montana Department of Transportation.
Residents of the nearby Greenbriar community voiced concerns about increased congestion, safety issues, a lack of sidewalks and opposition to apartment buildings on this property.
“All of Greenbriar will be affected by the proposed changes…our home values will suffer, our peaceful solitude will be damaged, the safety of our children will be compromised,” said Heinz Henke, whose home abuts the property in question.
The council approved the annexation on a 5-4 vote with council members Tim Kluesner, Nunnally and Kyle Waterman opposed.
“We are not approving a development today,” council member Ryan Hunter pointed out. “It’s just zoning…we’re not approving apartments today.”
Council member Chad Graham proposed they change the city zoning from RA-1 (Residential Apartment) to R-4 (Residential), which elicited a round of applause from the many Greenbriar residents in attendance. The main motion to change the property’s zoning designation subsequently passed with council members Sid Daoud, Waterman and Mayor Mark Johnson opposed.
The rest of the council’s agenda items passed with less fanfare.
The council unanimously approved a zone change request from Sandra Sulewski to rezone a small property at 1260 North Meridian Road currently zoned R-3 (Residential) to B-1 (Neighborhood Business).
The council also unanimously passed a final plat request for Snowline Acreage, an 8-acre “remainder tract” of land from a previously approved multi-family development located north of Bloomstone Homes, west of Kidsports and south of the My Place Hotel.
The council also voted to adopt new building and fire codes in accordance with the state of Montana’s recent adoption of 2018 codes. These codes are typically updated every three years. The council held a work session on the codes last Monday, and Daoud asked a further question at the meeting about how the codes could potentially affect tiny homes in Kalispell.
At the end of the meeting, the council discussed precautions to protect Kalispell residents from the coronavirus.
Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.