Kalispell council to vote on utility rate increase

by BRET ANNE SERBIN
Daily Inter Lake | March 16, 2020 1:00 AM

After months of deliberation, the Kalispell City Council tonight will vote on adopting new utility rates and impact fees.

The Kalispell Public Works Department has been working on reviewing and updating the city’s water rates, sewer rates and impact fees since tasking HDR Engineering with doing a study of these structures in March 2019. The council most recently held a work session on the proposed changes on Monday, March 9.

The city has proposed increasing sewer rates 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. Meanwhile, impact fees would decrease across the board.

At last week’s work session, some council members suggested the city postpone adopting the new rate structure and potentially amend the proposal, largely due to concerns about the effect these changes would have on fixed-income residents. Multiple residents showed up to voice concerns about these impacts when the city held a public hearing on the rate structure on March 2.

Full details of the rate study and proposed structure can be found at https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03162020-414

The council will also hold the second reading on a zoning change request from the Montana Department of Transportation to create R-4 (Single Family Residential) zoning for a property near the Greenbriar neighborhood on Two Mile Drive. The property is located at 672/680 Two Mile Drive between Greenbriar and the U.S. 93 Alternate.

At the first reading of the zone change and initial city annexation of the property on March 2, 17 people shared their concerns with the council about annexing, rezoning and developing this property. Greenbriar residents were worried about an apartment building being constructed there and safety issues along Two Mile Drive.

The first reading ultimately passed on a 6-3 vote.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.