Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls, MT · Municipal
Lake County Leader
Rollins Fire completes community-funded addition and remodel
After outgrowing its space, the Rollins Volunteer Fire Department sought support from the community and raised $2.2 million to fund necessary upgrades and a station addition. The previous station was a narrow, 6,000-square-foot, six-bay structure with a small training area and no room to work on engines. The station continued to grow in this space, but as it acquired more equipment, some engines had to be stored at volunteers' houses, creating a logistical hassle for five years. Fire Chief Carey Cooley said the department has seen significant growth in both volunteer numbers and call volume. The department was founded in 1962 by three couples who pooled their money together and purchased a used fire engine, the department now serves a growing population and has more than 20 volunteers. Cooley has been part of the department since 1992, has watched her dad serve as the Rollins chief, and said department operations have completely shifted from how they did it back then. Fire departments like Rollins used to respond only to house or car fires, but now it's evolved into rescues and medical calls. Overall, calls have increased, with the department responding to 56 in 2023 and projected to respond to more
NBCMontana
Kalispell City Council approves new tiny homes code
KALISPELL, Mont. — The Kalispell City Council met on Monday to vote on adding tiny homes to the city code. The council voted yes to Ordinance 1956, which adopts 2024 Building Codes, the 2023 National Electrical Code, and adds an appendix on tiny homes. This decision follows suit of...
Bigfork Eagle
Bigfork veteran groups receive support from Whiskey, Blades and the Brave
Whiskey, Blades and the Brave, a nonprofit organization supporting veterans' groups in the Flathead Valley, presented checks Oct. 13 to three local recipients at a meeting of the Bigfork VFW. The recipients included the Bigfork VFW, the Veterans Coalition of Northwest Montana and Underwater Soldiers. “We are very blessed to be able to do this, and we hope to be able to do this for many more years and keep supporting organizations like these that support our veterans here in the Flathead because we know there is a lot of need for all different types of help,” Whiskey, Blades and the Brave president Michelle Moore said. “We just appreciate all of you and everything you’ve done and all of those that have served our nation. Thank you.” Whiskey, Blades and the Braves focuses on supporting veterans’ organizations that only serve the Flathead Valley and are primarily staffed by volunteers to maximize the impact on veterans in need. Montana has one of the largest populations of veterans in the United States. The Bigfork VFW, located on Montana 35 just before downtown Bigfork, aims to be a gathering place for both veterans and the community, according to Post Quartermaster Ron Wenzel. The
Lake County Leader
Ronan City Council hires grant manager for Friends of the Children project, continues wastewater project work
At the business-packed Ronan City Council meeting Oct. 14, Ronan city attorney Clif Hayden reviewed the Friends of the Children grant administration contract, project administration plan, interlock agreement, and the city’s contract with the Montana Department of Commerce, taking questions from council members as he went through the documentation. Friends of the Children received a Community Block Development Grant for the exterior of the building they are rehabbing on Main Street in Ronan. Billie Lee will be the grant administrator, and “the professional services agreement is the city’s contract with Lee to help manage the grant,” Hayden explained. The effective date will be Oct. 1. City clerk/treasurer Kaylene Melton had questions and corrections, including city personnel’s role for all FOTC grants. City personnel will only handle FOTC’s CDBG funds, including helping Lee prepare final financial papers. After adding the definitions and employee duties, council members voted to approve the corrected edition of the documents, which Hayden will have ready for signatures and submission to the state this week. Ronan’s Public Works Director Dan Miller brought forward a resolution proposing to accept Morrison-Maierle as design engineer for the city’s wastewater improvement project, and council members approved it. Council also passed an
NBCMontana
Rollins Volunteer Fire Dept. dedicated after community raises $2.2 million for new station
ROLLINS, Mont. — A small Montana community has made a big investment in its own safety. In Rollins, around 550 households came together to raise $2.2 million for a new volunteer fire station, without state or federal funding. The department has been all-volunteer since 1962, when three community members...
Bigfork Eagle
Lakeside zoning proposal headed to commissioners
A Lakeside neighborhood is one step closer to protection from unwanted development after the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Board on Oct. 14 voted unanimously to recommend approval of a proposed new zoning district. While there was some quibbling over the details of the proposal as residents expressed concerns about how the new zoning district would impact their properties during the public comment period, the Planning Board concluded that there is a consensus among property owners to protect the residential character of the neighborhood. “There are a lot of mixed feelings going on. Like, we want something, but we just don't know if it's this,” board member Marie Hickey AuClaire said. “I know nothing's perfect, but I feel like overall, you guys all want to protect that area. Maybe it's just not the right fit for every single thing. But I know that there are mechanisms in place that you can always change. We see zoning changes constantly here.” The proposed district, known as Lakeside Boulevard South Zoning District, would incorporate properties along Lakeside Boulevard, Overlook Terrace and Political Hill Road south of downtown Lakeside. The proposed district encompasses approximately 82 acres and 40 ownership parties, according to the staff
Flathead Beacon
Flathead Beacon
Urban Renewal Agency Advances Kalispell Center Mall TIF Request to City Council
The Texas-based developer who owns Kalispell Center Mall is back with a request for city funds to transform the shopping center. Parkline Partners, an affiliate of the SHOP Development Company, pulled its original application for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district funds earlier this year after shrinking the request from $23 million to $16.9 million. The new application, which the city’s Urban Renewal Agency (URA) unanimously recommended Thursday, asks for $13.9 million.
KPAX
Kalispell Center Mall TIF request to go in front of city council
NBCMontana
BobFest returns to Flathead Valley with live music, games and wilderness fun
KALISPELL, Mont. — A little wilderness, a little live music, and a whole lot of Montana fun! BobFest returns to the Flathead Valley, bringing the community together to support stewardship of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation’s annual fundraiser is Friday at the Flathead County Fairgrounds...