Page 39 - Flathead Beacon // 2.24.16

ENERGIZING THOUGHTS WENDY OSTROM PRICE CO-OP GM CHAIRS
BUILDING PERMITS
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED IN KALISPELL AND WHITEFISH IN JANUARY
POWER COUNCIL
“I
perspectives be heard.”
The Public Power Council is highly
in uential in the energy industry. Rep- resentatives are frequently called to testify in Washington, D.C. on key top- ics. Johnson says he appreciates a seat at the table to do his part in trying to keep power rates a ordable for mem- bers. “The leverage of this Council is so substantial, that I can’t imagine the BPA or other power authority making a decision without the blessing of the council. It represents consumer-owned utilities that range in size from 10 to over 400,000 customers, located in parts of seven western states.”
One key topic in which the PPC has been instrumentalinvolves the Colum- bia River Treaty. The Treaty is an agree- ment between Canada and the United States guiding the development of oper- ation of some water resources in the Columbia River Basin for ood con- trol and power needs. Johnson says the treaty is grossly imbalanced, with some estimates showing Canada receiving almost 10 times the bene ts that North- west interests receive, according to stud- ies by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the BPA (who serve as the entities that represent the U.S in Treaty discus- sions). “Final recommendations have been sent to the U.S. State Department, appropriately emphasizing the need to rebalance the sharing of bene ts.”
As the largest “stakeholder” repre- senting public power in the Northwest, recommendations by the Council are heeded and respected. “Bonneville sta – from the employees to the attorneys on up to top Administrator Elliot Mainzer – ask for our opinions and advice. They want to know what we think about every- thing from rates and policies, to the funding of energy e ciency programs, basically anything and everything that might impact our members. And I believe that the council has the best interests of our ratepayers in mind.”
The Public Power Council, head- quartered in Portland, Oregon, meets once a month and for ad hoc committee meetings as needed. Johnson says he looks forward to another year as Chair- man. “This is a very active and import- ant Council and I feel privileged to not only represent Flathead Electric Co-op, but to serve Montanans and our entire Northwest region as well.”
KALISPELL
RECIPIENT: Raymond and Lana Cunan; 20 E Nicklaus Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Robert W. Ross Bldg Const. FOR: Addition
VALUE: $7,995
RECIPIENT: Silvermont Properties LLLP; 115 W Monture Ct.
CONTRACTOR: Westcraft Homes
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $400,000
RECIPIENT: KNIC; 417 Bluebell Rd.
CONTRACTOR: Point Arbor Inc. FOR: Single-family residence VALUE: $157,836
RECIPIENT: Faith Free Lutheran Church; 405 Liberty St.
CONTRACTOR: Elite Fire Protection
FOR: Sprinkler
VALUE: $42,500
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 467 Mountain Vista Way
CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $193,330
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 465
Mountain Vista Way CONTRACTOR: Recipient FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $193,330
RECIPIENT: Derek and Janie Toren; 112 Ali Loop CONTRACTOR: Gillette Construction Inc. FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $300,000
RECIPIENT: Great Northern Medical Facilities, LLC; 1291 Burns Way
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $100,000
RECIPIENT: Faith Free Lutheran Church; 405 Liberty St.
CONTRACTOR: Stellar Integration and Safety FOR: Alarm system
VALUE: $14,000
RECIPIENT: Flathead Hospital Development Co.; 160 Heritage Way
CONTRACTOR: Systems Northwest LLC
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $16,662
RECIPIENT: Immanuel Lutheran Communities; 185
Crestline Ave.
CONTRACTOR: Swank Enterprises FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $65,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 43 Muskrat Dr. CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $128,000
RECIPIENT: Ron Terry Construction; 45 Muskrat Dr. CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Townhouse
VALUE: $128,000
RECIPIENT: Kalispell Regional Healthcare; 350 Heritage Way
CONTRACTOR: Systems Northwest LLC
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $12,510
RECIPIENT: Beth and Travis Collier; 294 Bu alo
Hill Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Flathead Construction Solutions FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $10,000
RECIPIENT: Silvermont Properties, LLLP; 127 Lazy Creek Way
CONTRACTOR: Westcraft Homes
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $200,000
RECIPIENT: Show Me Kalispell LLC; 250 Old Reserve Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Automatic Fire
FOR: Fire sprinkler
VALUE: $130,310 WHITEFISH
RECIPIENT: City of White sh; 418 E Second St. CONTRACTOR: Martel Const.
FOR: Garage/retail
VALUE: $6,961,606
RECIPIENT: City of White sh; 418 E Second St. CONTRACTOR: Martel Const.
FOR: City Hall
VALUE: $5,873,768
RECIPIENT: Joseph and Paulette Freeman; 1489 Barkley Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Owner
FOR: Addition
VALUE: $60,000
RECIPIENT: John and Kristin Haag; 706 Birch
Point Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Compass Construction FOR: Addition
VALUE: $100,000
RECIPIENT: Tumble Home LLC; 5035 Portage Way CONTRACTOR: Bighorn Development
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $230,000
RECIPIENT: Old MT Bldg Co; 4041 Red Eagle Dr. CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $380,000
RECIPIENT: Josh and Peggy Hertlein; 265 Texas Ave.
CONTRACTOR: TBD
FOR: Single-family residence
VALUE: $85,000
RECIPIENT: Curtis and Jodi Thew; 1490 Barkley
Ln.
CONTRACTOR: Owner FOR: Remodel VALUE: $200,000
RECIPIENT: Bob and Maggie Marchetti; 1750 E Lakeshore Dr.
CONTRACTOR: Fields Construction
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $630
RECIPIENT: Kris Gianos; 246 W Third CONTRACTOR: Recipient
FOR: Remodel
VALUE: $500
’VE LEARNED TO APPRECIATE the inner workings of the coun-
cil and the outstanding sta that works diligently to represent our rate- payers. I’ve also gained more insight into regional politics.” That’s accord- ing to Flathead Electric General Man- ager Mark Johnson, who recently com- pleted the rst year of his two-year term as chairman of the Public Power Coun- cil (PPC). Johnson is the rst executive committee member from Montana to serve in this capacity. At the time of his selection, PPC Executive Director Scott Corwin said, “PPC is very fortunate to have Johnson at the helm. The north- west public power community will be very well-served by his expertise and leadership.” Johnson says he is grate- ful for the opportunity to serve. “I’ve enjoyed working with the committee, other member utilities, and the PPC sta to handle the many issues facing public power.”
The Public Power Council, estab- lished in 1966, is an association that rep- resents over 100 consumer-owned elec- tric utilities in the Paci c Northwest. PPC’s mission is to preserve and pro- tect the bene ts of the Federal Colum- bia River Hydro-Power System for con- sumer-owned utilities, like Flathead Electric. Johnson says it is a key forum to identify, discuss and build consensus around energy and utility issues. “There is strength in numbers, so it is import- ant to have these regional connections and conversations. No one utility itself can confront the challenges of the Bon- neville Power Administration (BPA) rates, regulation mandates and so on by itself. Although we are associated with many regional entities who have vary- ing interests, there is a common goal – to protect the interests of our members.”
Johnson brings longevity to his role as chairman, attending council meet- ings since 2006. And Flathead Electric has historically been deemed a leader in the region in terms of power genera- tion, energy e ciency and overall par- ticipation with the public power indus- try. FEC has also generally enjoyed sup- port from its congressional delegation. Johnson says it’s signi cant that he is the rst chair from Montana. “We are on the eastern side of the BPA system, as opposed to being situated along the I-5 corridor, so it’s important that our
Wendy Ostrom Price is public relations o cer at Flathead Electric Cooperative
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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