Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 8.17.16

NEWS
CITY BEAT
LIBBY
Raines Resigns From Council, Roll Recall On Hold
Libby City Councilor Dejon Raines has resigned from her post after learning she will become a mother next year. Mean- while, the e ort to recall Mayor Doug Roll has stalled after a restraining order was led against the petition in Lincoln County District Court.
Raines was appointed to the Libby City Council in 2015 to replace Robin Benson, who had been elected Lincoln County’s Clerk and Recorder. Raines’ resignation went into e ect immediately and now has the council looking to appoint a sixth member who will serve until the next municipal election in November 2017.
The search for a new city councilor comes as Libby’s mayor is the target of a contentious recall e ort. Mayor Roll recently led a restraining order against the recall petition that was led by Libby resident Tammy Brown, e ectively put- ting the e ort on hold until a district court judge can determine if the petition
will be thrown out. A hearing has been set for Aug. 23 at 9 a.m. to determine the validity of the restraining order. Former Troy Mayor Donald Banning led a sim- ilar suit when he was targeted by a recall e ort in 2012. That restraining order was later overruled and the recalled was allowed to move forward. He was removed from o ce in May 2012.
WHITEFISH
City Resort Tax Collections Up
White sh is seeing an uptick in its resort tax collections with the addition of lodging accommodations and a 1 percent- age point resort tax increase, which vot- ers overwhelmingly approved last year to help nance the purchase of a conserva- tion easement in Haskill Basin.
The city’s resort tax on lodging, restau- rant food and drinks and retail items increased from 2 percent to 3 percent.
On an equivalent basis of the 2 per- cent resort tax this year compared to last year, resort tax collections in June were up by 13.7 percent, or $28,221. For
the year-to-date, the comparative 2 per- cent Resort Tax was up 2.12 percent, or $46,777.
Lodging was up by over $16,000 with the Hampton Inn and Suites having opened in late April.
Overall, with the additional 1 percent resort tax that voters approved, the 3 per- cent Resort Tax was up by 70.53 percent, or $145,428 for June compared to the 2 percent Resort Tax in June 2015.
KALISPELL
City Accepting Public Comment on Downtown Trail, Street Connections
Residents are encouraged to submit public comment on a pair of projects planned for Kalispell’s core area.
The city is moving forward with a revi- talization plan that would include replac- ing two miles worth of railroad tracks in downtown with a sprawling bike and pedestrian trail system. The plan also calls for reconnecting at least six streets along Railroad Street West on the north side of the Kalispell Center Mall. The
neighborhood is fragmented by the tracks, and by rejoining the streets, city sta see the potential redevelopment of roughly 14 acres of land that is landlocked and underutilized. Both projects could begin by 2019.
As part of the National Environmen- tal Protection Act, Kalispell is accept- ing public comment on both proposals. A printed informational newsletter will be mailed to property owners in the core area this week. Additionally, information will be available and survey responses requested at Northwest Montana Fair— Expo Building on Wednesday, Aug 17 thru Friday, Aug 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A pair of open houses will be held at City Hall; the rst is Wednesday, Aug. 24, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a formal presenta- tion at 6 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a formal presentation at noon. Comments can be submitted to Katharine Thompson, Kalispell’s com- munity development manager at 758- 7713 or [email protected].
news@ atheadbeacon.com
Two Grizzly Bears Captured in White sh
Residents advised to pick fruit trees, secure attractants as bears roam the Flathead Valley in search of food
BY TRISTAN SCOTT OF THE BEACON
Wildlife managers captured two grizzly bears in White sh this week, prompting agency specialists to remind residents to pick their fruit trees and secure other attractants like garbage and pet food.
One bold young grizzly showed up in White sh on Aug. 9 on Dakota Avenue in a residential neighbor- hood. Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Man- ley, of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, set a trap in the late morning near the cherry tree the bear was seen climbing. The bear was spotted several more times that evening near Wildwood Condos and near the Tiki Bar at the Lodge at White sh Lake.
The bear was captured in the trap on Aug. 10 about noon after visiting the same cherry tree. The bruin was an unmarked, 2-year old male that weighed 158 pounds and had no previous management history. The bear was released on Aug. 11 near Frozen Lake along the Cana- dian North Fork Flathead River valley.
On the afternoon of Aug. 9, another wildlife culvert trap was set for a grizzly bear south of Blanchard Lake. The bear had gotten into dog food and garbage. That bear was captured early in the morning of Aug. 10. It is an unmarked, 4-year old male, weighing 245 pounds with no previous management history. This bear was also released near Frozen Lake.
Both bears were tted with GPS satellite collars for future monitoring.
Manley said some grizzly bears are remaining in the valley bottom to feed on serviceberry and hawthorn berries. Fruit trees also have apples, plums, and pears that are ripening up right now. Residents should pick their fruit as soon as possible and also make sure other attractants such as garbage, pet food, and bird feeders
A young grizzly bear browses a cherry tree on Dakota Avenue in White sh. PHOTO COURTESY JAN METZMAKER
are not available.
Wildlife managers recommend bear-resistant bins
in communities and on ranches; electric fence systems to protect chicken coops, bee yards and sheep bedding grounds; and random redistribution of livestock car- casses each spring.
Domestic chickens have been a particularly seri- ous problem the past few years, according to wildlife managers.
FWP’s Be Bear Aware website (http://fwp.mt.gov/ fishAndWildlife/livingWithWildlife/beBearAware/) provides homeowners and landowners with informa- tion about preventing bear con icts.
Visit the site for tips and tools on obtaining and using bear spray, safe camping and hiking, access to bear resistant produce and a guide to the many food-related and other items that attract bears to a property.
tscott@ atheadbeacon.com
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AUGUST 17, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM