Page 12 - Flathead Beacon // 8.26.15

NEWS
Stanford Urges Continued Stewardship of Flathead Lake Retiring director of biological station warns of persistent threats, including aquatic invasive species
BY BEACON STAFF
In his final “State of the Lake” address, Jack Stanford reflected on his long career at the Flathead Lake Biological Station and the special qualities that make Flat- head Lake a world-class resource.
Roughly 150 people gave Stanford a standing ovation last week at the Flat- head Lakers’ annual presentation near Lakeside. Stanford is retiring as direc- tor of the station next spring. He began working at the station in Yellow Bay in
1971 and became director in 1980. Stanford credited the advocacy of the Flathead Lakers organization for its ongoing support, which is “critical” to the continued preservation of the lake and
clean water in the Flathead watershed. He said the station’s long-term mon- itoring program would help identify changes in the lake, including the Mysis shrimp population, which has a direct
impact on the lake’s food chain. Stanford reminded the crowd that the lake’s pristine qualities are under
constant threat from a variety of sources, including aquatic invasive spe- cies, increased nitrogen due to pollution and the possibility of a trail derailment along the Middle Fork Flathead River. An average of 30 to 35 trains pass through the rail corridor each day, according to BNSF. Some trains are carrying crude oil, which, if spilled into the river, would be a catastrophic disaster, Stanford said.
An introduction of invasive quagga or zebra mussels would also change the lake forever, he noted.
He reflected on successes in the past that have protected the lake, including the successful passage of legislation that bans mining and pol and gas develop- ment in the North Fork on both sides of the international border.
Stanford said he is confident that incoming director Jim Elser will build on the biological station’s history of excel- lence in research and he expects him to build the education program.
[email protected]
Kalispell Council Pledges Support for Proposed Rail Park FCEDA reiterates commitment to developing new site for rail users, redevelopment project
BY DILLON TABISH OF THE BEACON
Following opposition from a down- town business over Kalispell’s proposed industrial rail park, members of the city council are pledging their ongoing sup- port for the redevelopment project while the organization behind the planned enterprise is maintaining its commit- ment to moving forward.
Councilors at the Aug. 17 meeting in City Hall expressed dismay at the letter submitted by theowners of Northwest Drywall and Roofing Supply recently to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Montana’s delegation of lawmakers withdrawing support for the rail park. Attorney Tom Esch, on behalf of the fam- ily owned company that is one of two rail- served businesses in downtown, called the project a “boondoggle in the making” in the letter, questioned its feasibility and said the company would suffer outsized debt and decreased revenues by relocat- ing to the future rail park.
Pam and Mike Mower,
owners of Northwest Drywall and Roof- ing, defended their stance in a letter to the Beacon Aug. 21, saying they are “dis- turbed by the economics of the proposed rail park from a lease or purchase, busi- ness standpoint.”
Councilors disagreed with the Mow- ers’ assessment, praising the efforts of Flathead County Economic Develop- ment Authority, which has spent over four years planning the 40-acre indus- trial rail park off Whitefish Stage Road, and saying the new centralized site would benefit the entire community. City lead- ers have said the rail park is pivotal to the Core Area Revitalization Plan, a rede- velopment strategy that seeks to replace the rail tracks with a pathway system through downtown and connect four dis- jointed streets, among other goals.
“This is a great project. I stand behind it 100 percent,” councilor Tim Kluesner said of the rail park. “It will transform this community into a great thing. There are many, many people who are going to benefit from the change.”
“This is the vision for the future that we see for the city of Kalispell,” Mayor Mark Johnson added.
FCEDA, a publically funded not-for- profit organization steered by seven board members, is maintaining its com- mitment to completing the rail park proj- ect in the wake of the letter, which specifi- cally opposed the city’s application of a $10 million federal grant through the TIGER program that would expedite the rail park development.
“We remain optimistic that the U.S. DOT will understand the long term and transformative benefits of this project to the community and will award the TIGER 2015 grant to Kalispell this fall,” Kim Morisaki, business development and special projects manager for FCEDA, said in a statement. “FCEDA remains committed to facilitating this important public/private investment in the Flat- head Valley’s infrastructure that will leverage the area’s access to the BNSF rail line resulting in increased private invest- ment, job creation, and allow for further
diversification of the regional economy and tax base. We are excited about mak- ing transload services available to all businesses in the county who may need occasional rail deliveries and our goal is to attract new manufacturers to the Val- ley. Rail is an incredibly important asset for this community.”
FCEDA purchased a 40-acre lot off Whitefish Stage Road that can connect to an adjacent spur track running from the mainline in Columbia Falls that is part of a bigger network from Seattle to Chicago. Engineers are in the process of developing a site plan.
If Kalispell receives federal grant funding, the entire rail park and trail project could be completed within three years, planners have said. If not, the industrial complex would surface one business at a time and could take twice as long.
The grants will be announced in the coming weeks.
[email protected]
shop local... shop local... shop local... shop local... shop local... shop local... shop local... shop local...shop local...
20-40% OFF SUMMER APPAREL
135 MAIN STREET IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN KALISPELL | 406-752-2446 | www.rockymountainoutfitter.com
12
AUGUST 26, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
shop local... shop local...
shop local... shop local...