Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 11.9.16

NEWS
CITY BEAT
KALISPELL
School District Saves $1.3 Million by Re nancing 2005 Bond
Kalispell Public Schools has re - nanced its 2005 high school district bond, dropping the annual interest rate of the 20-year bond by two-thirds and reducing the burden on taxpayers by $1.3 million over the remaining life of the bond.
School district o cials announced that the re nancing occurred in August and dropped the interest rate from 4.32 percent to 1.44 percent. The $29.9 million bond, which built Glacier High School, expires in 2025. The balance remaining on the bond is $21.3 million.
“We are pleased that the bond re - nancing produced tax savings that we can pass along to the taxpayers of the high school and elementary districts,” direc- tor of business services Gwyn Andersen stated.
The savings come at the same time Kalispell’s school district is preparing to
BLACKFEET RESERVATION
BIA Gives Tentative Green Light to Blackfeet Constitutional Election
One of the grassroots organizers of a constitutional reform e ort on the Black- feet Indian Reservation says the Bureau of Indian A airs has informed him that a secretarial election will most likely be held early next year.
Blackfeet Tribal Business Council member Joe McKay said he talked with federal o cials earlier this month that signaled the local Blackfeet BIA supervi- sor would most likely call an election in the coming weeks. McKay said o cials hope to hold the election sometime in late March.
The secretarial election will give all Blackfeet members a chance to vote on a new constitution that was drafted by a grassroots group earlier this year. After a blessing from the tribal council, the draft constitution was submitted to the BIA this past summer, and the agency reviewed it to ensure it does not violate federal law. Now that the draft consti- tution has passed that test it will be put before the members for a nal vote. The new constitution calls abolishing the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council and replacing it with three separate branches of government.
While supporters believe the new constitution is needed to prevent some of the dysfunction seen on the reservation a few years ago – when the tribal coun- cil split into factions and the government shutdown – opponents believe it will pave the way for open enrollment, a highly contentious issue on the reservation.
move forward with two bonds totaling $54 million, the largest combined school bond in the city’s history. The bonds will be used to build a new elementary school, which is expected to break ground in spring, and conduct upgrades at the other school sites. For the 20-year bond, prop- erty taxes will increase an estimated $99 annually on a home in the elementary dis- trict valued at $170,000. For a similarly priced home in the high school district, property taxes will increase roughly $48 annually. For a home in both districts, taxes will rise roughly $147 annually.
As a result of the recent re nancing, taxpayers will see the reductions in this year’s property taxes. The latest state- ments were mailed Oct. 25. The savings will be seen as part of the “Flathead High School” category, which includes both Glacier and Flathead schools.
Andersen said the district has worked to re nance bonds in recent years to reduce the burden on taxpayers. The
district re nanced bonds in 2013 and 2016 for both the high school and elemen- tary districts, resulting in a total savings of almost $3.4 million.
WHITEFISH
Council to Decide Firebrand Hotel’s Rooftop Hot Tub Request
The White sh City Council on Nov. 7 was scheduled to determine the fate of the Firebrand Hotel’s proposed rooftop hot tub overlooking the city center, with planning sta recommending denial of the proposal.
The White sh Hotel Group is seeking to amend a conditional use permit for the Firebrand Hotel at 650 East Third Street in order to locate a hot tub on the roof of the hotel, which opened in August.
The White sh Planning Board and the city planning sta have recommended that the proposal be denied. Planning Director David Taylor and the White sh Board of Adjustment have already denied
the rooftop location.
The potential for impacts from noise
has been the biggest concern expressed by neighbors, while proponents say it will bring more business and add value to the hotel.
The hotel group proposes to enclose the hot tub with a 5-foot glass wall on two sides and an 8-foot tall wood fence on two sides to reduce noise in the resi- dential areas surrounding the hotel. The hot tub would be in the northwest cor- ner of the roof, on the north side of the hotel, and would be available only to hotel guests with a key card by either the eleva- tors or stairs.
Initial plans for the Firebrand Hotel included space for a pool and a hot tub in the hotel basement, but at some point the developer made the decision to scrap the pool and relocate the hot tub to the roof. A laundry facility, storage and conference room were placed in the basement instead.
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NEWS
COUNTY BEAT
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NOVEMBER 9, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Blackfeet tribal members could vote on a new constitution sometime next year. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
FLATHEAD
Former Olney Fire Chief Accused of Stealing $51,000 From Department
The Olney re chief has been accused of stealing more than $51,000 from the rural department over four years.
Kenneth Morehead, 48, has been charged with felony theft in Flathead County District Court.
According to court records, Flat- head County Finance Director Sandra Carlson contacted the Flathead County
Sheri ’s O ce in July after nding that the Olney Fire Department had a nega- tive balance. An audit of the account had found that Morehead had allegedly used the account to fund personal purchases between 2012 and 2016. As county o - cials dug deeper into the record books, they discovered that tens of thousands of dollars had been spent at local auto parts businesses and grocery markets with lit- tle or no documentation.
A few days later, a sheri ’s deputy
interviewed Morehead who allegedly admitted to using the re department’s account for personal purposes.
In light of the allegations, Morehead stepped down this summer from both his position as the volunteer re district’s chief and as a member of the board of trustees that oversees the district, which is funded through county tax dollars.
If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 ne.
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