Board Asks RD to Throw Out Election

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board discussed options as they try to retain a $10 million funding package after the failure of the bond election. The board was also informed at their Jan. 19 regular meeting that three positions on the board are up for election this May.

The district received a letter dated Dec. 14 from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) informing them that the funding package was no longer available as a result of the bond election failing.

RD’s funding package consisted of $5.7 million in grants and $4.4 million in loans. The loan portion is what required the bond that voters rejected with 58 percent voting “No” in the Dec. 13 election.

The fate of the district’s other $2.5 million in grants remains unclear.

In the RD’s letter, steps to appeal the decision were outlined. Board President Mike Boltz and District Manager Greg Robertson met with RD representatives Jan. 17 for an informal review of the decision to pull the funding.

RD required the election to demonstrate public support for the project as required by law. Boltz countered that the law requires public support, not necessarily an election.

Boltz said the election didn’t allow businesses to vote and that he didn’t know of a business in town that doesn’t support the sewer. Upon reviewing the districts tax rolls nearly 100 of the 500 parcels of land are owned by businesses.

“You (RD) wanted community support, I think we had it, you just didn’t let them vote,” said Boltz.

The board asked RD to throw out the vote and go with a protest period that would allow only landowners to protest the bonds.

In an email to the Pathfinder, RD Area Specialist Dan Johnson wrote that he estimates the informal review will be completed by mid February or sooner.

“We are collecting additional information in order to assess the viability of the project within the constraints of the Montana Code and our program regulations,” wrote Johnson.

The board discussed the next step if the district doesn’t like the results of the informal review. They can appeal the decision further but would require legal counsel.

The district received an offer from a law firm. Robertson recommended that the board vote to accept. He recommended they not wait until their next board meeting because if the district wants to appeal to the next level there is a narrow window of time to do so.

After discussing the issue, the board tabled it because they did not know the outcome of the informal review yet.

If needed, the board can hold a special meeting and vote to retain legal counsel at that time.

In other business, three board positions are up for election this May. The positions are four-year terms and are currently held by Mark Butcher, Mike Lindemer and Bob Skiles.

To be eligible, applicants must either live in or own land in the sewer district.

Applications are available from the Missoula County Elections Office or from the Sewer Board’s secretary Felicity Derry. Derry can be reached at the Seeley Lake Water District, 677-2559.

Applications for the board positions are due Feb. 6.

The next regular sewer board meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Missoula County Satellite Office located at 3360 Highway 83.