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Parks department budgets for higher Conrad Complex lease as vandalism and maintenance costs rise
Summary
Flathead County Parks proposed increasing park user fees and budgeting for a potential lease increase at the Conrad Complex after the cemetery association proposed raising the lease from $20,200 to $30,000; parks staff said the fee increases will be used to absorb lease and rising contracted-services costs.
Flathead County Parks and Recreation presented its fiscal 2026 budget on April 29 and told commissioners that rising maintenance and vandalism costs, plus a proposed lease increase at the Conrad Complex, drove modest revenue and expenditure adjustments.
Parks director Chris Mestis said the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork (CFBB) will increase its maximum reimbursement for Sliders Park operating expenses from $3,500 to $5,000 because of vandalism. Commissioners approved the CFBB maintenance agreement during the meeting.
Conrad Complex lease negotiations
Parks staff explained they have been negotiating a multi-month lease renewal with the Conrad Complex Association. The association proposed raising its annual lease payment from $20,200 to $30,000 — a roughly $9,800 increase plus 3% annual escalators for five years. Parks offered a counterproposal of $25,000 with annual adjustments tied to the December CPI but said the association is currently holding firm at $30,000.
To avoid shifting the entire increase onto taxpayers, parks staff proposed modest increases to adult sports registration fees that primarily use the Conrad Complex; staff said adult league participation is robust and many teams are sponsored, which mitigates per-player impacts. Parks also increased anticipated concession and credit-card convenience revenue after adding card payment options at concession stands.
Other items: Gateway to Glacier and vandalism-repair funds
Parks staff said they are budgeting a small annual amount for the Gateway to Glacier trail fund for minor maintenance but will bring budget amendments for larger, unexpected repairs (e.g., replaced specialized pavers stolen from the trail). The department also budgeted for repairs tied to vandalism and an $18,000 grant-funded Many Lakes project.
Commissioners acknowledged the negotiations and the department's efforts to shift costs toward users where feasible while preserving park maintenance budgets.
