Votes at a glance: Flathead County commissioners, April 24, 2025

The Flathead County Board of Commissioners took the following actions on April 24, 2025. Each item below summarizes the motion that passed and key details recorded in the meeting transcript.

1) Carnival and related facilities RFP - Action: Took the single RFP submitted (Northstar Amusements) under consideration and the motion carried. - Outcome: Motion carried.

2) Montana DES EMPG applicant designation and non‑construction assurances - Action: Approved signature of the Montana DES EMPG applicant agent designation letter and non‑construction assurances certificate, authorizing staff (Juanita Nelson, Emergency Management Planner) to submit a Fiscal Year 2026 EMPG application for $111,812 (50% cost share; estimated federal reimbursement $55,906). - Outcome: Motion carried.

3) EMS assistant medical director professional services contract - Action: Approved professional services contract to add an assistant medical director (David Mangold, doing business as Allergy and Asthma Center PC) to support EMS training and education. - Outcome: Motion carried.

4) CIP amendment: Mobile command / incident support vehicle (OES) - Action: Approved a CIP amendment to cover cost overruns for the mobile command vehicle; original grant request $465,000, vehicle and equipment costs totaled approximately $625,257 after bids and additional equipment. - Outcome: Motion carried; funding adjustment made by deferring a vehicle replacement in a later fiscal year.

5) Dust control bid award (road department) - Action: Awarded dust‑control contract to Lyman Dust Control Services of Montana LLC at $1.65 per linear foot (single bidder). Commissioners noted previous years' lower rates and inflationary pressures cited by bidder. - Outcome: Motion carried.

6) Lift load limits (Road and Bridge) - Action: Lifted remaining seasonal load limits on county roads as described in Resolution 2630A, effective April 28, 2025. - Outcome: Motion carried.

7) Board appointment - Action: Appointed Diane Martin Stout as the county representative to the Conrad Mansion Museum Board for a partial term through 2029. - Outcome: Motion carried.

8) Letter of support: North Fork Road guardrail project - Action: Approved a letter of support for Congressman Ryan Zinke's FY26 community project funding request to replace 3.52 miles of guardrail on North Fork Road; requested federal funding amount $1,843,695. - Outcome: Motion carried.

9) Lakeshore permits (multiple approvals) - Actions: Approved multiple lakeshore permits, including: • Stevens (FLP 25‑30) — residential work in Lakeshore Protection Zone (permit conditions: no equipment in lake; debris removed). • Flathead Lake Land Partners LLC (FLP 25‑28) — commercial marina: demolition of an existing dock and construction of three new docks (36 slips), a concrete boat launch and pathway; driving of 98 steel pilings and ~2,325 sq ft impervious coverage below high water; total impervious coverage roughly 3,500 sq ft; all surfaces in LPC to be concrete; use limited and gated as described. • Harper (FLP 20‑5‑16) — reconstruction of nonconforming crib dock; impervious cover unchanged. • FETFIGHT (FLP 25‑13) — reconstruct dilapidated crib dock and replace canopy pylons and boat lift; impervious cover unchanged. • Flathead County Weed & Parks Department (FLP 25‑17) — permit approved to remove and redistribute gravel and flatten rock berm at Little Bitterroot Lake; no equipment to contact water; debris removal required. • Thorderson (FLP 24‑76) — reconstruct retaining wall and construct a concrete boat ramp on Lake Blaine; construction details and erosion control measures required. - Outcome: All listed lake permits were approved by majority vote with standard permit conditions.

10) Adoption of revised fee schedule (Planning & Zoning) - Action: Adopted Resolution 1663P revising county planning fees (general ~8% increase; lakeshore fees unchanged), and added fees for lakeshore gravel redistribution renewals, accommodation requests, and phased subdivision public hearings. - Outcome: Motion carried.

11) Multiple planning items approved - Actions: Authorized publication for a Harmony Court LLC zone change public hearing (Evergreen zoning district, hearing set for June 19); approved final plats (Porter Ranch Reserve; The Woodlands at Whitefish) and adopted final resolution 956EZ for a Bigfork zone change. - Outcome: Motions carried.

12) Certificate of survey (COS) reviews / family transfers - Actions: COS reviews for Owens and Madelich family transfers were considered (flagged for pattern‑of‑development review). Commission approved the reviews with clerical corrections noted in the record. - Outcome: Motions carried with corrected parcel figures.

13) CIP amendment: FECC boiler #2 - Action: Authorized CIP amendment and replacement of boiler #2 at the Flathead Emergency Coordination Center; replacement occurred sooner than planned and was funded from capital reserves. - Outcome: Motion carried.

14) HR transmittals (multiple personnel and position changes) - Actions: Approved several HR items, including FTE increase for a public information officer to 0.75 FTE, roadside trash collector FTE decrease and revised job descriptions for several office and financial assistant positions (Agency on Aging veterans program), and other updates as listed in staff transmittals. - Outcome: Motions carried.

Procedural note: All items above passed by voice vote with no recorded dissent unless noted in the transcript. For full text of motions and conditions, see minutes and department permit files.