Libby City Council interviews to fill seat
Libby City Council conducted interviews Monday to fill the vacancy created when Charlene Leckrone resigned to move to Washington state.
Unlike December’s appointment, the council chose to wait to make its decision until the next meeting, which is April 6.
Though the four candidates were brought in one-by-one from another room for interviewing, they shared the same idea that Libby must attract business to be economically viable.
“Free enterprise is the future of Libby,” Ron Carter said when describing what he viewed as Libby’s biggest challenge and biggest opportunity.
When asked about his availability, Carter stated that he only missed one meeting in two years as a city council member in a small Colorado town. Carter applied for the last council vacancy in December.
Scott Evey, who expressed interest in the mayor position last November, stated that as owner of Evey Construction Inc. and as an active volunteer, he was energetic and hard-working. He discussed the city’s infrastructure challenges and the potential of the new Libby hospital.
William Cunnane believes that the city’s biggest challenge will be “getting people to accept some changes – go against the status quo – to formulate a good mix” of ideas.
Cunnane, who has regularly attended city council meetings for the past year, said that budgeting would also be a large issue for the council with depressing property prices causing less property taxes to come in.
Rob Dufficy shared Cunnane’s concerns when asked about the city’s biggest upcoming challenge.
“Money,” he replied. “Keeping things together with restricted revenue streams.”
Like Carter, Dufficy applied to fill a council vacancy three months ago. He would like to attract environmentally-friendly industry or cultivate more small businesses.
In other business at Monday’s meeting:
• Paul Rumelhart gave a presentation about bridge fabricator Stinger Welding and its proposal to build a facility in the Kootenai Business Park Industrial District. Current figures project that it will employ 202 people with total payroll and benefits reaching $7.6 million annually. Stinger anticipates commencing operations in May at a temporary facility in the Industrial District, Rumelhart said.
• The council voted unanimously to allow the Pastime Bar to close off the streets for various annual events this summer.
• Judy Hyslop, Kootenai Pets for Life shelter director, gave the council an update on the new shelter. She also thanked the city for contracting out the land where the new KPFL building is located.
• Ryan Jones of Apec Engineering in Kalispell informed the council of its options for trying to secure federal stimulus funding for its water distribution system. Much of the money will be handled through existing state programs, he told the council, as he laid out which programs the city was eligible for. He suggested that the council scope a project and complete the survey form by April 6 to be put on a priority list.
• Bill Buxton of Morrison-Maierle Engineering in Kalispell spoke to the council about the Cabinet Heights sewer project, which will extend sewer service south of the water treatment plant to the golf course. The city has been holding on to $1.4 million in grants while looking for additional funding for the over $3 million project. Buxton pointed out that grant options were limited and that the current grants will not be good for much longer if they aren’t used. He also said that the city is eligible for a $1.7 million, 40-year loan with a 2.75 percent interest rate.
Under consideration
Councilmember candidates interviewed at Monday’s meeting:
Ron Carter: Two years experience as a city council member. Works as an independent construction contractor.
William Cunnane: Bachelor’s degree in business administration. Worked at Semitool until January.
Rob Dufficy: Master’s degree in public administration. Is a retired law enforcement officer.
Scott Evey: Volunteer and owner of Evey Construction Inc.