Annexations on the agenda

Both Ronan and Polson commissions fielded – or will field – annexation proposals from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Annexation sought for meat-processing plant

The Ronan City Council held a public hearing Wednesday night about annexing just over 31 acres at the corner of Main Street S.W. and Mink Lane, west of town. The property is owned by the Tribes and would be used for a meat-processing facility.

City planner Dan Miller said the hearing was publicized in a local newspaper, and that he also mailed and hand-delivered notices to residents adjacent to the property.

According to Miller, the Tribes are seeking a grant to finance the facility, which would be similar in design to one owned by Missoula County Public Schools near Fort Missoula. Agriculture School House Meats, operated by Big Sky High School students, uses a compost system to eliminate odors typically associated with processing plants.

According to the notice posted for the annexation, public comments were due July 12.

In a letter addressed to Miller and shared with the Leader, Todd Rogers expressed his concerns that the plant could increase traffic on streets already in disrepair, increase noise and light pollution, and could have unanticipated environmental impacts.

Rogers added that his parents, Glenn and Vicki Rogers, along with Stu and Illene Frasier, were past owners of the property.

“I would implore you to ask more questions regarding this proposal,” he wrote. “There must be other land resources available for a project of this size and scope.”

Miller pointed out that the Tribes already own the property and can opt to build the plant there with or without the city annexing the land. “They don’t have to ask but they do,” he added. "They ask and are always great to work with.”

The city’s response to the annexation request was unavailable at presstime.

Casino proposal back on commission agenda

At its regular meeting on Monday, July 17, the Polson City Commission will revisit a proposal for the city to annex nearly 80 acres of land belonging to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and located west of the Polson bridge.

According to the initial presentation made May 2, 2022, the Tribes are planning to build a 26,100-square-foot casino on the site, with access from Irvine Flats Road. The first phase would include the casino, with future plans calling for a hotel and events center, RV park, residential housing and a commercial area.

If built, the project would shift most gaming operations now housed at KwaTaqNuk Resort

to the new facility, which could accommodate up to 350 machines (the resort now has 227).

KwaTaqNuk would then revert to its original purpose, serving as a destination resort and

restaurant, with a limited number of gaming machines.

Prior to postponing a vote on the annexation last July, the commission received five letters and a petition with 63 signatures from people opposed to the annexation (17 signees were city residents). Comments during the public hearing and the subsequent meeting were largely negative as well.

In addition to issues with the potential negative impacts of expanded gaming on the

community, people expressed concerns about the casino’s effect on an already congested

Highway 93 corridor and access to services such as fire and ambulance.

The commission voted to table the decision, citing concerns about traffic flow, and whether existing city water and sewer infrastructure could meet the increase in demand.

As in Ronan, however, the Tribes can develop their own property, whether or not it’s annexed by the city.

According to City Manager Ed Meece, if annexed, CSKT would construct its new infrastructure “at their cost, to our specifications,” as opposed to installing a private water/sewer system. And once built, the casino would pay for water and sewer services like any other commercial customer.

He also said that city and tribal staff have been discussing a potential Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) agreement that would help offset the costs of providing city services to the property. He said discussions are also ongoing between the city, county, local legislators and the Montana Department of Transportation regarding the uptick in traffic congestion that the development is projected to cause.