Commission OKs expansion of finance district members

By Erin Nicholes - 09/17/2008

ANACONDA — The county commission narrowly approved expanding the Mill Creek Tax Increment Finance District board to seven members following mixed public comment Tuesday.

"It gives more credibility to the board, and ability to the board to ferret out information," said Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Chief Executive Rebecca Guay.

By a 3-to-2 vote, the commission approved an amendment to the ordinance that created the TIFID, bringing the board from five to seven members. The amendment's language dictates the additional two members will represent either the engineering or construction industries, and either the business accounting or financial industries.

"I believe we need the construction person there," said Commissioner Linda Sather, who voted for the amendment.

Commissioner Frank Knadler and Chairman Robert Pierce also voted "yes," while Commissioners Mark Sweeney and Pete Lorello voted "no." The five-member board — which included officials from the county, school district, banking industry and citizens — was sufficient, Sweeney said, adding that TIFID activity should not be further delayed.

"When we acted on this we were moving pretty quickly to get this in place for ... development," he said. "I would rather go with the five-member board and move forward now." The commission recently created the district, which encompasses about 300 acres owned by the county, NorthWestern Energy and Arco between Highway 1 and the Mill Creek Highway.

In a TIFID, a portion of property taxes is diverted into a special account used to pay for infrastructure and development needs. The county has said the TIFID could help spur development, and wants to create it now to capitalize on NorthWestern Energy's recent investments in the Mill Creek substation.

But some cautioned the commission against adding board members who may stand to gain from activity within the district.

"We're just asking that there is accountability from those members ... to the community," said Schools Superintendent Tom Darnell. "Who are these members going to be? Who will they represent?" Other urged the commission to stick with a five-member board.

"I feel the five-person board represents (well) and if you want expertise, seek it out," said school board chairman Joe Ungaretti.

But other residents said the board is intended to represent a cross-section of the community, without giving weight to any entity.

"No matter who you appoint on this board, hopefully they're going to represent this community," said resident Gene Vuckovich. "You don't take up sides. You're supposed to be doing what is best on that board for the entire community." The commission has received applications for seats on the board. After the two new positions are advertised, the commission will review all applications and choose members.

Reporter Erin Nicholes may be reached at erin.nicholes@lee.net