Irrigation board runs into more election issues
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ST. IGNATIUS – The election process got a bit more complicated recently concerning elected board positions for the Flathead Joint Board of Control.
The board elected to cancel the last election because 800 ballots were not initially mailed out due to requirements that one person be designated to vote for property with multiple owners. The Lake County Election Office said they gave the FJBC time to inform voters of the change so the election was held.
The majority of the FJBC voted not to seat the newly elected members referencing their vote to cancel the election as the reason, so they called for a special election to allow everyone to get the chance to vote, and the previously elected members remained on the board.
Attorneys for the FJBC reported that they recently attended a meeting with Lake County attorneys to discuss a second special election.
During the meeting, the FJBC was served with a complaint by Lake County setting up a declaratory action to determine if the cancellation of the election was appropriate and if there were violations by Lake County. Judge James Manley will oversee the hearing possibly in September.
Lake County informed the FJBC that they would not administer a special election until the matter was settled within the court, so the FJBC election is now in the court system.
Budget issues were also on the meeting’s agenda at the Tuesday, Aug. 9 meeting. Commissioners Dick Erb and Paul Guenzler requested a special audit on FJBC litigation costs concerning the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the low-block cost of power. They would also like an outside bookkeeper and accountant firm to handle the FJBC budget.
Commissioner Erb said that past due debts were not reported in a timely manner in the monthly budget statement and payment plans were not discussed with the entire board. He said the budget needs to be as up-to-date as possible with payments and bills made transparent to all board members and the public.
He said that he feels the board should know how much is owed and how much is left in the budget before decisions are made so the board doesn’t run into funding issues.
FJBC Clerk Johanna Clark said that she welcomes an audit and an outside accountant. She said that bills were not put on the budget because they came in late. She added that the accounting system is being updated to meet federal requirements and a regular audit will soon occur.
Judge Manley also ruled that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Water Compact is unconstitutional as far as language granting immunity from lawsuits. He also ruled that the portion of the compact that is unconstitutional can be removed which allows the compact to move forward in the senate. The board voted 7-2 to appeal the judge’s decision.
