Building official presents in Seeley Lake

SEELEY LAKE – Missoula County Building Official Dave Larkin presented the Seeley Lake Community Council information regarding the need for increased building permit fees and ways the building division is funded. There were several other updates provided the Council regarding the Seeley Lake Ranger District, Bob Marshall Music Festival, Change Your Pace Challenge and the new Seeley Lake resource specialist with Missoula Aging Services.

Unlike other county departments which are funded through the county general fund, the building division, which reviews construction plans and performs on-site inspections of new construction, is funded strictly through permits, said Larkin.

The first step with construction of a new home or commercial building is to submit plans to the building division. The plans are reviewed and frequently have errors based on current codes that need to be rectified and create a re-review of the plans, Larkin said. The plan is to charge a re-review fee of $75 per hour plus an administration fee of $30.

Rita Hagler, lead permit specialist, said another time that re-review happens is the builder and/or homeowner learns their homeowner association is not going to allow the plans as submitted so they must be changed and reviewed again.

Larkin’s proposal will increase building permit fees from 25% to 35% and plan review fees from $50 to $75. The change would be in line with state building permit fees.

“So, if a building inspection, a building fee is going to be $1,000. The state charges $350 to examine those plans,” Larkin said. “I’d like to meet that rate.”

Using information from the National Association of Home Builders, Larkin showed the national average for the cost of a building permit is 1.7% of the cost to build a home. With the increase proposed, Larkin said Missoula County’s average would match the national average.

Based on previous feedback regarding the slow speed with which permits are issued, the county department heads involved with the building permit process are working to develop a Permit Task Force.

“Essentially we are going to clean up some of the missteps that happen, increase communication and hopefully speed up permits for people,” Larkin said. “It’s important because we are in a housing crisis. We don’t want to slow down people.”

Larkin admitted his proposal is ambitious and that he doesn’t have to wipe out the current budget deficit of $350,000 in one year.

Council member Sally Johnson asked if the proposal considered a different rate for plans stamped by an architect and/or engineer.

“Architects are going to design, engineer, do the engineering and somebody is going to design the HVAC (Heating, Vacuum, Air Conditioning Systems),” said Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick. “These guys have to consider everything. They are the only people that consider everything and how all the pieces fit together.”

The building division is a third party verifying the design range falls within code, Larkin said. They also go out and confirm whether the structure was built according to design and if not, does it still comply with minimum standards of the code. Even plans stamped by engineers and designed by architects must be reviewed for compliance with State codes.

Other commenters brought up concerns regarding timely inspections since there are no county inspectors currently living in Seeley Lake or Condon.

People are up in the Seeley Lake and Condon area every day, said Larkin. People that call by 8 a.m. are likely to see an inspector that day.

“We appreciate a couple of days notice,” Larkin said. “We can set somebody up to go and do two or three inspections but we don’t require it.”

Commenters asked if they plan to have regular staff hours at the Seeley Lake Satellite Office. Larkin said at this time there is a drop box that is checked regularly. The inspector who was working in Seeley Lake left and the person working in the office felt her time was better spent helping the sewer department.

Larkin said the plan is to implement the new fee structure between now and September.

“I’m sure there’s going to be some tweaking based on feedback and interaction with the commissioners,” Larkin said. Once a definite proposal is formulated, a document will be put out for additional comments before it is presented to the commissioners for a vote.

Other presenters at the council meeting:

• Lolo National Forest Supervisor Carolyn Upton advised that they will be working to update the forest plan which is 30 plus years old. There will be more formal meetings for discussion after the fire season. Upton said the fire season forecast currently looks good for western Montana. The Forest is working on preparedness.

The recreation areas are in good condition, Upton said. The reservation system has been added to Lake Alva and Lakeside this year. “People with campers want to know where they can stay,” Upton said. There will continue to be some first come, first served camping areas.

• Heidi O’Brien, Lewis and Clark Brewing, provided an update on the Bob Marshall Festival planned for Aug. 5-6 in Seeley Lake. O’Brien said volunteers are needed for the two-day event. Silver Lining Foundation has signed up to help with parking. For the first time there will be a $5 parking fee, this will go to the Foundation. Festival organizers have also hired security for the event. They are hoping for 1,500 attendees this year. Camping reservations are at 50% right now.

• Seeley Lake Community Foundation (SLCF) Executive Director Claire Muller updated the Council regarding the upcoming Change Your Pace (CYP) Challenge June 3 – June 30. CYP is a community-wide giving program. The SLCF has planned a kickoff event at the SLCF West Wing on June 3 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. to introduce the community to the fundraiser. Muller also reported IRide has provided 1,000 rides since 2017 with several volunteer drivers logging over 5,000 miles. One former driver logged over 10,000 miles.

• Kristin Mason, the new Seeley Lake resource specialist with Missoula Agency Services, introduced herself to the Council. She has been a resident for the past five years. Mason is currently still training in Missoula but they hope to have the Seeley Lake office located in the Foundation building manned soon. The office will be open four days a week.

• Hagler spoke for Public Works Director Shane Stack and advised the Council that Hickory Lane and a portion of Elm Drive will be maintained by the County going forward.

In other business:

• The Council approved the revised bylaws

• Council Member Bruce Friede reported the County has run the broom over the walking path along Highway 83. Friede requested the public works department consider putting up the flashing speed limit signs from time to time on Highway 83.

• The Council presented acting Chair Jack Greenwood with a thank you for 12 years of service along with Dave Anderson who is also stepping down from the Council.

The recording of the May 9 meeting is available on the Council’s Facebook page. The next Seeley Lake Community Council meeting will be held 6 p.m. June 13 at the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitors Center.