Polls will be open on Tuesday in Post Falls, Dalton Gardens and St. Maries on bond proposals being floated by Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the City of St. Maries.

KCFR will float a $2 million bond to its patrons to pay for completing a training facility, remodeling the administration building and equipment and station upgrades.

If the proposal passes with two-thirds approval, residents of areas KCFR serves, including Post Falls, Stateline, Dalton Gardens, Fernan, Huetter and Wolf Lodge, would not see an increase to their existing taxes because an existing bond for the same amount to construct two stations will be paid off in September.

Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the station at 3820 E. 16th Ave. in Post Falls and the station at 6288 N. Fourth St. in Dalton Gardens.

For more information, visit www.kootenaifire.com, stop by the administration office at 5271 E. Seltice Way from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 676-8739.

In St. Maries, the city will float a $2.1 million bond, which includes interest, that would be repaid over 30 years to install water meters and develop a second water source on the St. Joe River.

All residents, no matter how much water is being consumed, are currently charged a flat monthly rate of $36.

If the proposal is approved with a simple majority, the city estimates that about 88 percent of its customers will see a decrease in their bill as residents would be allowed to consume up to 4,200 gallons for a base of $29.

Beyond the proposed flat rate, the cost increases 60 cents per 1,000 gallons for 4,200 to 12,000 gallons, 80 cents per 1,000 gallons for 12,000 to 36,000 gallons and $1 per 1,000 gallons over 36,000.

Under the structure, residents could consume as much as 12,900 gallons for $35. The average home in Bonners Ferry, a similar-sized town that St. Maries uses as an example, consumes about 8,000 gallons per month.

The bond, which would not increase taxes, would be repaid through the new water rate structure.

The city in 2008 decided to install water meters and raised rates by $10 per month with $6 going toward water meters. About $175,000 has been generated for water meters and the plan was to install the devices over seven to 10 years.

However, the city now has a chance at a USDA rural development loan that would allow the meters to be installed in 2011 and create a second water source on the Joe.

Voting will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at City Hall. - Brian Walker