There was no consensus at a public forum on Thursday about where to build a new Flathead County Agency on Aging facility, but there was agreement about moving ahead with the project as soon as possible.

“The longer you put it off, the more it costs,” Gerry Banzet said at the meeting at the Agency on Aging’s leased building on Kelly Road. “The rent money here is money we can spend on a building.”

Meals on Wheels volunteer Nola Rice agreed, saying, “The county commissioners have all the input they need to make this decision right now.”

The agency hosted a town-meeting-style gathering to get feedback about a proposed new facility to house various programs for seniors. Getting public input is part of the process of applying for a Community Development Block Grant.

The county is using the city of Kalispell’s block-grant slot to apply for a $450,000 federal grant.

Frustration over what many seniors see as foot-dragging by the county commissioners came up several times during the meeting. The county put the Agency on Aging in the leased red barn 10 years ago as a temporary fix, and several plans to relocate the agency have fallen through over the years.

Former Flathead County Commissioner Dale Lauman said relocating the agency isn’t an idea that has come out of the blue. The commission looked at several different scenarios that didn’t work out during his six-year term that ended Dec. 31.

The county has the money right now to build a new facility, Lauman said, adding that he fully supports putting it at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

County Administrator Mike Pence confirmed the county has close to $3 million in payment-in-lieu-of-taxes money (federal payments made to local governments to offset property tax losses due to nontaxable federal lands) that hasn’t been earmarked yet. A low-interest state loan is another possibility.

“Could we turn dirt tomorrow?” someone from the crowd asked.

Pence said the county could, but it’s the commissioners’ decision.

There was considerable support for building a new facility on county land north of the fairgrounds that could also house the 4-H and Flathead County Extension Service programs.

“We’d love to co-locate with Extension and 4-H,” Agency on Aging Director Lisa Sheppard said. “It’s exciting to have [an opportunity for] intergenerational interaction.”

County 4-H Agent Tammy Walker agreed. “There’s real value in showing youth what it’s like to age,” she said.

The 4-H and Extension programs currently operate out of temporary cubicles at the Earl Bennett Building, and Walker said she’s just as anxious as the seniors to get into new quarters.

A proposed facility across Wyoming Street north of the fairgrounds likely would be constructed on the southwest corner of the parcel, with access off Wyoming Street.

Sheppard said a one-story building is preferred, with adequate parking and the ability for buses to get in and out.

The other option being studied is county property across 11th Street near the Earl Bennett Building. In that scenario the building could be constructed to the south, with parking on the west.

Reg Morris wondered if building on either county site is short-sighted. He pointed out the property south of the county campus was intended for future expansion of the Justice Center. At the fairgrounds there’s been talk many times about expanding horse facilities, Morris said. He favors looking at existing buildings in the Kalispell area.

Jim Pearson, chairman of the Kalispell Senior Center board, said his board is “totally behind the new AOA building,” though he acknowledged some seniors have been resistant to change. The Kalispell center is housed in a century-old building that’s not handicap-accessible.

Doug Gilbertson wondered if the group was prepared to “storm the courthouse” and picket for a new building. He also said he believes two of the three commissioners have a conflict of interest and are “obligated to those who own this building.”

He was referring to the relationship between commissioners Gary Krueger and Pam Holmquist and Mickey Lapp, a partner with Alpine Business Center that owns the red barn. Lapp worked on both commissioners’ election campaigns.

Dawn Schnur also stated she believes it’s a conflict of interest.

Shelby Nash Hunter, another partner in Alpine Business Center, addressed the group, saying the building owners support a new facility and “have always been there for AOA.” She cautioned seniors not to believe everything they hear.

“There are a lot of rumors flying around that are perhaps not true,” Hunter said. “There may be a lot more to this you don’t know ... keep in mind we’re good people, real people. Please don’t disparage us or our building or our family.”

Charles Lapp, also a partner in Alpine Business Center, said it would behoove the seniors to give the county commissioners more specific information about the amenities they would like to see in a new facility. Getting riled up about the timing of a new building isn’t constructive criticism, he said.