Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories that look ahead to what's on tap for Flathead County in 2022, including local government, transportation, entertainment, Glacier Park, education and health care.

Flathead County will see a number of building and remodeling projects come to fruition in 2022, including the renovation of the former CenturyLink building that will house several county departments and a new 911 backup center.

The 18,700-square-foot former telecommunications center at 290 N. Main St. in Kalispell will be move-in ready by the beginning of April 2022 if all goes as planned.

“This is a stepping stone for a waterfall of projects in the coming year,” county Administrator Pete Melnick said about the CenturyLink building that will become the county’s North Building.

The addition of a fifth district judge for Flathead County District Court, along with growth in the county, are driving the need for expanded office space.

The county operates two courts — justice court and district court — for different levels and types of crimes. To address growing caseloads, the Montana Legislature this year approved funding for a fifth Flathead County District Court judge and accompanying staff. The county has to have office space for the new district judge and staff in place by Jan. 1, 2023, Melnick said.

To make room for the new judge and staff in the Justice Center, Justice Court will relocate to Courthouse West, which currently houses the Motor Vehicles Department and other departments. The Justice Court space will be remodeled to accommodate the fifth judge.

THE COMPLETION of the various renovations at not only the North Building but also the Justice Center and Courthouse West will set off a sort of game of musical chairs.

Family Court Services, the Department of Motor Vehicles, county Superintendent of Schools and the county Treasurer’s Office — all currently housed in Courthouse West, will move to the new North Building.

The Election Department, located on the second floor of the South Campus Building, will be relocated to the North Building, and the current election space will accommodate an expansion of the Environmental Health Department.

In addition to office space for the relocations and ample storage space, the North Building also will include offices for future growth, a large multipurpose room, a separate entrance for Family Court Services, and a loading dock that can accommodate the off-loading of heavy items such as license plates for the DMV.

A BACKUP center for the 911 emergency dispatch system has been added to the roster of county departments that will occupy the North Building.

Currently the 911 backup Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operates out of a large fifth-wheel trailer outside of the county's Emergency Communications Center.

“It has some limitations,” Melnick said of the trailer. “It gets borrowed for other uses; it’s not ideal for a backup system.”

The trailer has even been used for Covid-19 quarantine situations, he added.

The North Building presented an ideal space for the backup system, he said. It will be secure, climate-controlled and can better accommodate staff training.

911 Center Director Liz Brooks said the backup system stands ready in the event the county cannot use the primary PSAP.

"Having a brick and mortar backup site will be far more efficient and reliable," Brooks said.

DAVE COVILL, building maintenance manager for the county, said there have been various supply chain and subcontractor issues during the construction process on the former CenturyLink building, but “nothing that hasn’t been met or dealt with.”

Melnick credited a good working relationship between contractor Martel Construction and architectural firm Cushing Terrell.

“They haven’t missed a beat,” Melnick said.

He also credited Covill and county Grant Administrator Whitney Aschenwald for their efforts in leading the project.

“It’s a tight schedule, but we’re on track,” Melnick said.

The county purchased the CenturyLink building in 2020 for about $720,000. While initial estimates for the extensive remodeling placed the overall cost close to $4.5 million in May this year, then-county Administrator Mike Pence had cautioned the numbers “will likely be significantly higher due to escalating costs for construction materials and supplies.

Pence was right. The North Building is currently budgeted at $6.4 million and is being funded through the county’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes allotment from the federal government, and the county’s land acquisition savings.

The 911 backup system is budgeted at $761,000. Of that projected total, $334,000 is for equipment and is being paid for through a state 911 grant funded by the $1 fee on phone bills, and the remaining $427,000 is being funded through capital improvement savings, according to Aschenwald.

IN OTHER county capital improvement projects, the county has taken the first step in working toward a long-term solution for handling the county’s burgeoning septic waste by seeking firms or individuals interested in developing a septage treatment and biosolids composting facility.

The facility would be a collaborative project involving the county, the three incorporated cities and some or all of the county water and sewer districts.

The county applied for and received $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act money from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and will use the money to begin identifying a site and getting design work done

The county recently sold the building that housed the Bigfork Senior Center for $375,000 through a public auction to Bigfork ACES Inc. A new building for the Bigfork Senior Center was purchased in November of $776,036.

On the horizon remains the construction of a new jail for Flathead County. The county has been saving money for that project for several years.

FLATHEAD COUNTY will head into the new year with new leadership in several departments, and will be looking to fill head positions in other departments.

Melnick was hired to replace retiring county Administrator Mike Pence and began work in early June.

Flathead County Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell retired the end of November His shoes will be filled by Sam Nunnally, who has served on the Fair Board since 2011, including six years as board chair.

Planning and Zoning Director Mark Mussman left in July, and in November Erik Mack stepped into the position. Mack had been serving as interim director of the department.

Another retirement affected the county Parks and Recreation, Weed and Building Maintenance departments when Jed Fisher wrapped up his career in March. Fisher had served 31 years as Flathead County’s Parks and Recreation director, and also served as maintenance director and ran the county’s weed-control program.

Christopher Maestas now directs Parks and Recreation and the weed department, while Dave Covill is building maintenance manager.

The county also will be looking to hire a new public health officer for the City-County Health Department. Joe Russell, who had retired from the position in 2017 after an extensive career in public health, stepped up to help the county through the Covid-19 pandemic. His contract recently was extended for another six months, through June 2022.

Interviews are underway with the ImagineIF Library Board for a new library director after Interim Director Martha Furman resigned earlier this month.

The county also will be tasked with finding a new director for the Agency on Aging. Current Director Lisa Sheppard is leaving in early February to take a position in Missoula as CEO of Missoula Aging Services.

Staff shortages that have been pervasive throughout the region also have affected Flathead County. The county’s job vacancy rate has been growing, with 61 vacancies out of a 540-person workforce as of mid-December, according to Melnick.

“We’re trying to turn the ship around,” he said. “We've put systems in place to expedite hiring.

“The county is growing and there are a lot of challenges,” Melnick said, “but we’re confident in the team and our elected officials.”

News editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 406-758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.