Evergreen community leaders are celebrating the latest step by the Flathead County commissioners in an effort to build sidewalks along the U.S. 2 corridor, which would provide safer routes to Evergreen schools as well as better access to local storefronts.

The commissioners last Thursday approved a resolution of intent to create special taxing districts that would cover 61 properties along the highway, which would help fund the construction and maintenance of the new sidewalks. That enabled a group of Evergreen residents to submit a grant application to the Montana Department of Transportation, with only a day to spare before a Friday deadline.

Community leaders hope to receive a grant of roughly $1 million, while the taxing districts would generate up to $188,000 in local matching funds. The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Evergreen and Evergreen Community Partners previously donated a combined $13,000 and hired an engineering firm to draft a plan and come up with cost estimates.

The plan calls for sidewalks along U.S. 2 between Montana 35 and Sunset Drive, and along portions of Montana 35 and West Evergreen Drive. The corridor is lined for much of the year with muddy or dusty foot paths, or nearly impassable mounds of snow and ice, forcing students to walk or bike along the edge of the highway to and from Evergreen's elementary and junior high schools.

Speaking after Thursday's vote, Commissioner Pam Holmquist responded to criticism that the county was slow to sign off on the plan.

"I think that the community has really stepped up and done a lot of work," Holmquist said. "But I also believe that the county has been given a bad rap on this, and I don't think that's appropriate because we have moved this forward as quickly as we could."

Holmquist was careful not to point fingers but said it took a while for county staff to receive all the detailed information they needed to set up the taxing districts.

"This is a big project. It's hard to get everything together. It's hard to get out and talk to everybody and get all the signatures you need and all of that," she said. "I think we've all worked really hard on it. … So when I hear that the county is dragging their feet or waiting till the 11th hour, that's not true. And I don't know where that's coming from or why we're getting that."

The commissioners' vote triggered a one-month "protest" period during which property owners within the proposed taxing districts can raise objections with the county. The deadline to do so is July 9.

There is no guarantee the Department of Transportation will award the grant. Evergreen leaders requested nearly one-fifth of the money available under the agency's Transportation Alternatives Program. If the grant is denied, the taxing districts will automatically be dissolved.

Assistant editor Chad Sokol may be reached at 406-758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com.