Representatives from the Flathead Lakers and the Polson Bay Golf Course presented a plan to the Polson City Commission last Wednesday to reduce stormwater runoff, which had caused increased levels of E. coli in Flathead Lake near Boettcher Park.  

Coby Gierke, the executive director of Flathead Lakers, said they have been monitoring water quality weekly since 2017, and Boettcher is one of their “problem children.” He noted that this area tests above the healthy standard thresholds for E. coli, a bacteria that can cause digestive issues in humans. 

The increased levels of nutrients and bacteria have also caused an algal bloom and swimmers' itch. These levels are caused by upstream water flow from the irrigation canals and a goose population on the golf course, according to Gierke.  

The Lakers, along with Polson Bay Golf Course, are creating a public-private partnership to reduce pollution and improve filtration. This project includes continuing to monitor water quality and levels of nitrogen, phosphate and pesticides.  

Gierke noted that they have hired landscape architects to help craft retention ponds and bioretention swales above the course’s maintenance shop and redevelop outlets to create a meandering creek that flows to the pond.  

The Lakers started out as a homeowner’s association and changed to a non-profit many years ago to focus on the water quality of the Flathead Watershed. They have worked on other shoreline protection projects for the lake, including projects that involved cities and private landowners.  

Gierke explained that they have good partners on this project, including the Flathead Lake Biological Station and other private labs in Kalispell. He also said this is a project that Pat Nowlen, the golf superintendent, and his team could not undertake without the Lakers grants and private donations. He said at the Golf Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17, that they plan to invest over $150,000 of private money into this project.  

“We can't just throw Pat and his team under the bus here and say, ‘you golfers and your fertilizers.’ There's a lot of stuff that's coming in through the canal, and that's the irrigation source for the golf course,” Gierke said. “It ends up on the golf course and then in the lake, and this is an opportunity to address that as well.”  

Nowlen explained that the Old Nine was constructed in 1936, and that golf course architecture has come a long way since then, with engineered basins and filtration systems. Nowlen said they do not apply pesticides to the course, but mercury was applied to the course in the 1960s, and that has not reached the lake.  

“So this has been a fun process, and it's going to address a lot of issues,” Nowlen said.  

Commissioner Tracie McDonald asked Gierke whether they have a system for notifying the public of water quality levels. Gierke explained that they work with a third-party nonprofit, Swim Guide, to communicate water conditions.  

Pickleball agreement  

Another agenda item for the commission was to authorize the city manager to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Polson Pickleball Club for maintenance and construction of the courts.  

City Manager Ed Meece explained that they have had a longstanding partnership, and the club is interested in having the agreement in writing. The club is fundraising to construct three additional courts, which would be added to the city park system.  

The MOU clarifies funding, construction and maintenance of the courts, as well as the collaboration between the parties. The club agreed to donate funds for construction and will report repairs needed to the city.  

The city will manage the construction bid and is responsible for maintenance and facilities management. The agreement also stipulates that the city will waive fees for the club’s two tournaments. The commission unanimously passed the motion.  

Impact fees and dog park progress 

The second reading of the mixed-use development impact fee calculations also passed.  

This ordinance amends the water and sewer impact fees for mixed-use developments to either use the residential calculation on a separate meter or upgrade the meter to commercial and pay in commercial increments. The commission recently approved a change in residential impact fees, moving from blanket fees to fixture-based calculations.  

Eve Dixon, the president of Woofpack — a group of community members that raises funds for the Travis Dolphin Dog Park — made a brief presentation on the significant progress the group has made.  

According to previous Leader reporting, the Woofpack established two project phases. Phase one includes replacing the torn weed mat, replenishing gravel on the 2.5-acre park’s paths and terracing the slope leading to the dock. Phase two would stabilize the shoreline by installing 50 feet of riprap approximately four feet high downstream and upstream of the dock.  

The Woofpack is seeking to raise around $36,000 for phase 1 and $18,400 for phase 2, and received city approval in September to fundraise for the project.  

Dixon said they have $22,000 in the bank, and they have expanded their online fundraising. Additionally, they submitted an application to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for a trail stewardship grant.  

Dixon said she is confident they will have the funds this summer for the first phase, allowing them to complete the project by the end of the summer. 

Commissioner Lisa Rehard asked when Dixon would like the request for proposal, and Dixon explained that it would be up to the city manager.  

Meece added that they are cautious about soliciting bids until they have the money in hand. Dixon asked whether he would start seeking bids if she could get the money in a month, and Meece said he would if she can demonstrate the project has sufficient funding.  

The commission was also scheduled to complete the second reading of amending the city code to align with the changes from the new state law. However, the wrong document was attached to the agenda, so the item was tabled. 

The city also filled two open positions, which included the utility billing clerk and the IT/GIS director.