Idea of city self-governance likely dead for the time being

After some 10 months of deliberation, the Columbia Falls government study commission is poised to recommend that the city not hold a vote on the question of whether the city should have self-governing powers.

Two members of the commission for the past several meetings have advocated the city at least put the measure to voters, but commission member Roger Hopkins has changed his mind after a public hearing last year drew almost no response from the public.

Hopkins and commissioner Connie Konopatzke initially advocated for self-governing powers, but commission member Susan Nicosia, while she didn’t object to the notion, didn’t see a need for it at the time being.

The commission then held yet another meeting on Jan. 12, where Hopkins publicly changed his mind.

“I told Connie and Susan I’ve decided to change my vote and side with Commissioner Nicosia to recommend the city council pursue the powers if and when an apparent need for such self-governing authority arises. I’ve reached this decision reluctantly and with regret. But it comes from a growing realization that if put forward now for a public vote June 2, the proposal is likely to fail. Commissioner Nicosia has correctly noted that the idea for self-government authority came midway through our review, and that our November public hearing brought only three attendees, none of whom advocated for the change,” Hopkins wrote in a letter to the editor, which appears in this newspaper.

Self-governing powers would allow the city to pass laws that aren’t prohibited under state or federal statute. The one example most frequently brought up is the city of Havre, which changed its charter to address blight in that city.

But Columbia Falls hasn’t really seen a need for laws outside the realm of state and federal law; at least for the time being.