Thompson Falls Council member granted a leave of absence

The first item of new business at the October Thompson Falls City Council meeting was a request from Council Member Rusti Leivestad for a three-month leave of absence due to a family matter.

Leivestad was not present at the meeting.

During council discussion, questions were raised about how the temporary absence would affect voting procedures. Council Member Catherine DeWitt asked whether votes taken during the three-month period would effectively become “a five-person vote.”

Mayor Gussie O’Connor responded that the Council would still be able to conduct business as long as a quorum was present.

“As long as we have a quorum of four, we're still OK,” O'Connor said. 

Council members approved the leave of absence for Leivestad.

Larraine Renard, president of the Thompson Falls Woman's Club, presented Mayor O'Connor with a $100 donation to help service and maintain the city's radar speed signs. The donation was funded through an award received by the club, which was recognized as the Montana state winner of the General Federation of Women's Clubs Community Impact Program for 2024-26.

Also appearing before the Council was Annie Wooden, representing Thompson Falls Main Street, who requested permission for the organization to donate fencing valued at $2,500 for Rose Park. 

"Last month I mentioned that TFMS would like to donate a fence to Rose Park to help keep children from entering the street," Wooden said. 

Council members unanimously approved the donation and installation of the fence. Wooden also was seeking input from the public requesting feedback to be grand marshal and junior grand marshal for the December 5th Main Street Parade. Nominations can be sent to [email protected].

Mayor O’Conner next discussed resolutions 877 and 878 and the final special assessments for SIDs 3&4. O’Connor spoke about two districts in the city that lost a total of 15 property lots through aggregation. 

Council member Larry Milner raise his concern about the city actually regaining close to same amounts of lots available in both districts 3&4. Council members voted to table the special assessment increase for districts 3&4 until additional information can be reviewed.

The next item before the Council was a stormwater payment request from Great West Engineering. Council members expressed uncertainty about the final payoff amount and voted to table the request until the correct figure could be verified.

During public comment on the stormwater reimbursement application, local resident Kristen Wing raised concerns about engineering costs associated with the project.

“I’d just like it noted that, over a two-month period, the special engineering report for a system we are not going to use, and one that did not require a Preliminary Engineering Report in the first place, totaled $77,051,” Wing said.

The Council later approved payments totaling $235,457 for Water Project Phases 1 and 2. Council members also authorized a payment of $939,479 for Wastewater Project Phases 3 and 4.

During the unscheduled public comment portion of the meeting, Wing again expressed concerns about serving on city committees, noting her previous interest in joining the zoning committee.

“If we are outspoken people and we say what we think, we are not even looked at to be on a committee,” Wing commented.

Resident Rick Sanders also addressed the Council during public comment.

“I have some questions for the record,” Sanders said. “First, I would like copies of the state audit that was supposed to be done, and why it wasn’t published for everyone to see. There is also a federal audit that is supposed to be done. I haven’t seen that published either.”

The meeting concluded with a discussion regarding a fake Facebook page that had been spreading rumors about a proposed AI data center in Thompson Falls and assertions that the city would be declared a sanctuary city. Addressing the claims, Mayor O’Connor left little room for doubt, stating, “This is not going to happen in this town.”

    Council Member Rusti Leivestad was granted a three-month leave of absence by the Thompson Falls City Council. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press FILE)
 Tracy Scott