Public hearing opened on expanding urban fire boundary for Montana Connections area

The council opened a public hearing May 6 on a proposal to expand the urban fire boundary to include the area formerly known as Montana Connections, an industrial district that Assistant Fire Chief Kelly J. Lee said presents higher risk conditions for first responders.

Lee told the council the TIFID (tax increment financing) district that included the area expired in 2022 and that incorporating the site into the Fire Taxing District would ensure equitable contribution for fire protection of those properties. "This area...presents several high risk conditions for our first responders due to the nature of the businesses and operations located there," Lee said.

Public comment included both supporters and opponents. A speaker from 2000 Roberts Avenue voiced general support for expanding the district; REC Silicon representatives, including Zach Kelly, testified that while they support fully funded fire protection they opposed the proposal "in its current form," asking that the council consider tax impacts. Commissioner Fisher read an email received by the council that estimated REC could bear about 70% of the tax increase, roughly $200,000, and asked that the letter be entered into the public record.

The council recorded proponents and opponents in the hearing record and closed the public hearing after the third call for opponents. No final action was taken that evening; the matter remains in the public-hearing record for further consideration and potential next steps by the council or appropriate committees.