News

Conflict suspends Darby fuels-to-schools project

Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Dave Bull Wednesday suspended the Fuels for Schools project slated to begin at Darby Schools last month.

By JENNY JOHNSON Ravalli Republic Staff Reporter

Bull rejected a proposal submitted by the Darby School Board to eliminate a conflict of interest that exists with a recently elected trustee. The project – a biomass heating system for the school district – is on hold until Darby School Board, and trustee Doug Banks, decide what to do next.

In order for the project to get off the ground, Banks, who was awarded a $582,910 contract to construct the system, would need to relinquish his seat on the board or give up the project. As long as Banks sits on the board, which is responsible for administering the federal grant funding the project, a conflict of interest exists, Bull said in a letter to the Darby Superintendent Jack Eggensperger, and the Forest Service cannot release the money for the project.

Banks said Thursday he has not decided whether he is going to give up his seat or the job. He said he’s looking into whether the bonding for the project is proceeding and will have a decision at the regular school board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.

"I won’t stay on the board and drop the contract if there isn’t somebody else to do the project," he said. "I fully intend to make a decision. We won’t let the project die."

Other trustees are frustrated that the project is delayed, and that now, it isn’t a board decision, but rather Banks’.

"Right now we don’t have the grant," trustee Bob Wetzsteon said. "Literally without the grant, there is no project. It’s all up to Doug (Banks)."

Forest Service officials, too, are frustrated by the nearly two-month delay and are looking into other communities the grant could serve in the event that a resolution in Darby isn’t found. School officials have 30 days to resolve the issue or appeal Bull’s decision or the project will die, Bull said.

"What we thought was going to be a great project has caused a lot of controversy in a community we value as neighbors," said Nan Christianson, Forest Service official. "If it’s not the right project for Darby, we can accept that and move on. Maybe it’s not the right place and time."

Christianson said the Forest Service has four other communities in Montana that it’s assessing for similar projects. Darby was the first community chosen for this type of project – burning small wood products to generate heat.

If Banks remains on the board and gives up the contract, the board could choose the second bidder for the job, and the Forest Service would be "grateful to consider that option." Gordon Construction of Missoula was the second lowest bidder and is still interested in the project, Wetzsteon said.

Bull notified school officials of the conflict of interest last month before Banks joined the board. Banks was awarded the contract in April. In a questionable board decision, two trustees decided to submit a plan to remove the conflict which called for the board to appoint a separate committee to administer the grant and project outside of the school board. Saying that the board is the entity ultimately responsible for the performance of the grant, Bull rejected that proposal.

"It’s pretty disheartening that those board members are making decisions all by themselves," said parent Jennifer Ray at a special board meeting this week.

According to Eggensperger, board Chairwoman Gina Schallenberger and Banks drafted the proposal one week ago for Bull’s consideration after receiving two options from Montana School Board Association lawyer Elizabeth Kalvea.

Reporter Jenny Johnson can be reached at 363-3300 or [email protected].

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