Mayor, Commissioners Discuss Abandoned Properties

Wolf Point Mayor Chris Dschaak expressed his displeasure with the lack of information provided to him from commissioners regarding a possible transfer of the lots on Anaconda Street and First Avenue to the Fort Peck Tribes.

Dschaak said the process has left out one big element, the City of Wolf Point.

Although city officials expressed appreciation of the possible demolition of the two abandoned buildings, Dschaak also is concerned about the loss of taxes and the reduction in tax base.

If the tribes decide to take over the buildings, Dschaak said, “We will never get taxes back on those properties. It’s very upsetting to me.”

The mayor said that Wolf Point is already drastically lower than other northeastern Montana cities as far as tax base. “We’re struggling as it is.”

Commissioners Robert Toavs and Gordon Oelkers explained that many tax deed sales in Wolf Point have been unsuccessful by the county. No one attended a tax deed sale for the two discussed properties.

“Why didn’t you come up at that time?” Oelkers asked Dschaak.

The mayor replied, “You know very well that the city is in no position to clean it.”

Oelkers said, “Neither is the county.”

Dschaak explained that his biggest concern is that the city wasn’t part of the discussion that the county experienced with the tribes.

Toavs noted that he and fellow commissioner Doug Marottek met with the tribes’ Office of Environmental Protection regarding that funds could possibly be available through Brownfields housing grants. Since that particular grant is only available to tribes, it was decided to move the matter to the tribes’ land committee and then see if the tribal executive board has interest.

“We don’t have to accept or deny it,” Toavs said.

Toavs told Dschaak that his complaint was duly noted. “I understand where you’re coming from.”

Toavs said that the goal is removing the two properties which are a blight to Wolf Point’s downtown area and where two deaths have occurred.