USFS plans sale of TF site

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing the sale of an administrative site in Thompson Falls.

The property considered for liquidation consists of four buildings on approximately 5 acres, located on Columbia Street in Thompson Falls. A 1,152-square-foot office building constructed in 1942 currently serves as office space for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP).

Dave Hattis, Plains/Thompson Falls District Ranger, approached the Thompson Falls City Council about the sale of the building earlier this month. The City Council did not have interest in purchasing the property.

According to Corrie Kegel, Forest Service project manager, FWP currently has a “Special Use Permit” in place while utilizing the facility. The current agreement allows FWP to use the building through the end of 2019. As of now, Kegel stated that it appears FWP is “planning on being out of the site be the end of calendar year 2018.”

Ryan Kreiner, FWP, said that they share the leased Forest Service building with Avista, and the quarters are a bit small, with little storage to accommodate both agency’s needs. He stated that the presence of asbestos and lead paint was also a concern for both parties occupying the building.

“After talking with Avista, we agreed that we could use money from the Avista Clark Fork Settlement Agreement to buy a new office to be used by FWP and Avista to carry out the duties from the settlement agreement,” Kreiner added.

A former taxidermy school, just east of Thompson Falls on Highway 200, was purchased and will be the future home for FWP and Avista.

“It needs some renovations. We are currently working on some of the fine details,” Kreiner commented. “We have signed a lease between Avista and FWP for the building and have met on-site a couple of times to decide what renovations take priority from each group’s perspective.”

After all environmental studies and comments have been analyzed in relation to the Forest Service administrative site, and the property has officially been deemed marketable, it will be sold under competitive bidding procedures of the General Services Administration (GSA) sale stipulations, stated Kegel.

For more information on the proposed property sale, contact Kegel at (406) 829-7339 or email [email protected].