State to decide Oldtown taxation

OLDTOWN — The West Pend Oreille Fire Department’s request to leave Oldtown’s urban renewal district may actually be approved.

The Oldtown City Council rejected WPOFD’s request at their July meeting, as the water-sewer district was still $2.3 million in debt and needed the urban renewal tax revenue. But because city clerk-treasurer Alicia Ehrmantrout was absent in July due to a medical emergency, the necessary paperwork was never submitted before the deadline. As such, WPOFD’s request was automatically approved by the state.