County cuts fire service area fee

Residents south of Libby have 60 days to comment on a proposal to expand the Cabinet View fire service area following action Wednesday by the Lincoln County Commissioners.

The commissioners approved a resolution to expand the service area after meeting with the Cabinet View board to resolve issues surrounding the fee structure to be imposed on property owners to fund the fire department.

A number of area residents had expressed concerns, both at a public hearing and in phone calls to the commissioners, over plans to assess a $10 fee for structures such as barns and shops. The $10 fee would be added to the base fees of $125 per year for residences and $75 per year for businesses. Some residents were worried that the expense would be too high if small buildings like chicken coops or tool sheds were assessed the fee.

In a meeting with Cabinet View representatives following the public hearing on March 16, the commissioners pointed out that other comparable fire service areas in the county make do with considerably less funding than the base fees will bring in for Cabinet View. Fees for those areas range from $25 to $50 per year.

The resolution approved this week keeps the base fees at $125 for residences and $75 for businesses but eliminates the $10 fee for additional structures.

Property owners have 60 days from the passing of the resolution to protest the expansion. If more than 50 percent of property owners within the proposed service area object, the proposal will be defeated.

The service area currently covers 26 residences and four businesses. The proposal calls for the expansion of the fire service area to include more than 200 residences within five driving miles of the fire hall, located along Luscher Drive off Farm to Market Road.

The five-mile radius chosen represents the maximum distance from a fire hall recognized for insurance purposes. Insurance discounts vary depending on the department's rating.