Commissioners agree to move forward on land swap

With three Libby School Board members in attendance, Lincoln County commissioners on Wednesday agreed to move forward with a land swap that would exchange equal-sized tracts of land the county owns for land the school district owns.

School Board President Ellen Johnston was among those in attendance.

“Yes, I’m for it,” Johnston said before indicating she expected the district would discuss the deal at its next meeting on Jan. 13.

“I think it’s a good deal,” said School Board member Bruce Sickler. “I don’t know any board member who is opposed.”

Sickler, who is a member of the district Building and Grounds Committee, said if the deal is for equal tracts of land, the deal would have to include the well area the district uses for irrigation.

“If it’s equal, it will have to include the well,” Sickler said. “We just need to be sure that’s addressed.”

Les Nelson was the third board member in attendance.

“I think we should do it,” Nelson said.

Currently, the district owns about 22 acres on which Libby High School sits. The deal would increase the district tract to about 52 acres, which could provide an outdoor science theater.

“The next step now is up to the school board,” Presiding Commissioner Tony Berget said. “We’ll wait for their recommendation.”