Tribes near land trust deal

It appears 8.3 acres near Kootenai Falls sought by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are just an appeal from becoming a land trust.

Lincoln County Presiding Commissioner Tony Berget confirmed the reception of a letter last week from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Northwest Regional Office that states the land has been given to the tribes. The county has just 30 days to appeal the decision, and Berget is not happy about it.

“Most letters have a typed name next to the signature. These don’t. I had to do some research to even learn who signed these letters,” Berget said Monday. “I just don’t feel good about this. Why do they want land here?”

The reservation is just about 90 miles away, and Troy Commissioner Ron Downey, whose district the land trust is located, is skeptical.

“I don’t know what they’re up to,” Downey said. “I don’t trust it. If it becomes Indian land, we lose that tax money, about $900 a year. I can’t figure out why they want land here.”

Berget and Downey sent a letter to Gary Sloan, the tribe’s realty specialist, describing the plight in Lincoln County, asking for understanding in the process. 

A call to Sloan, who signed the letter, went unreturned. 

The land, which belonged to Lee McDonald, was purchased in 1989 and the tribes didn’t follow through with the paperwork until recently.

The legal description is west of the Kootenai Falls parking lot. The tract is located on both sides of U.S. Highway 2.