Commissioners, district to continue land-deal discussion

Seldom are land deals discussed so openly, where even neighbors of the property to change hands have input, but that was the case Wednesday during the Lincoln County Commissioners meeting.

The difference Wednesday was that two tax-supported entities were seeking to consummate a deal that would exchange county land for a tract owned by Libby school district. 

The land swap would provide for a combined 52-acre tract near Libby High School that could provide an expanded outdoor science theater while opening the door for a potential building site later for one mega-campus.

On Wednesday, however, Libby Schools Superintendent K.W. Maki downplayed the exchange as a deal for a future building site.

“That may be, later,” Maki said.

Maki and all district board members excluding John Carlson met with the three-commissioner panel for about 40 minutes about the deal.

Commissioners Ron Downey of Troy and Mike Cole of Eureka deferred a further decision to Presiding Commissioner Ton Berget, who serves the district.

The proposal would expand the 22-plus acre tract of land on which Libby High School sits to include another 30 acres owned by the county. The site is located northwest and west of the current high school.

In exchange, the county would get almost 31 acres of the 39-acre tract the school district owns behind McGrade Center just off Farm to Market Road. Currently, the district leases the McGrade Center to the state of Montana. The deal includes land only, and does not include the McGrade Center building or the parkland and ball fields behind the center.

In describing the swap, Berget said the land is adjacent to other county-owned land and discussed a combined park complex that runs to Libby Creek on the east.

Property owners adjacent to the district land the county would receive expressed current problems with four-wheelers and even “mudding” trucks that use the area and often get stuck in the creek bed.

“We’ve had problems with the four-wheelers and even the big trucks that mud there,” said Robert Wilburn of 303 Pinewood Lane. “Sometimes, those trucks get stuck in the creek and they leak gas and oil.”

Berget said he and County Road Supervisor Marc McCully initially discussed a four-wheeler park there, but have since backed away from that idea, much to the delight of the homeowners. Berget said McCully discussed the possible placement of large stones there that would impede vehicular passage while allowing pedestrian traffic.

“I’m undecided,” said Lee Swearengin of 270 Tamarack Lane. “I’d be more in favor if they (exclude) motorized vehicles. Hey, I’m not against four-wheelers. They just leave such a mess. We’re not anti-usage. We just want patrols out here.”

 The meeting concluded with Maki and Berget agreeing to put their heads together to establish a date for a public hearing.

“We’ll get the date and get it advertised,” Maki said.