Commissioners Rundown

Selenium

research

At their regular meeting in Eureka Dec. 5, the Lincoln County Commission approved a letter to be sent to Sen. Jon Tester, Gov. Steve Bullock and Rep. Greg Gianforte expressing support for further research into Selenium levels in the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir.

The letter — which the commissioners tasked County Administrator Darren Coldwell with drafting — states that the commissioners “support the funding request from the U.S. Department of State and the Environmental Protection Agency for this project.”

During the meeting, Coldwell said that the final letter the commissioners approved includes “changes expressed by the commissioners.”

The letter states that the research is vital and notes the economic importance of the Kootenai drainage.

Though not discussed in the letter, selenium levels in the Kootenai River and Koocanusa Reservoir have been linked to runoff from waste rock in coal mining operations in British Columbia.

Teck Resources — the company that runs the mining operations linked to the selenium that has leached into the waterways — has active water treatment plants and is exploring passive treatment techniques.

Critics of Teck have alleged that their efforts are insufficient to reduce the selenium levels or ensure a long term solution.

While selenium is taken by some as a dietary supplement and no party has alleged direct danger to humans from the selenium concentrations in the Kookanusa, the mineral has been linked to interference in the reproduction of fish and smaller, more sensitive life forms.

No church tax

The County Commission voted to void property taxes for two religious organizations -- Troy Assembly of God and International Messengers, a Libby-based missionary training organization -- during their regular meeting in Eureka Dec. 5.

During their Nov. 28 meeting, the commissioners concluded that the tax bills the organizations had received were the result of a misunderstanding involving filing of paperwork.

Commissioner Jerry Bennett had been looking into the matter and was in contact with the Montana Department of Revenue. However, he said that he had been unable to reach his contact there prior to the meeting

Bennett was able to receive guidance from the Montana Association of Counties.

Since the paperwork deadline that the organizations missed was a matter of administrative rules and the tax exempt status of churches and schools is codified in state law, the MACo opinion that Bennett read off concluded that state law supersedes the administrative rule.

The commissioners voted to exempt both organizations from taxes, excluding fees such as the refuse fee. They also included Lakeside Christian Fellowship, a church in Eureka that is in a similar situation to the other two.

Replacing

deputy

Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe and Undersheriff Brian Griffeth approached the County Commissioners during their regular meeting in Eureka Dec. 5 seeking permission to hire a new deputy.

Griffeth told the commissioners that Deputy Jeff Streifling resigned the previous week and they need the commissioner’s’ permission to hire a replacement.

Griffeth said that the job opening would be posted internally, but that the department had taken no steps prior to seeking permission to begin the process.