Government Briefs

Stimson easement

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will hold a public hearing Wednesday to answer questions and take public input about the planned 22,000 acre Stimson conservation easement.

The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room at Libby City Hall.

The easement is a, “collaborative effort involving Stimson, The Trust for Public Land, and FWP,” according to an FWP press release.

Stimson representatives discussed the easement at a March 28 meeting.

In March, Barry Dexter, director of inland resources at Stimson, said the conservation easement ensures the land stays healthy and suitable for future harvesting.

Bruce Rowland, an area woodlands manager with Stimson, said they will not close any new roads. Nothing will be changed and people will still be able to access the land.

The FWP release states the conservation easement, will allow Stimson to retain the timberlands and continue to manage them. “This easement would preclude development, protect key landscape connectivity, and provide permanent public access and associated recreational opportunities,” the release states.

County Commissioners

During public comment Wednesday, the Lincoln County Commissioners heard from two Troy area residents who questioned whether 911 calls made from outside the City of Troy should be routed through Troy’s dispatch.

Both fire and ambulance calls are routed only through the Troy Area Dispatch. However, since the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responds to law enforcement calls in that area, Troy manually forwards those calls to the Sheriff’s dispatch.

Those outside the Troy city limits have to pay to support the Troy Area Dispatch.

Lincoln County Administrator Darren Coldwell said he believes the current arrangement was approved in a vote by residents, and any change would have to go to the vote.