County hosting public hearings on Troy TV District fee; 911 dissolution

TV fees in the Troy District may be increasing.

A public hearing on the matter is being held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Lincoln County Commissioners meeting at the county courthouse in Libby. Residents are welcome to provide comment.

At the Aug. 30 commission meeting, the Troy TV District Board asked for an increase because expenses were exceeding revenue.

The current fee is $15 per year and the board is seeking an increase of $10, bringing the annual fee to $25.

If the fee increase is approved, it would take affect on Nov. 30, 2023.

At 10:30 a.m., the commissioners will consider a resolution to dissolve the Troy Area Dispatch District.

The Troy Dispatch Board voted 3-0 to dissolve the dispatch center at a Sept. 22 meeting.

The dispatch center, in operation since 1965, stopped operating on July 17, citing issues with the failure to properly staff the center in Troy. The center has struggled to maintain necessary staffing for quite some time with the county Sheriff’s Office handling calls in the Troy area in the interim.

In July, Lincoln County District 2 Commissioner Jim Hammons said most of the board’s budget, a total of $325,000 including a reserve account, has been spent on overtime pay because there weren’t enough dispatchers. He also said there were necessary equipment upgrades and the district doesn’t have the money to pay for it.

Then, at 11:45 a.m., the commission will hold a public hearing to adopt an amended budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

Anyone may appear at the hearing and have their comments heard regarding the amendment.

Copies can be viewed or obtained in the Clerk and Recorders office or on the County website at www.lincolncountymt.us under the public notices.