Commissioners set up committee to tackle gravel pits

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County commissioners Wednesday appointed a six-member community board to advise them about issues related to gravel pits.

Brett Fisher with Schellinger Construction will chair the board. Other members include Ron Buentemeier, general manager of F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber; Alrick Hale, general manager of JTL Group; Bruce Tutvedt, a West Valley farmer and gravel pit owner; Wally Wilkinson, a Realtor and contractor; and Jerry Nix, a retired developer, chairman of the county's Long-Range Planning Task Force and strong advocate for greater county oversight of gravel pits.

The initial idea for the board came several weeks ago, when the commissioners were considering an amendment to the county zoning regulations.

The amendment, which was ultimately approved, substantially increased the number of areas where new gravel pits can be prohibited.

Several industry representatives - including three of the above six board members - opposed the change, saying it went too far in regulating new gravel operations. They encouraged the commissioners to form an advisory board to investigate ways to "improve" the regulation so it protected county residents without unduly hindering landowners and gravel pit operators who want to use this resource.

The Montana Contractors' Association recently filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the amendment. However, it held off on serving the lawsuit in the hopes that this advisory board can resolve the dispute.

The advisory board will now develop a set of bylaws and objectives and submit them to the commissioners for approval.

Commissioners Gary Hall and Joe Brenneman made the committee appointments. Commissioner Bob Watne was absent.