Conservation bond issue

By MICHAEL RICHESON/Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County voters are being asked to approve a $10 million fund to acquire and preserve open space.

If the bond request passes Nov. 4, the money would allow the county to purchase development rights from willing landowners to conserve farms and ranches, acquire waterfront and recreational lands, protect clean water and conserve wildlife habitat.

The bond request was placed on the ballot by Flathead County commissioners at the request of the Flathead Land Trust and Trust for Public Land. The Land Use Committee of the Flathead County Long Range Planning Task Force, the County Weed and Parks Board and the Flathead Conservation District also supported the conservation bond.

Marilyn Wood, executive director for the Flathead Land Trust, urged the commissioners to let the public vote on the conservation bond.

Although close to 80 percent of Flathead County is open to public use, Wood said massive development projects have made people more aware of conservation efforts.

"If you look at the county, we have more than 640,000 acres of private lands," Wood said. "I don't think people want to see every acre of it developed. They want to see scenic farmlands protected."

The estimated annual tax increase, according to county figures, would be $9.15 for a home with an assessed value of $100,000 or $18.30 for a home with an assessed value of $200,000.

For the cost of five gallons of gas, Wood said, the public can get involved to help pay for conservation efforts.

If the bond issue is approved, Flathead County would draw up guidelines and work with a citizen advisory group to prioritize how to spend the money. Details beyond the wording of the resolution and ballot are still up in the air.

Five years ago, a similar bond effort was halted when county commissioners voted against putting it on the ballot.

The official wording of the ballot request calls for issuing $10 million in bonds "for the purpose of open-space lands in the county, including working lands and land for protecting clean water and recreational access, by providing funds to acquire interests or rights in property from willing property owners and to pay costs associated with the sale and issuance of the bonds, for any one or more of the following reasons: protecting clean water in streams, rivers and lakes; preserving traditional recreational access; conserving working farm, forest and ranch lands; expanding or establishing rural parks or recreational areas; and conserving habitat for wildlife."

Other Montana counties including Gallatin, Ravalli and Missoula have approved similar conservation programs.

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com