County wants to exempt farming from fire restrictions

The Flathead County commissioners will meet Thursday morning to consider exempting farming operations and welding operations with available water sources from Stage 2 fire restrictions.

The restrictions across Northwest Montana take effect Thursday

The commissioners will meet at 9:15 a.m. Thursday to consider fire restrictions.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist said late Tuesday she was working on wording the exemptions to help protect the local economy.

Commissioner Phil Mitchell said he supports the Stage 2 restrictions and agrees with “the process of tweaking” the restrictions to favor the economy.

Commissioner Gary Krueger said he believes moving to Stage 2 restrictions is an overreach by the government agencies involved in determining the restrictions.

“Basically what they’re trying to get me to do is put fire restrictions on private lands that are residential, agricultural or commercial,” Krueger said.

Fire restrictions are determined largely by the agencies that govern federal and state land, and it’s difficult to apply them in the same one-size-fits-all manner, he said, especially with the prohibition on operating internal combustion engines from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“What they’re telling me is you can’t mow your lawn after work, you can’t drive your own vehicles on your property; golf courses, with their wording, can’t run golf carts,” Krueger said. “We don’t want to stop people from digging septic tanks or running fork lifts or construction companies from building. That’s why I believe it’s an overreach.”