Ravalli County News

Senator Jon Tester toured the Huls Dairy manure digester on Tuesday.  The Montana Community Development Corporation helped with the project. Left to right: Dan Huls, Tester, Tim Huls.

“We’re dairy farmers, not energy producers,” Tim Huls told Senator Jon Tester, “but now we’re going to be energy producers.”

Tim Huls, his wife Trudy, and his brother Dan, gave the United States Senator a tour of their Corvallis dairy’s new manure digester.  Senator Tester stopped at Huls Dairy on Tuesday evening amidst a series of listening sessions across the state on the topic of energy.

The Huls Dairy is the first place in Montana to get a manure digester.  It is designed to produce methane out of manure.  

The system is expensive, costing approximately a million dollars.  About seventy percent of the cost will be covered by various government grants; however the Huls credit the private Montana Community Development Corporation (MCDC) with helping them bridge the financial gap between the project’s beginning and the arrival of the grant money at completion.

The project is very near completion.  The final concrete is due to be poured today.  Manure could be processed within a week.

The Huls’ idea for a manure digester came from an effort to control odor and increase income.  The dairy has been struggling with the rising cost of feed for the cattle.

Overall, the dairy has been quite successful.  With somewhere between 350 and 400 head of cattle, Huls Dairy is one of the largest dairies in the state.  They market their milk to Country Classic in Bozeman. 

The Huls estimate that they have given about 5,000 free tours of the dairy to 4-H, school and university groups, as a community service.

This year marks one hundred years since the Huls Dairy came to be.  Tim and Dan Huls are the fourth generation of Huls to operate the dairy.

Senator Tester spent almost an hour touring the dairy.  He described the manure digester system as “impressive.”

The effort to stop zoning in Ravalli County has made the November ballot.  The measure, if approved by voters, would repeal Ravalli County’s Growth Policy.  Since the Growth Policy is what authorizes the county commissioners to adopt zoning regulations, repeal would prevent countywide zoning from being adopted

3588 signatures were collected to get the measure on the ballot.

Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder Regina Plettenberg was quoted in the Ravalli Republic saying,: “I think the biggest thing is that this came in at kind of the last minute.  Within two weeks they had enough signatures. That’s pretty impressive for a hometown effort.”

The Republic also noted, “County commissioners gave Darby rural voters the opportunity to decide whether they wanted to be included in the zoning effort in June. Those voters overwhelmingly voted against the zoning, 953-311.

“The commission didn’t allow the rest of the county’s rural voters the same opportunity.”

Only voters residing outside of incorporated towns (Hamilton, Darby, Pinesdale and Stevensville) will be able to vote on the measure.  Towns are permitted to implement their own growth policies and zoning.

Previously:
Stop Zoning Petition Aims to Put Issue on Ballot

“A federal judge… has ordered gray wolves in the Northern Rockies be returned to the endangered species list, halting state hunting seasons proposed for this fall…

“The region has an estimated 2,000 wolves, a population that has been soaring and increasingly preying on livestock.”

Not to mention decimating the elk population.  Elk hunting?  What elk hunting?

On June 30, the Ravalli County Commissioners abandoned plans to adopt a countywide zoning ordinance this year and agreed to a new timeline, proposed by the Planning Department, which envisions adoption of zoning in April 2009.

But the Commissioners, in total disarray, have now apparently abandoned that new timeline.

Pressure from special interests pushing zoning has Commissioners Carlotta Grandstaff and Jim Rokosch agitating for the adoption of zoning before the November expiration of the current one-per-two zoning ordinance.

Commissioner Kathleen Driscoll wants to wait for the next draft of zoning regulations, Draft C, before making a decision on a timeline.

Commissioner Alan Thompson wants to ignore the November expiration of one-per-two and take the time to do zoning right.

Commissioner Greg Chilcott wants to take the time to do zoning right and also wants to give citizens the right to vote on the final zoning regulations.

After discussing the timeline for several hours at a meeting on Thursday, July 17, the commissioners decided to consider the matter further on Wednesday, July 23, at 1 p.m.

In place of paying property taxes, the federal government used to share receipts from the sale of timber with local governments.  With the elimination of most logging in national forests, the government started PILT, “Payments in Lieu of Taxes”.

But, now, Congress has let PILT expire.

It is the equivalent of the federal government refusing to pay property taxes.  You or I would lose our property for that.

An Oregon county could vanish along with timber payments

Daniel Cox of Conner has started a petition drive to stop zoning in Ravalli County.  The petition has been approved for circulation  by the Ravalli County Attorney’s Office and is ready for signatures.

If enough signatures are gathered and the measure is approved by voters, it would repeal Ravalli County’s Growth Policy.  Since the Growth Policy is what authorizes the county commissioners to adopt zoning regulations, repeal would prevent countywide zoning from being adopted.

Petition circulators have 90 days to collect signatures for the petition.  The petition requires the signature of 15 percent of registered voters for the measure to be placed on the ballot.  Only voters residing outside of incorporated towns (Hamilton, Darby, Pinesdale and Stevensville) can sign the petition and vote on the measure.

More information at Stop Zoning Now.

The population of wolves is growing rapidly, posing a threat to the elk population and domestic livestock. There are now an estimated 12 wolf packs in Ravalli County alone.

The State of Montana is accepting comments on a proposed wolf management plan. Comments must be received by July 25. Send comments to:

Wildlife Division
Wolf ARM Public Comment
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT   59620-0701

Or send your comments via e-mail to: fwpwld@mt.gov.

For those who are able to attend, there will also be a public meeting at 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula, 6 pm on July 17.

More information at Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
 

“State wildlife officials killed two wolves belonging to separate packs in… western Montana on Friday…”

Previously: Law Still on the Books Enabling a County Wolf Bounty

From the Montana Department of Commerce, Census and Economic Information Center: Montana by the Numbers

Montana population (2007): 957,861
Montana households 372,190

Ravalli County population (2007): 40,396

The Ravalli Republic has an entertaining report on numbers just released by the Department of Commerce.  The headline reads, “County grows 6.2 percent in seven years”. But the first line says, “Ravalli County’s population has grown 12 percent in the last seven years.”

A bit further in the article, it says, “Montana’s population has jumped 6.2 percent within the last seven years, currently having a population of 957,861, up from 946,795 in 2000″. But 6.2 percent of 946,795 is 58,701.

Also, “In Ravalli County, the population has grown 12 percent currently having a population of 40,396 up from 39,836 in 2000.” 12 percent of 39,836 is 4780.

Amazingly, according to the Republic article, Montana wheat production amounts to $688,415. But the article says wheat exports are $451.7 million.

81-7-201 of the Montana Code Annotated:

Whenever the owners or agents of the owners of not less than 51% of the livestock of any county in this state present a petition to the board of county commissioners asking for the imposition of a fee upon the livestock of the county for the purpose of paying bounties on predatory animals killed in the county, the board of county commissioners shall impose the fee on all livestock in the county.

 81-7-202:

 (1) The petition provided for in 81-7-201 must be signed by the owners or agents of the owners of not less than 51% of the livestock of the county and must recommend to the board of county commissioners the bounties to be paid on predatory animals, which may not exceed the following:
     (a) on each wolf or mountain lion, $100;
     (b) on each wolf pup or mountain lion kitten, $20;
     (c) on one coyote, $5; and
     (d) on each coyote pup, $2.50. 
 (2) A petition must be presented not later than August 1 of each year, and the board on determining the sufficiency of the petition shall make an order granting the petition. A signature on a petition may not be withdrawn by the signer after the hour set for hearing the petition. The order must fix the fee for that year and the amount of the bounties to be paid for the killing of each predatory animal, which may not exceed the amounts recommended in the petition. The order may also appoint not less than 10 or more than 20 stockowners of the county to be bounty inspectors under this part, without compensation, who shall hold their offices for 1 year.

According to the Ravalli Republic, a landowner near Sula killed a wolf that was threatening cattle this week. The article goes on to say that a Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wolf Management Specialist estimates that there are 12 packs of wolves in the Bitterroot Valley.

With the rapid growth of the wolf population, the county will soon have few if any elk and will have an escalting problem with livestock depredation.

The Ravalli County Commissioners have abandoned plans to adopt a countywide zoning ordinance this year.  A new timeline, proposed by the Planning Department and agreed to by the Commissioners, envisions adoption in April 2009.

Zoning opponents are happy with the delay.  One opponent, who asked not to be identified said, “Opposition [to zoning] is building.  People are beginning to question the restrictions, the cost, the bureaucracy, and the opportunity for corruption.  This isn’t Chicago.”

Accoring to the Ravalli Republic, “other zoning projects - streamside setbacks, U.S. 93 corridor zoning and the open lands bond - will all be pushed back” as well.  “The commission labeled countywide zoning as the number one priority, and all other projects were pushed to the back burner.”

“Prosecutors are investigating whether Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon received thousands of dollars in gifts - including fur coats - from a prominent developer whose projects benefited from tax breaks and zoning changes…  …also went on lavish trips to Boston, the Bahamas, Chicago and Colorado with the developer…”

Source.

Corruption and Favoritism still alive in zoning and land use decisions in Florida

Ravalli County Planning Director Karen Hughes tendered her resignation last week.

The resignation comes in the midst of serious budget problems and a voter revolt against zoning.

Hughes had repeatedly requested additional funds from the county commissioners.  Developing countywide zoning has proven to be expensive and time-consuming, as has dealing with litigation and subdivision reviews under interim zoning regulations.

Only voters in the Darby area have been permitted to vote on whether to continue in the county-wide zoning project.  These voters said no to zoning by a three to one margin.  Despite requests for a vote, county commissioners have so far denied a vote to those in other parts of the county.

The interim zoning regulations, in place since 2006, have made Ravalli County a national laughingstock.  The “enforced sprawl” of these regulations is the opposite of good planning.  Nearly all planners agree that housing units should be clustered to preserve open space.  But according to the interim regulations, every housing unit must sit on a separate two acre parcel.

The only voters permitted to weigh in on the matter rejected zoning by more than three to one.

An article in the Ravalli Republic includes a pair of stories illustrating the problems caused by zoning.

And this observation from Commissioner Chilcott: “Zoning doesn’t stop growth and anybody under the illusion that zoning will help stop growth - they’re mistaken.”

Commission decides to leave zoning off ballot

A bit more background here: Zoning vote debate reaches commission

This will bring back some memories for the old timers.  A sunny afternoon in Hamilton, Montana in 1942.

Photo credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-065600-D. 

School levies passed in the Florence and Stevensville districts and failed in the Lone Rock and Hamilton districts.

We now have a page with information on Ravalli County.  You will see it listed in the column on the right.  The information is pretty basic right now.  Feel free to suggest additions to the “Ravalli County” page by leaving a comment on this article.

Here is what’s on the page right now:

Ravalli County, Montana, situated in the northern Rocky Mountains, is defined and dominated by geography.  On the west, the county boundary is the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains.  On the east, the boundary is the crest of the Sapphire Mountains.  Between the mountain ranges lies the Bitterroot Valley, with the Bitterroot River flowing from south to north.

To both the west and the south of the county is Idaho.  To the east are Granite and Beaverhead Counties.

To the north of Ravalli County is Missoula County, the boundary being the line between Township 10 North and Township 11 North, which lies near 46 degrees, 40 minutes.

The Bitterroot Valley is part of the Columbia River watershed.  The Bitterroot River drains into the Clark Fork at Missoula.  In Idaho, the Clark Fork empties into Lake Pend Oreille, which drains to the Columbia River via the Pend Oreille River.

Highway access to Ravalli County is exclusively via U.S. Highway 93.  North on 93 takes one to Missoula and Interstate 90.  South on 93 takes one over Lost Trail Pass into Idaho.

Ravalli county is mostly rural, with a population of about 40,000.  Hamilton is the largest city in the county and the county seat.  Hamilton has a population of about 4,000 within the city limits.  About 16,000 have a Hamilton address.

The nearest sizable city is Missoula, Montana, population 65,000.