TF Council to appoint GMCD supervisors

At the City Council meeting on Monday, Mayor Marks Sheets notified the council and the public that the city will appoint two members to the Green Mountain Conservation District (GMCD) Board. Sheets said a state law was recently brought to his attention that gives the city the authority to appoint two supervisors to the board.

Montana Code 76-15-311 states that if a municipality is completely within the boundaries of a conservation district, the legislative body of the incorporate municipalities shall appoint the two additional supervisors after consultation with the elected supervisors of the board.

Sheets said they will appoint the supervisors to represent the best interest of the city. Applications will be accepted and the council will vote on the two GMCD supervisors at the March 13 meeting.

Several residents in attendance had questions about the appointment process. "It does look really bad that after 82 years and three new Green Mountain board members that now you get to appoint members with this law," said Kristen Wing. Sheets reiterated that he was just made aware of the law.

Council member Hayley Blakney said that the recreation and public properties committee met with ThompsoN Falls High School student Ellyanna Vild recently. Vild had approached the council in January about upgrading the tennis courts by the high school. Blakney said that at the committee meeting, they talked about other funding streams for Vild to pursue. Mayor Sheets said that the water and sewer committee met with representatives from the Rimrock and answered questions over how the wastewater project will affect the Rimrock properties, including the RV park. Sheets said the Rimrock is reviewing pretreatment options for the RV park. "It was a very productive meeting," council member Shawni Vaught noted.

At Monday's meeting, the council voted to keep the ordinance allowing chickens, rabbits, ducks and quails in city limits. Police Chief Chris Nichols had previously asked the city to consider rescinding the ordinance. Council member Katherine Maudrone said the community and public relations committee had good discussion and good attendance at a meeting discussing the ordinance, and that everyone was in favor of keeping the ordinance. "A lot of good conversation and engagement has comeout of this," Blakney added.

Maudrone also approached the council about pursuing the Bear Smart program. In order to become a Bear Smart Community, cities complete a bear hazard assessment, prepare a human-bear conflict management plan and develope and maintian an effective bear-proof municial solid waste management system, according to Get Bear Smart Society, which has grant funding available. The council moved the item to the community and public relations committee.

The council also voted to approve a lease agreement with Thompson Falls School District for use of the sotfball and baseball fields on city property. Council member Raoul Ribeiro said he had concerns with the agreement, including that the city wasn't charging enough for the lease. He suggested changing the $10 fee to $100 per year. "The city is taking on a larger share of the maintenance," he noted. "I think if they are using the fields, there should be some compensation for the city."

The next city council meeting will be Monday, March 13, at 6 p.m.