Petty Creek secession meeting minutes
[Editor's Note: Petty Creek taxpayers expressed dissatisfaction with Missoula County during a candidate meeting Oct. 24, 2009. In response to citizen requests at that meeting, Rep. Gordon Hendrick agreed to research the history of the issue. He obtained the following meeting minutes from the Mineral County commissioners, regarding the May 20, 2009 meeting. Rep. Hendrick reported that the Mineral County commissioners have asked for more detailed information about road maintenance in the area.]
by Cindy Grimm
COMMISSIONERS MINUTES
MAY 20, 2009
MISSOULA COUNTY BECOMING PART OF MINERAL COUNTY
Present: Larry Hayden – Missoula County Resident, Jack Wilkinson – Missoula County Resident, Sharon Patterson – Mineral County Extension, Cindy Grimm – Administrative Assistant, Gordon Hendrick – State Representative, Jason McLees – Road Foreman, Kathleen Brown – Clerk of District Court, Shaun Donovan – County Attorney, Tim Read – Planner/Sanitation, Annabelle Getz – Treasurer/School Superintendent
Considerations:
· Mr. Hayden stated that Precinct 19 (Petty Creek) is interested in succeeding from Missoula County and becoming part of Mineral County. Is Mineral County interested in accepting Petty Creek as part of Mineral County?
· 70 – 80% of Petty Creek residents would be interested in joining Mineral County.
· Mr. Hayden said Precinct 20 is also interested in becoming part of Mineral County. (About 50 residents).
· Mr. Hayden presented some tax information including his own tax bill.
· He asked questions about taxes. Shaun suggested talking to the local Department of Revenue regarding any tax questions.
· He questioned road maintenance and policing issues.
· Mr. Hayden says the existing Missoula County road maintenance up Petty Creek is very poor.
· Shaun suggested they present a complete list of the reasons the residents would like to become part of Mineral County.
· Mr. Hayden talked about wood smoke and streamside setbacks as a couple of things they don’t like about Missoula County.
· Tim explained the stream side setbacks in Mineral County.
· Shaun discussed the wood smoke issue as it relates to Mineral County. Most of the land in Mineral County is public land.
· Sharon Patterson explained the role of the Conservation District related to streams in Mineral County and the jurisdiction of the Conservation District over the streams.
· The group also discussed how Missoula County deals with stream side setbacks and issues.
· Jack was more concerned with the usage issues on streamside setbacks as opposed to building issues.
· The group discussed new construction being subjected to the rules of Mineral County.
· Mr. Wilkinson said there are not any problems with law enforcement or road issues between the residents of Petty Creek and Missoula County.
· Petty Creek residents are paying for services to Missoula County that they do not receive. They are being taxed for more and more services.
· Mr. Hayden stated that Petty Creek residents’ biggest issue is the fear of increased County intrusion into residents’ lives.
· Mr. Hayden feels that all the fees Missoula County charges are exorbitant.
· Tim discussed various permit and subdivision fees.
· Mr. Wilkinson mentioned that Petty Creek fits much better geographically with Mineral County that it does with Missoula County.
· Shaun suggested that Mineral County look very carefully at the taxes and services that would be affected by the proposed change and analyze the changes that would occur with such a move.
· Shaun also suggested that the residents research the changes and gather information from various sources related to this type of move.
· Tim asked if Petty Creek was a county road and if there was any existing maintenance agreement with Plum Creek or the USFS.
· Mr. Hayden said the USFS said they do not do any maintenance on Petty Creek Road.
· Mr. Hayden asked Shaun what the process is to become part of Mineral County. Shaun said he agreed with Missoula County Attorney James McCubbins’ summary of the process.
· Mr. Hayden explained his understanding of how the vote would take place.
· Gordon Hendrick read the Summary of Procedure to Move a Portion of Missoula County to Lake County.
· Shaun commented on the taxation motivation for moving to another county. He said they may not be any better off tax wise, if that is the motivation to move to Mineral County.
· Mr. Wilkinson commented that he doesn’t believe that Missoula County would vote to let Petty Creek become Mineral County. Shaun said that may not be a clear point to many of the voters in Missoula County.
· Shaun suggested doing a lot of research on both sides before the commissioners consider making any decisions.
· Mr. Wilkinson discussed the situation with the Frenchtown Fire Department and the problems with the situation.
· Mr. Wilkinson summarized by saying that Petty Creek just doesn’t fit with Missoula County and would be a much better fit with Mineral County.
· Shaun informed the group that he would keep Missoula County informed of all communications with the residents of Petty Creek and the progress being made.
· Tim suggested looking at how the situation would affect the PILT for Mineral County.
· Tim discussed how the sale of TNC property up Fish Creek to the State would affect taxes in Mineral County.
Pros:
· Existing western boundary of Petty Creek is currently Mineral County.
· Existing road base is good.
· Frenchtown Fire covers all the populated areas of Petty Creek.
Cons:
· More road maintenance and public safety.
· The PILT could be less than needed for maintenance of the roads in Petty Creek.
· Petty Creek residents would expect complete dust abatement of Petty Creek and significantly more road maintenance than is currently being done by Missoula County.
· There is 11 miles of road that would be maintained by Mineral County Road Dept.
Decision:
· The Petty Creek residents will do research related to taxes, services, roads and other details of how they would be affected by the proposed move.
· Mineral County will need to do some analysis on consequences of accepting Petty Creek into Mineral County.
· Mr. Hayden and Mr. Wilkinson will contact Mineral County when they have completed their research.
Motion: No action was taken at this time
###
See also:
Commissioners ask for Petty Creek road data, http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/art...4140217834
by Cindy Grimm
COMMISSIONERS MINUTES
MAY 20, 2009
MISSOULA COUNTY BECOMING PART OF MINERAL COUNTY
Present: Larry Hayden – Missoula County Resident, Jack Wilkinson – Missoula County Resident, Sharon Patterson – Mineral County Extension, Cindy Grimm – Administrative Assistant, Gordon Hendrick – State Representative, Jason McLees – Road Foreman, Kathleen Brown – Clerk of District Court, Shaun Donovan – County Attorney, Tim Read – Planner/Sanitation, Annabelle Getz – Treasurer/School Superintendent
Considerations:
· Mr. Hayden stated that Precinct 19 (Petty Creek) is interested in succeeding from Missoula County and becoming part of Mineral County. Is Mineral County interested in accepting Petty Creek as part of Mineral County?
· 70 – 80% of Petty Creek residents would be interested in joining Mineral County.
· Mr. Hayden said Precinct 20 is also interested in becoming part of Mineral County. (About 50 residents).
· Mr. Hayden presented some tax information including his own tax bill.
· He asked questions about taxes. Shaun suggested talking to the local Department of Revenue regarding any tax questions.
· He questioned road maintenance and policing issues.
· Mr. Hayden says the existing Missoula County road maintenance up Petty Creek is very poor.
· Shaun suggested they present a complete list of the reasons the residents would like to become part of Mineral County.
· Mr. Hayden talked about wood smoke and streamside setbacks as a couple of things they don’t like about Missoula County.
· Tim explained the stream side setbacks in Mineral County.
· Shaun discussed the wood smoke issue as it relates to Mineral County. Most of the land in Mineral County is public land.
· Sharon Patterson explained the role of the Conservation District related to streams in Mineral County and the jurisdiction of the Conservation District over the streams.
· The group also discussed how Missoula County deals with stream side setbacks and issues.
· Jack was more concerned with the usage issues on streamside setbacks as opposed to building issues.
· The group discussed new construction being subjected to the rules of Mineral County.
· Mr. Wilkinson said there are not any problems with law enforcement or road issues between the residents of Petty Creek and Missoula County.
· Petty Creek residents are paying for services to Missoula County that they do not receive. They are being taxed for more and more services.
· Mr. Hayden stated that Petty Creek residents’ biggest issue is the fear of increased County intrusion into residents’ lives.
· Mr. Hayden feels that all the fees Missoula County charges are exorbitant.
· Tim discussed various permit and subdivision fees.
· Mr. Wilkinson mentioned that Petty Creek fits much better geographically with Mineral County that it does with Missoula County.
· Shaun suggested that Mineral County look very carefully at the taxes and services that would be affected by the proposed change and analyze the changes that would occur with such a move.
· Shaun also suggested that the residents research the changes and gather information from various sources related to this type of move.
· Tim asked if Petty Creek was a county road and if there was any existing maintenance agreement with Plum Creek or the USFS.
· Mr. Hayden said the USFS said they do not do any maintenance on Petty Creek Road.
· Mr. Hayden asked Shaun what the process is to become part of Mineral County. Shaun said he agreed with Missoula County Attorney James McCubbins’ summary of the process.
· Mr. Hayden explained his understanding of how the vote would take place.
· Gordon Hendrick read the Summary of Procedure to Move a Portion of Missoula County to Lake County.
· Shaun commented on the taxation motivation for moving to another county. He said they may not be any better off tax wise, if that is the motivation to move to Mineral County.
· Mr. Wilkinson commented that he doesn’t believe that Missoula County would vote to let Petty Creek become Mineral County. Shaun said that may not be a clear point to many of the voters in Missoula County.
· Shaun suggested doing a lot of research on both sides before the commissioners consider making any decisions.
· Mr. Wilkinson discussed the situation with the Frenchtown Fire Department and the problems with the situation.
· Mr. Wilkinson summarized by saying that Petty Creek just doesn’t fit with Missoula County and would be a much better fit with Mineral County.
· Shaun informed the group that he would keep Missoula County informed of all communications with the residents of Petty Creek and the progress being made.
· Tim suggested looking at how the situation would affect the PILT for Mineral County.
· Tim discussed how the sale of TNC property up Fish Creek to the State would affect taxes in Mineral County.
Pros:
· Existing western boundary of Petty Creek is currently Mineral County.
· Existing road base is good.
· Frenchtown Fire covers all the populated areas of Petty Creek.
Cons:
· More road maintenance and public safety.
· The PILT could be less than needed for maintenance of the roads in Petty Creek.
· Petty Creek residents would expect complete dust abatement of Petty Creek and significantly more road maintenance than is currently being done by Missoula County.
· There is 11 miles of road that would be maintained by Mineral County Road Dept.
Decision:
· The Petty Creek residents will do research related to taxes, services, roads and other details of how they would be affected by the proposed move.
· Mineral County will need to do some analysis on consequences of accepting Petty Creek into Mineral County.
· Mr. Hayden and Mr. Wilkinson will contact Mineral County when they have completed their research.
Motion: No action was taken at this time
###
See also:
Commissioners ask for Petty Creek road data, http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/art...4140217834