Missoula County shares forest, pipeline and sewer requests with Daines' rep

Missoula County commissioners bent the ear of U.S. Sen. Steve Daines new field representative Tuesday and asked for the senators support in passing the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, and to help free up funding for a planned Seeley Lake sewer system.

Commissioners also asked Dylan Klapmeier to relay their concerns to Washington, D.C., regarding pipeline safety, and to ask the Montana Republican to support an amendment by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that would retroactively fund the Secure Rural Schools Act.

The program expired last September and was not reauthorized by Congress. The act provides consistent funding to counties that include U.S. Forest Service lands.

If that was reauthorized right now, it wouldnt include the last year, so wed basically have a years gap in funding, said Chris Lounsbury, the countys chief operating officer. In Missoula County, thats just shy of $1 million in road and school projects.

Wyden has introduced an amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline that would retroactively fund the Secure Rural Schools Act. Doing so would also restore roughly $70,000 in fuel mitigation to the county, Lounsbury said.

It has a huge impact to Missoula County, he said. Sen. Wyden is looking to make sure it goes retroactive, and wed certainly support Sen. Daines taking a look at that.

Klapmeier introduced himself to county commissioners and staff Tuesday and asked for their concerns regarding state and federal legislation.

A planned sewer system in Seeley Lake topped the county's list of concerns. Commissioner Jean Curtiss said the system has been designed and funding has been allocated for construction.

But the final funding source is being held by the Army Corps of Engineers, and only the Senate can appropriate the money. Curtiss asked for Daines help in releasing the funding.

Our goal is to ensure this improves public health in the community, but doesnt financially make it too burdensome for the folks who live there, Curtiss said. There are a lot of pieces to this, and that last piece keeps holding it up. Its just a matter of appropriating the money.

Originally posted here:
Missoula County shares forest, pipeline and sewer requests with Daines' rep