Plains ordinance sees first complaint

The Plains Community Decay Ordinance had only been law one day when someone picked up a complaint form, said Plains Mayor Dan Rowan. The complaint hasn’t been returned to City Hall yet, but enforcement of the new ordinance is likely to soon begin. Rowan said the enforcement will depend whether it’s a fire hazard or police matter and likely it will be the department chiefs who will respond.

The town’s council unanimously voted to eliminate Section 7.12, entitled “Junked Vehicles” from the new ordinance, but that doesn’t mean people will be able to leave old vehicles scattered about their property for everyone to see. The section under Public Nuisances addresses “wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles” and it was approved at the June council meeting with the remainder of the ordinance and went into effect July 4. Council members will be looking to possibly amend portions of the ordinance that deal with vehicles in an effort for further clarification, including giving residents a way to have vehicles if they’re shielded within a structure or by some sort of fence or natural boundary. They might also include a clause that addresses a legitimate licensed business relating to vehicles.

The Junked Vehicles section received the most opposition at the June meeting. Most complaints centered on the terminology “rusted” and the 72-hour limit.

Only a dozen community members attended the July 2 meeting, but no one commented on the ordinance. The adverse comments addressed to the council came with regard to a pool discount for water aerobics students. Rowan said former mayors had given class participants a $3 discount. He said that any discounts would have to be a council decision. The daily fee to use the pool for in-town residents is $4; a seasonal pass is $30. For people who live outside town limits, the daily cost is $6 and the seasonal pass is $45.

A handful of people at the meeting spoke in favor of a discount. Nick Lawyer, a physician assistant at Clark Fork Valley Hospital, told the council that water aerobics is one of the best forms of exercise, especially for the elderly or someone who was recently injured.

The mayor asked the council twice if they’d like to have some sort of tier rate structure, but none made a motion to do so.

Rates aren’t the only problem at the E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool. It opened late because of a faulty heater. The Public Works Department then discovered a leak – or leaks – in the pool, which might cause the town to keep the pool closed next year. Rowan wasn’t sure how much it would cost, but said it could go as high as $50,000.

The pool was also vandalized last week with spray paint outside the boys restroom. Rowan said they were keeping the restrooms open for people who use the park’s picnic area and playground, but he said they might have to close it to prevent additional vandalism.

The mayor shared good news at the council meeting. A major leak in the town’s service lines was discovered and repaired. He said that in May, the town sold just over 2 million gallons of water, but pumped some 4.9 million gallons, a 47 percent loss of water. But in June, after the repair, they sold just over 5 million gallons and pumped about 6.6 million gallons – only a 22 percent loss. The leaks were part of the old galvanized piping system the town has been replacing.

At the council meeting, Ranger Dave Hattis of the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District asked for the town’s help in support of the proposed Sheep Gap Fire Salvage Project. Even though it’s outside the town limits, Hattis said the project implementation will have an economic impact on Plains.

“Although the forest is managed as a national resource, local comments about management actions are important,” said Hattis. “Using elected officials is beneficial since they are representatives of the citizens.” He has also received letters from the Sanders County commissioners and Thompson Falls City Council. The Plains mayor has already sent the ranger district a letter of endorsement.

Work in the Sheep Gap area will impact the town with increased logging truck traffic, said Hattis, who added that the labor income contributed from the activities at Sheep Gap is estimated to be several million dollars.

The Sheep Gap Fire burned about 19,700 acres of National Forest land. The Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District held a public comment meeting in June at Plains High School, but only three people showed up, including Commissioner Carol Brooker.

The Forest Service would like to see the recovery of usable forest products, which would contribute to employment and income for local residents.

“The Lolo National Forest has demonstrated though the Copper King Fire Salvage and many other projects that these type of projects can be successfully completed,” said Hattis. “Resource Protection Measures will be included in the project design to mitigate impacts from harvesting and log haul activities. Restoration of the burned area will occur naturally and by tree planting.”