Commissioners vote to sponsor grant for Vermilion restoration

Sanders County Commissioners last week approved sponsoring a grant that will support restoration efforts on the Vermilion River near Trout Creek.

The Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group (LCFWG) approached the county about sponsoring the $50,000 planning grant available from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).

Commissioners voted 2-1, with Tony Cox and John Holland voting in favor of the grant and Dan Rowan opposing.

During a prior meeting about the DNRC grant, questions were brought up about the grant money as revenue affecting the mill levies for the county and the overall tax base. Jessica Connolly is the Chief Financial Officer for the county. “ A grant that the county receives absolutely does not affect the mill levy at all,” Connolly said at Thursday’s meeting. She explained that grant money goes into a separate fund and said at the end the money is “a wash” because the fund has a zero balance. “It is completely isolated. Grants have no effect on mill levies at all.”

Several people spoke on both sides of the issue during the public comment portion of Thursday’s meeting. “My opinion is that the Sanders County Commissioners have more than enough on their own plate and that they have no business taking control away from an already established group of people who have been put in place by an election,” said Nancy Johnson, referring to how the Green Mountain Conservation District (GMCD) last month voted to not accept the DNRC grant, which the district had initially applied for in September. When GMCD rejected the grant funds, LCFWG chose to approach the county about sponsoring the grant.

“I don’t feel that we’re going against Green Mountain,” Commissioner Holland stated. “They made their decision and then it was brought to us. They made their decision and it’s time for us to make a decision.”

“We’ve probably received more comments on this than anything else,” Rowan said. “We had some good emails from both supporters of the pass-through and people not in support. This has turned into a political issue. The overall issue is a question on grants.”

Cox said commissioners last September wrote a letter of support for the project. “I agree with Dan. It’s sad that it’s become political. It should be what is right for the resources,” he said.

“I would like to see the commissioners accept the pass-through for the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group,” said Mark Sheets, mayor of Thompson Falls. “The city does this quite a bit. It works out very well. It’s important for the Vermilion watershed. It brings in construction jobs, which in turn helps the city.”

A couple residents questioned what happened if the state defaulted on the grant money.

Jim Elliott, a former state legislator, said the DNRC grants are passed by the legislature and the money for the grant has already been appropriated. “The last legislature passed this 99-1. The money has been appropriated. The money is guaranteed by the state of Montana and passed by the Montana state legislature. As a former supervisor (of GMCD), as a former legislator, as a taxpayer, I support this and I urge the commissioners to pass it,” Elliott said.

Eric Oldenburg is a fisheries biologist for Avista and spoke in support of the restoration project. “The Vermilion River has a lot of potential. It’s a great cold water source, it’s big, but the habitat could use some work,” Oldenburg said. He noted that the project would add to the local economy. “A lot of private dollars are getting put on the ground here in Sanders County. I think ultimately that’s a big benefit.” Oldenburg said the LCFWG has played an important role in habitat improvement projects in the valley.