6 September 10 - 23, 2021
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
School district site election passes
District to search for off-campus bus storage with voter approval EBS STAFF Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the Big Sky School District board of trustees will be canvassing the election, not Gallatin County as was previously reported. BIG SKY – The Big Sky School District electorate voted in favor of allowing the district to acquire a bus storage facility in the recent site election ending on Aug. 24. The issue had to be taken to voters because the district seeks to acquire a facility that is not contiguous to current district property, according to BSSD Superintendent Dustin Shipman. With voter approval, the district can now begin searching for an offsite storage facility for its fleet of nine buses. Shipman noted that the extreme Big Sky climate is hard on buses. Having a storage facility will provide multiple benefits, he said. “This [facility] will really prolong the life of our buses as well as cut down on the amount of fuel that we burn in a year and allow us a place to work on and maintain [the buses] inside ourselves,” Shipman told EBS. Of the 544 votes cast, just over 55 percent were in favor of granting the district permission to acquire an off-site storage facility. The school district board of trustees will now canvass the election and declare the official results on Sept. 14.
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Fire restrictions updated in several southwest Montana counties MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS BOZEMAN – Fire restrictions have been updated for properties managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in several counties. Fire restrictions have been rescinded for FWP properties in Deer Lodge, Granite, Gallatin and Park counties. Stage-1 fire restrictions are still in effect for FWP properties in Madison, Beaverhead, Silver Bow, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark counties. Stage-1 restrictions at FWP sites ban campfires except where specifically exempted and allow smoking only in vehicles and areas 3 feet in diameter that are cleared of flammable materials. Gas or propane stoves that can be turned on and off are still allowed. Fireworks are always prohibited at FWP sites. Fire restrictions are in effect in other areas of Montana. For more information, visit mtfireinfo.org.
Gallatin County burn ban lifted GALLATIN MEDIA CENTER BOZEMAN – The Gallatin County Commission has lifted the county-wide burn ban as of Tuesday, Aug. 31. Citing recent rainfall, cooler temperatures and safer fuel levels, the Commission voted 3-0 on Tuesday to rescind the county’s burn ban ordinance adopted on July 20. “Everything points to us rescinding these current restrictions,” said Commission Chair Scott MacFarlane, adding, “We can always go back as needed.”
BSRAD Board approves first reading of amended ordinance EBS STAFF BIG SKY – At a Sept. 8 meeting the Big Sky Resort Area District Board engaged in a first reading of amendment to an ordinance that specifies what goods and services are taxable and nontaxable within the district. One amendment would make food trucks and private chef services taxable by the district as luxuries in an effort to ensure that tax is collected on those services. Another amendment adds recreational marijuana as a new item under luxuries as a taxable good ahead of the Jan. 1, 2022, date when recreational marijuana sales are slated to begin in Montana. The third and final amendment regarding business registration adds more specific language regarding vendor registration for events, which aims to hold event organizers accountable for ensuring that vendors register with the district and collect resort tax. “[These changes] will help to provide additional clarity for business that were not sure whether they should or should not collect resort tax,” said Daniel Bierschwale, executive director for BSRAD.
“I’m grateful to the folks across the county who have done their part to keep things from getting away from us here in Gallatin County. And I’m grateful for the work of firefighters and first responders across the state and nation,” said Commissioner Zach Brown. Patrick Lonergan, Gallatin County’s chief of emergency management and fire, reminds everyone to continue burning responsibly as fire season in Montana has not ended. “Gallatin County’s wildland fuel conditions are now closer to average for this time of year, but keep in mind this does not mean that a fire can’t escape and become a large fire,” Lonergan said. “It is imperative that everyone follow safe burning
practices at all times and never burn when weather conditions aren’t safe. Let’s not forgot the Bridger Foothills Fire occurred on September 4.” Burn permits are still required for non-recreational fires. Many fire districts will continue to keep open burning closed until further into the fall when even safer burning conditions exist in their areas. Burn permits and the most current open burning status information is available at gallatinburnpermits.com. Residents are encouraged to register for the Community Notification System to ensure they receive timely information about an emergency happening in Gallatin County. For free registration, visit alerts.readygallatin.com. On Sept. 1, fire restrictions were lifted on public lands within the Custer Gallatin National Forest including the Bozeman and Hebgen Lake Ranger Districts. Last week, the City of Bozeman also lifted its burn ban. And surrounding counties in southwestern Montana are in the process of rescinding
similar restrictions.
