What makes a good neighbor

photo Courtesy Mi helle Buker

MICHELLE BUKER Ravalli County Right to Farm and Ranch Board Welcome to the Bitterroot Valley of Montana: Life in the country is rich and rewarding, treasured by both Bitterroot Valley residents who have been here for generations, and those who have recently moved here.

We are pretty sure that there are as many different definitions of what being a good neighbor means, as there are people in Ravalli County! And while it would be wonderful to receive baked goods from your neighbor on a regular basis, let’s face it, not everyone is a good cook! In Ravalli County we have wildly different personalities and things that we care about. We are retirees and young people just starting out, families and singles, those who work from home and

those who commute to work daily. Some of us work to preserve our valleys agricultural history while working & conserving the land and others work to develop commerce with more building and development. All of us are necessary to have a vibrant and financially diverse, healthy community.

The bottom line is that we all need to work together to sustain this beautiful community that we know and love. With that being said, there are many opportunities for misunderstandings and with our new publication we would like to help educate new and old alike, on some common issues that create heartburn in this beautiful place that we live.

Have you wondered about roads, access and available services, utilities- what will be available where you live, water rights- who owns the water in the ditches and streams on your property and who has the right to access them, electricity, sewer, internet etc? Is there an easement through, or to, your property and how do you find out? Who is responsible for maintaining roads and

fences? What about dogs, noxious weeds and burn permits? Do you know what rights you have in regards to livestock & wildlife and how to manage them on your property? We would like to help you learn about these things and help you find more detailed answers to your questions easily. The Ravalli County Right to Farm and Ranch Board and Allen Bjergo have created a publication that includes a checklist of the things you need to know in order to make educated and informed decisions prior to purchasing or developing property in the Bitterroot Valley. While this publication was specifically adapted for the unincorporated areas of the valley (only Stevensville, Pinesdale, Hamilton and Darby are incorporated), much of the information will be useful no matter where you find yourself in Ravalli County.

The updated publication and checklist will be sent to area real estate agents to share with their clients and posted in digital format on The Ravalli County Right to Farm and Ranch Board Facebook Page.

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