Community Briefs

Seeley Lake Library News

SEELEY LAKE - Many of the residents of Missoula and surrounding areas will be reading the same book when the Big Read returns to Missoula Public Library and its branch libraries in September. The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with Arts Midwest, created the Big Read as a way to “restore reading to the center of American culture.”

This year’s “read” will feature Louise Erdrich’s “Love Medicine.” The Big Read will also feature a Middle Read, “The Birchbark House” by Louise Erdrich and a Little Read, “The Mud Pony: A Traditional Skidi Pawnee Tale” retold by Caron Lee Cohen. Free copies of these books are available at the Missoula Public Library and branch libraries.

This community-wide effort is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and generous support from Missoula’s Big Read 2016 partners. For more information about the Big Read and upcoming Big Read events go to readmissoula.org. 

The Seeley Lake Library’s Book Club will be participating in the Big Read when they meet to discuss “Love Medicine” Thursday, Sept. 22 at 11 a.m.

“Love Medicine” is an epic story about the intertwined fates of two Chippewa families living in North Dakota. It has been described as a touching, haunting book...imbued with the richness of the human spirit. All are welcome to join in the discussion. Free copies of this book are available at the checkout desk.

The Seeley Lake Library is a branch of Missoula Public Library located at Seeley-Swan High School. The library is open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Story Time takes place on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. Children of all ages are welcome. 

Governor Bullock Commits $1.5 Million in New Funding to Provide Forest Restoration Jobs

HELENA – Governor Steve Bullock announced he has committed $1.5 million from the state fire suppression account, a move designed to open up jobs through forest restoration and fuel reduction projects on private, state and tribal lands.

“Montana’s natural resources are vital and we continue to work with industry leaders and Montanans of all stripes to encourage healthy forests and put Montanans to work,” said Governor Bullock. “This funding will provide an immediate source of timber for Montana mills and sustain over 100 good-paying jobs for Montanans.”

 After closely monitoring the state’s 2016 wildfire costs, Governor Bullock is releasing the funds to accomplish more work on the ground. In this biennium, Governor Bullock has invested the full $5 million authorized in state statute to restore forests on private, state, tribal and federal lands and provide wildland fire engines to local governments to help ensure safe and effective response to wildfires.

 In the past four years, $4 million from the fire suppression account has already been awarded to 25 separate projects on private, state and tribal lands in Montana. These projects have resulted in the restoration of approximately 7,000 acres of forestland, and produced nearly 16 million board feet of timber and 55,000 tons of pulp logs for the Montana forest industry.

 With this new funding, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) anticipates another 2,700 acres of Montana forestland to be restored, yielding six million board feet of saw logs and 800 truckloads of pulp logs.

 Project proposals will be reviewed and scored by DNRC following a 30-day competitive advertisement period. Projects selected for funding will be announced in mid-October, with contracts executed by mid-November.

 The request for proposals notice is available on the DNRC website at http://www.mt/gov/dnrc.

Public Comment Sought for Extension of Current Biennial Fee Rule

HELENA – Montana State Parks announced that it is seeking public comment on a proposed extension of the 2014 Biennial Fee Rule through December 2017. The Biennial Fee Rule is an assemblage of user fees and associated rules for the Montana State Park system. The current fee rule was approved by the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board Oct. 15, 2014. Comments will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.

 As proposed, the current fee rule would be extended through December, 2017 in order to shift the timeline for proposal of a new fee rule. The current timeline for proposal and passage of the Biennial Fee Rule is such that its implementation occurs after camping reservations have been received for the effective year. This results in lost revenue and inefficiencies in implementation. By shifting the timeline from April (currently August) and approval to June (currently October), implementation of the fee rule can take place prior to the opening of the nine-month camping reservation window resulting in increased revenue, greatly improved field processes and better customer service.

 In addition, the proposal would make minimal changes to the current rule to reflect updated bicycle campsite fees and to remove portions of the rule which are now covered under the Arm Rules passed by the Board in April, 2016. The updated bicycle campsite fees would change from $10 to $6 for Montana residents and from $18 to $12 for non-residents.

User fees are the second largest source of revenue for Montana State Parks and are critical to sustaining a quality state park system. Montana State Parks does not receive revenue generated through hunting or fishing licenses.

To review the proposed extension and update of the 2014 Montana State Parks Biennial Fee Rule visit stateparks.mt.gov and click on ‘Public Notices/Submit Comments.’

The public is invited to comment on the proposed user fee changes. 

To comment online, visit direct link: 

http://stateparks.mt.gov/news/publicNotices/biennial-commission-rule/pn_0005.html Or go to stateparks.mt.gov and click on ‘Public Notices/Submit Comments’ on the right-hand task bar.

The public can also email comments to FWPParksRules@mt.gov or send comments by regular mail to: Montana State Parks, 2014 Biennial Fee Rule Extension, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.