Lincoln County, MT

Lincoln County Commissioners have approved a 1.8 percent cost of living increase for county employee salaries for the coming year. While considering the pay bump, commissioners mulled over the challenges of keeping wages ahead of inflation without overburdening tax payers. The county’s top elected officials also discussed the challenges of making local budget decisions before knowing how much the county would receive from the state.

Lincoln County Commissioners approved a contract for a forestry project that would forge a partnership between private landowners and public officials. While the commissioners’ stamp of approval on June 8 committed the county to The Rabbit Tracts Forest Partnership, Jennifer Nelson, county forester, said officials were waiting on state authorities to sign off on the project. To finance the partnership, which will manage 29,976 acres of forest lands northwest of Troy, officials are waiting on a nearly $431,000 grant.

Troy city officials have removed Jim Seifert from the Lincoln County Health Board. Mayor Dallas Carr told residents gathered at a June 16 city council meeting that he had spoken with the municipality’s lawyer that day and decided to “let Seifert go.” Carr again apologized for the city’s faulty appointment of Seifert to the panel last year and accepted responsibility for the error.

This is a short letter to people of Troy and what is coming their way. In 2019, a long distance mountain bikepacking route was established from Whitefish to Mexico. It is called the Western Wildlands Route. It goes down 17 Mile by my studio and then on to Troy. On...

The board members of the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition (KFSC) feel obligated to speak up about the role of public input in public land management actions. The KFSC is a collaborative group dedicated to seeking common ground and finding good solutions to help guide public forest management. Recently, after a...

The Lincoln County Health Board has voted against publicizing cycle thresholds, a metric that some board members argued could provide a more nuanced look at the severity of coronavirus infections but public health experts say can be dangerously misleading when diagnosing patients. Cycle thresholds refer to the number of cycles...

Troy City Council is opening up the municipality’s seat on the Lincoln County Health Board for applications after receiving criticism for an administrative error that led to a faulty appointment to the panel last year. To quell any concerns about the legitimacy of Troy’s representative on the board, Councilor Shawna...

Lincoln County Gas and Diesel Lincoln County is solicitating competitive bids from interested parties for the county gas and diesel for unspecified amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel as needed, for the period commencing July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022. The delivery locations and types of fuel required are as follows: Eureka Shop: Regular Unleaded Gasoline No. 1 and No. 2 Diesel Fuel to be delivered or available at the vendor site through a keylock or similar protected automated system with 24 hour access Bids will be accepted for gasoline and diesel fuel together, or each may be bid separately. Bids will also be accepted separately for Libby, Troy and Eureka. Past performance and ability to accurately verify delivery amounts will be two of the criteria used in the bid award. All bids for fuel shall be based on OPIS price plus vendor markup. By submitting a bid the vendor guarantees that the markup will not change during the term of the contract. During the term of the contract, Lincoln County will randomly verify vendor markup. Any invoice for which verification cannot be achieved will not be paid until corrected. Sealed bids must be received at the Clerk and Recorders Office, Lincoln County Courthouse, 512 California Avenue, Libby, MT 59923 no later than 11:00 a.m. MST on Wednesday, June 30, 2021. The envelope containing the sealed bid will be labeled "BID FOR COUNTY GAS AND DIESEL". Bids will be opened and read aloud at the public meeting of the County Commissioners on that 11:00 a.m. MST on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in the County Commissioners room, 512 California Avenue, Libby, MT. Bids must be submitted on a bid form available from the Human Resources Office, 512 California Avenue, Libby, MT. For additional information, please contact Dallas Bowe at (406)283-2312, or email at dbowe@libby.org. Published In The Western News June MNAXLP.

After a four-month stint on the Lincoln County Health Board, Scott Bernhard has tendered his resignation. Though the Eureka town councilor departed from the panel in May, Kathi Hooper, county health department director, announced Bernhard’s resignation during a June 8 meeting of the board. Bernhard was not immediately available for comment but in his letter of resignation he cited his family’s move to Deer Lodge as his reason for stepping down.

The 2021 Troy Mountain Bike Project (TMBP), in partnership with Lincoln County Unite for Youth and Communities That Care proudly launched a new outdoor program for Troy area youth this past Saturday, June 5. TMBP had secured grant funds to purchase used mountain bikes for kids ages 8-17 this past...

June 9 5:40:52 a.m. 9:42:37 p.m. June 10 5:40:39 a.m. 9:43:15 p.m. June 11 5:40:28 a.m. 9:43:51 p.m. June 12 5:40:20 a.m. 9:44:24 p.m. June 13 5:40:15 a.m. 9:44:55 p.m. June 14 5:40:12 a.m. 9:45:23 p.m. June 15 5:40:12 am. 9:45:49 p.m. Simons Weekly Weather. Northwest Montana Regional Forecast. Includes...

Troy School District administrators and parents organized an elementary school track meet as part of their latest push to raise funds for much-needed repairs to the district’s track and field facilities. “The current facilities have been in dire need of renovation for years and the school has not been able...

Lincoln County authorities voiced their support for a 1.8 percent boost in salaries for elected and appointed officials for the coming year. Patrick McFadden, county administrator, told members of the county compensation board that the increase would help the county stay ahead of inflation. Speaking during the June 2 meeting, McFadden said that the figure might seem low given recent fluctuations in the market but noted that it represented an average over the last year.

CALL FOR BIDS The City of Libby will receive sealed bids up to and including 4:30 p.m. on Friday June 25th, 2021, for the purchase of unspecified amounts of the following items: 1. CRS2-CRS2P, MC250, HFE 300HP, and HF150S road oil in truck load lots as required (bids should state price per ton and net gallons per ton delivered F.O.B. Libby). 2. Unleaded Gasoline. 3. #2 Diesel Fuel Oil. 4. Propane. 5. Crushing and stockpiling 5/8" minus crushed gravel 3/8" minus crushed chips to meet NAAQ standards for PM-10 (Subchapter 3. Paragraph 75.1-303 EMISSION LIMITS) at the city gravel pit using city materials (gravel), unless other arrangement is made. Bids should state price per cubic yard. 6. PROCESS COLD MIXED ASPHALT: Using asphalt emulsion best suited for crushed aggregate provided by City (determined by samples taken from stockpile and lab tested). Mixing and stockpiling to be performed at City gravel pit on Pipe Creek Road unless other arrangements are made. 7. HOT MIXED ASPHALT PAVING: (bid price per square yard, 1" - 2" mat, compacted in place) to be done within the City Limits having existing cement curbs and gutters, storm drain catch basins, sewer manholes and water valve boxes. Bids to include a hot mix design to perform under business/residential traffic loads, preparation of existing street surface to efficiently accept hot mix overlay, tack coat, paving and compacting to current MDOT specifications. The City of Libby understands that preparation needs of street surfaces vary and that each street requires different treatment prior to paving. The average costs for preparation are needed as a guideline for budgeting purposes and information can be made more specific if funds become available. Purchase of fuels is to be made from a Key-Lock, Card-Lock, and in a facility accessible 24 hour per day. Your bids for the Propane, Unleaded Gasoline and Diesel Fuel must disclose the following: Supply Rack _________ Posted price __________ Discount (if any) __________ Freight to Libby State Tax DST Fee/Super Fund Fee __________ Subtotal __________ ___________ ___________ Minimum Mark up at 7% Additional margin Total Bid For each or appropriate: Unleaded Gasoline Diesel Fuel Propane __________ Please quote your bid for prices effective on July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and include a copy of the OPTS posting for the supply rack involved. It is understood that propane, unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel prices fluctuate. The successful vender may change prices as the supply rack prices change. The City reserves the right to request verification through OPTS posting from time to time during this contract. Bids will be accepted on one or all bases. The City will accept the lowest responsible bid, but the council reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any technicality or informality and accept any bid which may be deemed best for the interest of the City of Libby. The successful bidder will be required to abide by Federal and State minimum wage and fringe benefit laws, particularly Section 18-2-401, et seq. MCA and must comply with all requirements of applicable Federal laws in this State. Bid bonds requirements of Section 18-1-202 MCA shall be waived. Bids should be addressed to the City Clerk, Post Office Box 1428, Libby, Montana 59923-1428, sealed and be plainly marked "Bids". Bids will be opened Friday, June 25th, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. with a recommendation to the City Council at the next regular scheduled meeting or at the next scheduled special meeting, whichever is earlier. By order of the Mayor of the City of Libby, Montana, this 1th day of June 2021. Published in The Western News June 4 & 11, 2021. MNAXLP.