Strengthening the local voice: update from Senator Jennifer Fielder

Should local citizens have more influence over the governance of public lands, waters, and wildlife within the county in which they reside? I think so.

There’s no doubt most of us who live here care about the safety of our communities, our environment, and the economic and social benefits of sensible natural resource management. Local people living in and near national forests are affected by federal land management decisions far more than the majority of folks in far off big cities could ever imagine.

Yet on a national scale these decisions that affect us so directly are dominated by the nation’s most populated cities. It is terribly difficult for our rural communities to be heard or understood.

Two different approaches on how the state of Montana, County Commissioners, and local people can strengthen our voice will be the subject of upcoming public meetings here in NW Montana.

The American Lands Council and Utah State Representative Ken Ivory will share how and why Utah passed legislation to transfer ownership and management of federal lands to their state. Rep. Ivory will provide the legal, historical, environmental, and economic basis for Utah’s decision and explain how other states can move to manage the public lands within their states too. The presentations will be at 6:30 pm Thursday Dec 12, at Rex Theater on Main Street, Thompson Falls, and again at 6:30 pm Friday Dec 13 at Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell. The meetings are free of charge and open to the public. There is more information about this issue at www.americanlandscouncil.org.

The following week another public meeting will be hosted by Kirk Mackenzie of Defend Rural America. This one will feature the Constitutional process state and local governments can use to increase their role in land, water, and wildlife management through understanding and applying their lawful jurisdiction. The public is encouraged to attend so they can learn how to support their elected officials in this process. This meeting will take place Monday Dec 16th at 6:30 pm in the ballroom of the Best Western Flathead Lake Inn, at the intersection of HWY 93 & 82 just south of Kalispell.

Congressional testimony demonstrates how Apache County Arizona used local jurisdiction to compel federal cooperation with local entities to reduce fire hazards in densely overgrown forests. As a result, Apache County saw a depressed economy with no lumber mills turn into a success story with 6 mills and plenty of new jobs in two years time. The also enjoyed enormous progress in reducing fire hazards that had threatened their communities and wildlife. Apache County used their lawful authority and worked closely with the federal agencies to achieve desired results.

Even when we disagree over the details, Montanans can and should find ways to set personalities aside, hear each other out, and work together so our communities can thrive and our treasured lands and waters can be healthy and productive. For this to happen, we all need to put our best foot forward.

Keep in mind, public policy is not driven by the silent majority. It is driven by the majority of those who actually participate. I encourage you to attend the meetings Dec 12, 13, and 16, and hope to see you there.

If you have any questions or suggestions, I can be reached at sen.jfielder@legmt.gov or 406 210 5944.