County RAC accepting applications for new members

SANDERS COUNTY – The Sanders County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is accepting applications for new members to serve on the volunteer committee.

Congress originally created RAC organizations as part of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.

Forest Service District Ranger John Gubel encourages interested individuals to apply to be a part of the committee by August 14, 2015.

Gubel explained the RAC works to identify projects for Title II funding under the SRS acts.

“One of the purposes of the committee is to look at the projects they want to fund with Title II funding,” Gubel said.

According to the Forest Service projects that qualify for Title II funding must show a direct benefit to National Forest System Lands.

Currently the Sanders County RAC is looking to recruit a total of seven new members, four regular members and three alternates, for four-year terms.

At full strength the committee sits at 15 members.

Annually the committee reviews around 10 to 20 projects pertaining to both of the county’s national forests as the organization looks to select and implement efforts to improve forestland.

“We are looking for people who are willing to put time and effort into the committee,” Gubel said.

The committee has over $300,000 in Title II funding to allocate towards projects by September of 2018.

Gubel explained county RAC organizations are designed to include members from diverse categories including organized labor, environmental groups, recreation interests, history interests, elected officials, school officials, tribal members or other individuals from the public holding an At-Large position on the committee.

Within Sanders County the RAC council, formed in 2002, has helped support outdoor-based activities by seeking funding for numerous projects on or near national forest land.

The Sanders County RAC includes portions of two national forests, the Lolo National Forest serviced through the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District and the Kootenai National Forest through the Cabinet Ranger District.

In the past Sanders County RAC funding has been used for stream conservation projects, youth conservation corps crews, campground improvements, trail modifications, forest health improvements, noxious weed control, lookout building maintenance and road improvements.

Last year the annual Farm Bill provided another avenue for RACs to work with the Forest Service to maintain the nation’s forests by addressing problems with insects and disease, and hazardous fuel issues, especially in areas of Wildland Urban Interface.  

Those interested in serving on the county RAC, attending a committee meeting or participating the group’s collaborative processes should contact RAC Chairperson Jerry Shively (827-3666) or district rangers John Gubel (827-0714) and Dave Hattis (826-3821).