The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

County Commission approves Lincoln and Lambkin RIDS

The Lewis & Clark County Commission approved the creation of the Lincoln and Lambkins Rural Improvement Districts following public hearings at the Lincoln Government Day Meeting April 1.

The Commission approved a resolution of intention to create both districts Feb 24. That vote opened a protest period that ended March 31.

County Special Districts Coordinator Jessica Makus said the date of public hearing to protest the creation of the RIDs was sent to all the property owners in the districts, and legal ads were published in both the Helena Independent Record and the BVD. Makus said they only received two written protests to the Lincoln RID, far short of the 50 percent needed to stop the process.

In 2014, assessments approved by the commission for the two RIDs were designed to cover the cost of the chip seal that year, as well as fully fund a second project in 2021. Makus said the existing district would usually cover this kind of maintenance, but with the costs they are seeing, it's coming up short. "It's not the only one. We have this same issue coming up in Augusta," she said.

Since both districts required loans to complete the work, the project was pushed back until this year since COVID-related restrictions in 2020-21 didn't allow for adequate public engagement.

Makus reported that the Lincoln RID was first approved in 2004 and included all the streets north of Highway 200 between 1st Avenue North and 6th Avenue North up to 3rd Street North, and all the streets south of Highway 200 from Center Street east to 9th Avenue South down to D Street.

The cost estimate for the Lincoln RID chip sealing work came in at $206,000, requiring a loan of just under $75,000. Once approved, each property will see a debt service assessment of $37.75 per year for seven years. Each property will continue to be assessed $59.45 per year for maintenance. The total assessment will come to $97.20 per year per property.

Despite the debt service, property owners in the Lincoln RID will be paying about $7 less than they did under the 2014 assessment that funded the last round of chip sealing.

The Lambkins RID, which was created in 1989 for the northeastern section of Lincoln. The RID covers cross streets from 8th Avenue North, east to Sucker Creek Road between 2nd Street North and 4th Street North.

Unlike the Lincoln RID, which is assessed per property, the Lambkins RID is assessed by square footage. Makus said the Lambkins RID has a balance of about $23,500, while the project cost of the chip seal is estimated at just under$ 59,400, requiring a loan of $40,325.

Since 2014, property owners in the Lambkins RID have paid $.001972 per square foot per year, or an average about $32 per year, for road maintenance. The assessment to cover the cost of the new loan will come in at $.00504 per square foot per year for seven years, or an average of about $83 per property.

Due to the manner of assessment, property owners in the Lambkins RID will see a combined assessment of about $115 per year, roughly a $15 increase compared to the 2014 assessment, which averaged about $100.

Separate from the RID assessments, the county covers the cost of snow removal, sanding and sweeping Lincoln's streets.

Commissioner Andy Hunthausen noted there has been quite an effort to make sure the community was informed about the RID issue, including discussions at both the monthly Government Day and Community Council meetings, and through the petitions needed to put the process in motion.

"This is not the first we've heard of this," Makus said. "This has been going on for quite a while through public meetings, articles in the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch. Zach has been instrumental in pushing forward with the petitions to get this moving."

Commission Chairman Jim McCormick reiterated this is the second step in a three-step process. The third and last step will come during the May 6 Government Day meeting, when the commissioners will vote on a resolution to levy and assess the new fees.

 

Reader Comments(0)