East Glacier resident urges Glacier County to enforce code after alleged motel encroachment blocks alley and utilities

A resident who identified themself as living in East Glacier told the Glacier County Board of Commissioners that a neighboring motel’s expansion has illegally encroached on a platted county alley, leaving insufficient clearance for emergency vehicles and utility crews and causing ongoing sewer and health problems.

Speaker 3 said the encroachment has narrowed the alley — which county records and the presenter described as intended to be roughly 16–18 feet wide — and that the reduction in clearance has prevented ambulance and pump-truck access during emergencies. "If your house catches fire, we'll have to let it burn," Speaker 3 said, describing a volunteer fire chief’s reported remark about the site’s limited access. The presenter said the encroachment has caused repeated utility damage, including a sewer failure that produces foul gases in the home and a building placed over a water key and a service line. She said she paid about $3,000 for an official survey to document the boundaries and provided the commissioners with photos and survey work.

Why it matters: The presenter framed the issue as a public-safety and property-rights concern that involves county responsibility to enforce removal of illegal encroachments on platted county property. She cited Montana statutory procedures she said require the county road supervisor to notify an encroacher in writing and allow the county to remove uncorrected encroachments after a notice period and recover costs (the presenter described penalties of $100 per day after notice and a five-day removal window).

The presenter also alleged county staff and the county attorney had participated in improper actions, saying a man she identified as Rick Olinger pulled survey pins and that some road crew members had driven over her fence. She said utility crews declined to repair her sewer because their vehicles could not access the site and that some contractors quoted $4,000–$10,000 to make repairs if access were possible.

Response from the board: Commissioners (identified in the meeting only generically in the transcript as Speaker 1 and Speaker 2) thanked the presenter for the detailed history, said they had taken notes, and told her they would investigate. Speaker 1 said staff have cadastral maps and would reach out to "the proper people," including the tribe that shares jurisdiction in the area, to get more information. The board did not take formal action at the meeting.

What remains unresolved: The presenter’s allegations—particularly that survey pins were pulled and that county staff colluded with the encroacher—were presented verbally and not resolved at the meeting. Commissioners committed to follow up and to gather documents (official surveys, cadastral maps and communications with tribal authorities). The transcript does not record any admission, denial, or formal finding about the misconduct allegations during this session.

Next steps: Commissioners said they would investigate the documentation provided, consult appropriate offices and the tribe, and report back; no enforcement action or vote was taken during the meeting.