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Lawmakers hear from homeowners and counties on bill to let residents form road maintenance districts without county consent
Summary
The House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bill 369, which would let homeowners form special road maintenance districts for non‑county roads after a county announces it will stop maintenance. Proponents from Georgetown Lake urged the change; multiple county officials and the Montana Farmers Union opposed it as overbroad and a potential diversion of county road funds.
Representative John Fitzpatrick (House District 76) opened the House Local Government Committee hearing on House Bill 369 by telling lawmakers the proposal creates "a new way of creating a road maintenance district" that would allow a group of property owners to form a district without county commission consent if a county publicly announces it will discontinue maintenance on roads owned by a non‑county entity, such as the U.S. Forest Service.
Supporters from Georgetown Lake said the county has steadily reduced services and declined federal matching grants, leaving private roads in disrepair. Brian Clark, president of the Georgetown Lake Homeowners Association, said residents have watched maintenance deteriorate for about six years and asked the Legislature to give homeowners ‘‘the tool to do so’’ and avoid paying twice for road upkeep. Dan Villa, who said he…
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