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Ravalli County approves three Open Lands Bond conservation easements totaling about $756,225
Summary
The Ravalli County Board of County Commissioners approved final documentation and funding for three Open Lands Bond projects — Bolin Ranch ($200,000), Graf Farm ($395,000) and Graf Park ($161,225) — following presentations from planning staff and public remarks from Bitterroot Land Trust.
Ravalli County commissioners on July 10 approved final documentation and funding for three conservation projects funded through the county’s 2024 Open Lands Bond program.
Planning presenter Jamie told the board the county had preliminarily approved the applications earlier and that the planning department had found the final documents complete and in conformance with the board’s preliminary approvals. The projects approved were: a $200,000 conservation easement for the Bolin Ranch, a $395,000 conservation easement for the Graf Farm, and a $161,225 grant for the acquisition of Graf Park.
Melissa O'Dell, lands director at the Bitterroot Land Trust, urged the board to approve the projects and thanked both county voters and the landowners. “This conservation easement will add to a pretty significant area of conserved land in the 3 Mile and Ambrose Creek area,” she said of the Bolin Ranch project. On the Graf Farm project she said, “This 1, 472 acres, will really help ensure that the rural character of Victor is there forever and, protecting ag land and scenic views for everybody who drives through on the public roads.”
The board approved a recommended motion to issue $200,000 to Flying S Title & Escrow of Montana to distribute to Ivan Leroy Jr. and Marlene K. Bolin Revocable Living Trust for the Bolin Ranch conservation easement. The Graf Farm final documentation was approved at the requested $395,000, with the funds to be issued to Fidelity National Title for distribution to Graf Family LLC and Anne Graf. The Graf Park final documentation was approved at the requested $161,225 and the funding was to be issued to Fidelity National Title to distribute to the Bitterroot Land Trust for acquisition and project costs.
Jamie noted the open lands program was created after county voters approved a $10,000,000 bond to preserve open lands, and that each project had been recommended by the Open Lands Board and preliminarily approved by the BCC. O'Dell said the Graf Park project had also met its $200,000 operations-and-maintenance fundraising goal through community support.
Each motion was moved, seconded and carried on recorded aye votes. Planning staff will finalize the paperwork and, where applicable, issue funds to the identified title companies for distribution to landowners or the land trust.
