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Lincoln County commissioners postpone vote on proposed landfill fee schedule after public concern over assessing undeveloped parcels
Summary
At a public hearing on Aug. 13, commissioners heard a proposed landfill fee schedule that would set a $200 annual residential refuge assessment (2.5% escalation for five years) and increase several disposal fees; following public comment about whether undeveloped parcels could be assessed, the board postponed a vote for one week to research statutory authority.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on Aug. 13, 2025, to consider Resolution 2025‑26, a measure that would adopt a revised landfill fee schedule and a $200 annual residential refuge assessment with a 2.5% annual escalation for five years, effective Oct. 1, 2025. Mr. Hammonds read the resolution and outlined proposed fee changes and the assessment structure.
The change would raise several user fees for the county landfill and remote collection sites — for example, the reading listed an increase for sorted construction and demolition debris from $8 to $12 per cubic yard and higher penalties for unsorted loads. The resolution text also enumerated proposed fees for tires, CFC evacuation for appliances, uncovered-load charges and interest on past-due landfill invoices. The text cited state code as authority for the resolution (MCA 7‑6‑412; MCA 7‑6‑414) and directed the Lincoln County Health Department to implement the new schedule.
During public comment an online participant urged the board to consider applying assessments to a broader set of properties, including undeveloped parcels and recreational parcels that may later be developed. The commenter said the community generally did not oppose the $200 base assessment, but wanted clarity about which assessment codes would be included. "Why not have it assessed on every assessment code and not just on residential?" the commenter asked during the online comment period.
Commissioners discussed the legal and fiscal implications. One commissioner noted that applying the assessment to all assessment codes — rather than only to developed dwellings or properties with a dwelling 50% complete, which the county currently uses — could substantially increase the number of assessable parcels and change projected revenues and obligations. The board agreed to postpone final action for one week to determine whether state law permits adding undeveloped parcels to the refuge-assessment roll and to update the resolution numbers if needed. The item will return to the next meeting after staff confirm the applicable Department of Revenue/municipal code rules.
Votes at a glance from the meeting: the board approved minutes from Aug. 6, 2025; approved payment of a claim from Alvig Hammer Law for a water issue (amount listed in the meeting as $3,461); and accepted acclamations for several municipal races (Ethan Culp for Libby City Council; Jesse Hag and Scott Hoffman for Troy City Council). The board did not vote on Resolution 2025‑26 and postponed the decision to allow legal and revenue research.
The board directed staff to research the statutory scope of the refuge assessment and return with findings and any revised assessment-code calculations. The public hearing record remains open until the board acts at the next scheduled meeting.
