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Commissioners urge congressional action to convey USFS-held county facilities to Lincoln County
Summary
The Lincoln County Board approved a letter urging federal legislation to transfer U.S. Forest Service lands occupied by county facilities (Libby shooting range, Troy airport, Yak community hall) to local control and proposed an equal-value land exchange to conserve inholdings and improve recreation and wildfire protection.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 10 to send a letter to the county’s congressional delegation requesting legislation to transfer certain U.S. Forest Service lands that currently host county facilities to Lincoln County, at no cost but with conditions preserving public use.
The letter lists county facilities affected — including the Libby shooting range, the Troy airport and the Yak community hall — and says conveying ownership would reduce administrative burdens associated with special-use permits and make it easier for the county to pursue upgrades and grant funding. The letter also proposes an equal-value land exchange to benefit grizzly-bear habitat, conserve wetlands near Savage Lake, and improve recreation access while creating fire-protection buffers around Libby.
Commissioners discussed the restrictiveness of special-use permits and the long permitting timeline that can delay local improvements. One commissioner said conveying lands would “give us a little leverage to be able to apply for grants” and reduce the red tape that complicates local projects. The board approved the letter and directed staff to forward it to the offices of the senator and congressman referenced in the letter.
The letter cites Resolution 2024-33 as documenting prior board support for the legislative approach; the meeting did not include a separate vote to adopt the proposed federal language or to commit county funds toward the exchange.
