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Montana Land Board approves timber sales, land‑banking minimum bid and water‑rights notification process
Summary
At its April 21, 2025 meeting in Helena, the Board of Land Commissioners approved timber sales, final sales of cabins and homesites, a minimum bid for a land‑banking parcel, easements and a new water‑rights notification process; the board also agreed to receive a DNRC legislative brief. Motions carried unanimously; vote tallies were not specified in the minutes.
Helena — The Board of Land Commissioners on April 21 approved a package of land‑management actions, including timber sales, final approvals for three cabin and homesite sales, a minimum bid for a land‑banking parcel, several easements and a water‑rights notification process.
The actions were taken during a regularly scheduled meeting in the Supreme Court Chambers, Mazurek Justice Building. Amanda Kaster, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), presented each agenda item and answered questions from board members. All motions recorded in the minutes carried unanimously; the written minutes do not include roll‑call tallies.
Why it matters: The board manages trust lands and actions such as timber sales, parcel sales and easements affect how the state generates revenue for beneficiary institutions and how lessees and local water users interact with trust lands.
What the board approved
- Timber sales (Item 0425‑1): DNRC Director Amanda Kaster summarized the timber‑sale package. Christi Jacobsen, Secretary of State, moved to approve item 0425‑1; Susie Hedalen, Superintendent of Public Instruction, seconded. The minutes record the motion as carried unanimously.
- Cabin and homesite sales (Item 0425‑2 A, B & C): Kaster presented final approvals for the three sales. Christi Jacobsen moved to approve items 0425‑2A, B and C; the motion was seconded by Susie Hedalen and carried unanimously.
- Land‑banking parcel — set minimum bid (Item 0425‑3): DNRC staff presented recommended minimum‑bid parameters and rationale. Lessee Peter Heidmann provided public comment during the item. The board engaged in an extended discussion involving Commissioner James Brown, DNRC Trust Lands Deputy Administrator Ryan Weiss and Governor Greg Gianforte about valuation factors and department recommendations. Christi Jacobsen moved to approve item 0425‑3; the motion carried unanimously. The minutes summarize the discussion but do not include verbatim remarks; the official audio recording is the adopted record for the meeting.
- Easements (Item 0425‑4): Kaster presented proposed easements; Christi Jacobsen moved for approval, Susie Hedalen seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
- Water‑rights notification process (Item 0425‑5): Kaster presented a proposed notification process for water rights related to trust lands. Commissioner James Brown moved to approve the process. Jocelyn Galt Cahill, representing the Ag Water Alliance, offered public comment. After brief discussion the motion carried unanimously.
Votes at a glance
- 0425‑1 (Timber sales): Approved. Mover: Christi Jacobsen; seconder: Susie Hedalen. Outcome: carried unanimously; vote tallies not specified in the minutes. - 0425‑2A,B,C (Cabin and homesite sales): Approved. Mover: Christi Jacobsen; seconder: Susie Hedalen. Outcome: carried unanimously; vote tallies not specified. - 0425‑3 (Land‑banking parcel minimum bid): Approved. Mover: Christi Jacobsen; seconder: James Brown. Outcome: carried unanimously; vote tallies not specified. - 0425‑4 (Easements): Approved. Mover: Christi Jacobsen; seconder: Susie Hedalen. Outcome: carried unanimously; vote tallies not specified. - 0425‑5 (Water‑rights notification process): Approved. Mover: James Brown; seconder: Christi Jacobsen. Outcome: carried unanimously; vote tallies not specified. - Receive DNRC 2025 legislative brief (Item of interest): Approved (motion and amendment). Mover: James Brown; seconder: Christi Jacobsen. Outcome: carried unanimously; vote tallies not specified.
Public comment and discussion notes
- Peter Heidmann (identified in the minutes as a lessee) spoke during item 0425‑3. The minutes summarize his participation; no verbatim remarks are included in the written minutes.
- Jocelyn Galt Cahill (identified as Senior, Ag Water Alliance) provided public comment on the water‑rights notification process (item 0425‑5).
Record and next steps
The Land Board’s minutes note that the audio recording is the official record under 2‑3‑212, MCA; the written minutes are an abbreviated summary. The board adjourned at about 00:38:18. The DNRC will publish the meeting audio and minutes on the Land Board webpage for anyone seeking verbatim statements or further detail.
