Land Board approves series of sales, leases and exchanges; refers land‑banking to July agenda

At its June 15 meeting the Montana Board of Land Commissioners approved a bundle of routine trust‑land actions after presentations from DNRC staff.

Items approved included a final approval for a Department of Labor building sale (agenda item 0626-1; motion carried 4-1), a Department of Corrections land exchange (0626-3), timber sales at Comers Butte (0626-4), an oil and gas lease sale (0626-5), adoption of a commercial lease template (0626-6), preliminary approval for a Fitch Inc. land exchange (0626-7) and multiple easement approvals (0626-8). Most motions were moved by Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and seconded by Superintendent Susie Hedalen; DNRC Director Amanda Kaster presented each item and answered questions.

The board also met in executive session under MCA 2-3-203(4) to discuss litigation strategy related to an item about filing objections on water rights; after returning to public session the board approved the recommendation to file objections (item 0626-9) by a 4-1 vote. During general public comment Commissioner James Brown moved that DNRC place Land Banking activities on the July agenda; the motion was seconded by Susie Hedalen and carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance: 0626-1 building sale — approved (4-1); 0626-3 corrections land exchange — approved unanimously; 0626-4 Comers Butte timber sale — approved unanimously; 0626-5 oil and gas lease sale — approved unanimously; 0626-6 commercial lease template — approved unanimously; 0626-7 Fitch Inc. preliminary exchange — approved unanimously; 0626-8 easements — approved unanimously; 0626-9 authorization to file water-right objections — approved 4-1. DNRC staff will carry out the administrative steps required to implement the approvals.

The meeting adjourned after general public comment and the board confirmed the audio recording as the official record.