Good news from our fire department!

Due to the dedication and hard work by the Chief and volunteers at the Bridger Canyon Volunteer Fire Dept., the Department’s ISO rating has been lowered to a 6 from an 8b effective December 1, 2017.  Some insurers utilize this rating in determining the cost of Homeowner’s Insurance.  If they do, the new lower rating may result in a reduced rate effective as of 12-1-2017.  Individuals should discuss this possibility with their insurance agent.

Sincerely,

Gary Andrews

Board Chairman

Bridger Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

ISO letter, pg.1 ISO letter, pg.2

The Bridger Canyon Women’s Club’s Canyon Cookery cookbook is live on the Montana Memory Project in the Community Cookbook section! It’s far more than a cookbook–it’s a history of Bridger Canyon, with pictures, from prehistoric times, accompanied by vintage recipes. It’s a real treasure! And it’s now available to anyone who wants to know more about the history of the canyon and the families who formed the Bridger Canyon Community.

It is now available to anyone who wants to know more about the history of the canyon and the families who formed the Bridger Canyon Community. Although they had lots of help from the women of the club, the families of the canyon, and many others, the writers were Linda Peavy and Sally Babcock. It was published by the Bridger Canyon Women’s Club. You can see it in the Community Cookbooks collection: http://mtmemory.org/cdm/search/collection/p16013coll70

On October 3, there will be a meeting at the BCRFD community room, to discuss the Forest Service’s proposed North Bridgers Forest Health Project.

In brief, the project concerns vegetation management (with logging, burning and temporary roads) on 2560 acres of the Bridgers and Bangtails, roughly adjacent to Bridger Bowl, Fairy Lake and Grassy Mountain. The USFS page for the project is https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48493

North Bridgers Forest Health Project Open House – October 3, 2017, at 6:00 p.m.

Hosted by the Custer Gallatin Working Group

You are invited to an Open House to discuss the North Bridgers Forest Health Project on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at the Bridger Canyon Rural Fire Department, 8081 Bridger Canyon Rd, Bozeman MT  59715. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the presentations will begin at 6:00 p.m.  The Forest Service will provide an update on the North Bridgers Forest Health Project and Forest Service resource specialists will be on hand to answer questions.

For more information about the North Bridgers Forest Health Project, including a preliminary proposed action, please visit http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=48493

In addition, Justin Meissner, District Conservationist of Montana’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, will make a presentation to residents describing opportunities for landowners to apply for technical assistance, conservation planning, and financial assistance to help defray the cost of weed spraying, forest stand improvement, fence building, stock water, etc. through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  This funding is unrelated to the above North Bridgers Forest Health Project.

Please note that parking is not allowed in front of the fire station. Park only on the right of the station or in the rear.

Questions? Contact Custer Gallatin Working Group representative Hilary Eisen: heisen@winterwildlands.org

DNRC has announced a timber sale on School Trust land in School Gulch. This is on the east side of the Canyon, north of Jackson creek and the Tepee Ridge subdivision. See the letter, map and photo below.

The project will involve about 1.2 million board feet on 208 acres, with 2.7 miles of new road. There may be simultaneous logging on private lands adjacent and across the canyon, but

Evidently this is a “fast track” process, with just 2 weeks to comment (deadline June 15th). Comments can go to Chuck Barone – see the letter below for contact information.

School Gulch LA Timber Sale map
School Gulch photo
School Gulch_ScopingLetter

Update:

The project is moving ahead. An Environmental Assessment has been performed:

School Gulch LA_FinalEAC_signed_062317

Next, the project will be considered at a state Land Board hearing in Helena, July 18th. We’ll post information on how to comment as it becomes available.

The BCPOA General Meeting will be on Tuesday May 23rd at the BCRFD Community Room, 8081 Bridger Canyon Road, with music at 6:30 and the agenda beginning at 7pm. See you there!

The agenda is in the annual Newsletter:

BCPOA newsletter 2017

The following is a link to a petition to establish a speed limit on Kelly Canyon. It turns out that the speed limit on an unposted road defaults to 70 mph, which is obviously not compatible with the road’s design and recreational traffic mix.

This petition would go to the County Commission; if they approve (which is apparently likely), they’d direct an engineer to assess the road and establish a limit.

If you agree, please sign!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/437/761/217/request-to-establish-speed-limit-on-kelly-canyon-road-gallatin-county/

The county’s speed limit procedures are documented here.

We’ve published the results of BCPOA’s surveys on accessory dwellings and short term rentals on the Zoning Advisory Board’s site:

Accessory Dwelling Survey

Short Term Rental Survey

This document merges presentations from the last three public meetings on the forthcoming zoning update:

zoning updates 2016 PUD + general standards

See bczoning.wordpress.com for more details.

And here’s a sandhill crane from this morning, just for the glory of it:

Look for it in your mailbox soon!

Here it is in electronic format (pdf):

bcpoa newsletter 2015 v3

dues notice 2015

In the interest of promoting communication on a contentious issue, BCPOA has offered each candidate in the BCRFD Trustee election the opportunity to share their thoughts in their own words. We hope you find these helpful.

Statements are unedited and order is random.

Jump to: Franklin Coles * Peggy Foster * John Maloney * Jane Lerner

Jane Lerner

Those of us who live in Bridger Canyon have beautiful scenery, wildlife and outdoor activities all year round.  In addition, we are blessed with a community unlike many others.  This is a community where neighbors help neighbors, and the community comes together to support each other.  An important part of our community is our fire department where volunteers are willing to step up and act as fire fighters, trustees and support personnel to keep our beautiful canyon safe.

In the past year BCRFD has made great strides.  Many new volunteers, mostly Canyon residents, have been recruited as fire fighters.  We have a new, experienced Chief.  Training hours are up significantly, public notices are posted for all meetings and the public encouraged to participate. All minutes and financial statements are available on our website, as BCRFD strives to be more open and transparent.  Learn more at:  www.bridgercanyonfire.org.

I want to see us continue all of this good work and put the past behind us and focus on the future. Our fire department serves all of the residents of the Canyon, and my hope is to help make sure all voices and concerns are heard and addressed.  My prior experience practicing law plus years of service on local and national boards should benefit Canyon residents.  If you agree it is time to move forward to support and build our fire department, please vote for me.

Visit www.supportourfireboard.org for more information.

John Maloney

To Protect Lives and Property

Before moving here, I spent 20 years as a professional firefighter, EMT, paramedic, inspector, and arson investigator for a city of nearly 50,000 with a daytime population of 100,000. In that 20 years, I was involved in over 4,670 fire calls, 9,340 medical calls, and received over 7,300 hours of training.

Has the BCFD Changed its Mission?

• 2008:  Serving alcohol in the Community Room voted down unanimously.
• 2009 Flaming Arrow fire:  Resident—“They saved my house.” Score: 0 injuries, 0 structures lost.
• May 22, 2012 letter to board:  Cam Gould praises volunteer firefighters and again advocates serving alcohol.
• November 2012:  Board votes to put chief on salary effective January 2013, after 18-month study.
• November 28, 2012:  Cam Gould suggests “corrective action” against chief when chief and firefighters continue opposition to serving alcohol.
• December 2012:  Board again votes unanimously to not allow alcohol, after the media picked up the story. The County attorney, firefighters, and numerous residents were also against alcohol in a firehouse.
• December 2012:  After alcohol vote, board decides to review chief with no public discussion.
• January 2013:  Chief NOT put on salary, continues as contract employee.
• May 2013:  The chief and 17 firefighters resign.
• May 30, 2013:  Chronicle editorial suggests attempt to change the no alcohol policy is cause of resignations.
• June 2013:  Guest editorial from board takes issue with Chronicle editorial but no denial about alcohol.
• May 2013 to present:  Board claims alcohol is a “non-issue”.

This board has put our volunteers, residents, and visitors to the Canyon at risk because of this “non-issue”. Make this board a “non-issue”; vote “YES” to recall. Vote for Franklin and John, because we have not lost track of what the Mission of all Firefighters is and always has been—to protect lives and property.

Go to www.bcfdsafetycoalition.org for more information

Margaret (Peggy) Foster

I moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1995 when my husband retired from the US Navy.    I earned my Master of Professional Accountancy from MSU and worked as a CPA in the public sector until retiring in 2012.   I was the treasurer for Hope Lutheran Church for seven years, on the board of Haven, am presently involved in Family Promise, Financial Secretary at Christ The King Church and Treasurer for the Bridger Canyon Women’s Club.  During tax season, I do volunteer tax work for HRDC.

I filled an unexpired term on board in 2009 and was elected to a 3 year term in 2011.  Since joining the board I have:

• brought our Financial Statements into compliance with general accepted accounting principles
• consolidated all moneys received into the county checking account as required by Montana Code
• saved the district several thousand dollars yearly by providing accounting services free of charge

The current board has accomplished many significant improved practices:

• firefighters are now covered by Workers Compensation
• notices of meetings are posted along with the meeting agenda
• Minutes and Financial Statements are posted monthly at www.bridgercanyonfire.org
• minutes are recorded to avoid misinformation in the written minutes
• the public is welcomed at all meetings and opportunities are provided for public comment
• district funds have been saved by competitive bidding practices
• By-laws were updated, and a Strategic Plan with a mission vision statement and rules and procedures has been crafted and implemented to assure the continuous improvement of operational readiness.

The district currently has a professional and dedicated team of firefighters, the majority of whom live in the district. These dedicated volunteers deserve the full support of this board. I will continue to support them in every way possible, with a genuine commitment to the safety and best interests of the district.

Visit www.supportourfireboard.org for more information.

Franklin Coles

If elected BCFD trustees,  retired professional firefighter, John Maloney and I promise that our primary duty SHALL be to provide the District with the highest level protection possible. We will conserve  district resources and strive to create an environment that permits the return of the resigned well-trained and experienced firefighters to serve alongside the new volunteers in providing the District with high level protection. We will treat firefighters, the Department’s most valuable resource, with appreciation and respect.

The current board has not placed protection of the District and conservation of Department resources as  priorities.

The trustees disrespected firefighters yet stated repeatedly their desire to enter mediation with them. The trustees’ actions discredit their claims.  Last May, 18 of 22 highly experienced BCFD volunteer firefighters resigned.   When District residents sought a temporary restraining order, permitting the return of ousted firefighters, pending a court hearing,  trustees argued that MCA 7-33-2105 (1b)  authorizes trustees to provide fire protection but does not require them to do so. Curiously, the board demonstrated in court that provision of protection to the District is  optional, and with no public input, fought  the firefighters’ return.

Although the board’s use of $24,000  for attorney’s  fees to fight the firefighters’ return was paid by the District’s insurance, this claim may have put the insurability of the District in severe jeopardy. Apparently, our insurer has “red-flagged” the District’s policy for its recent claims history.  If the Department files one more claim, we are likely to lose our insurance coverage. Based upon our claim history, no other insurance company would issue the BCFD a policy:  too risky!  No insurance means no local protection.

John Maloney and I will strive to help the Department realize its potential for the highest level of protection possible.

Go to www.bcfdsafetycoalition.org for more information