At a meeting attended only by Commissioners Greg Chilcott and Howard Lyons last week, it was decided to withdraw a pending directive to the County Attorney's office to seek a clarification of the county's Interim Zoning Initiative from the Attorney General. Specifically, the commissioners were seeking an AG Opinion regarding the meaning of the density restrictions that limited development to a "density" of one dwelling per two acres. It was decided to withdraw that directive and direct the County Attorney to seek an Ag Opinion clarifying the process which County Commissioners would use when interpreting a recently enacted Ordinance.

The original request for an AG Opinion was made following a disagreement over interpretation of the word "density" in the Interim Zoning Regulations. Those regulations limit the "density" of development to one dwelling per two acres. The County Planning Department had been interpreting the language to mean that a subdivision could contain lots smaller than two acres if the overall average density of the subdivision was greater than one dwelling per two acres. But County Attorney George Corn issued a memo about five months into the process declaring that the rules were meant to retard development during the interim phase, by limiting lot size to a minimum of two acres.

The commissioners, however, disagreed with the county attorney's ruling and decided to seek an AG Opinion on the matter. At last week's meeting Commission Chairman Greg Chilcott stated that, after doing some research, he was not sure that the question would meet the standard for AG consideration. He said the Attorney General would probably not answer a question that pertained to the particular situation of a single county. He said that the Attorney General was more likely to answer a question if it had statewide repercussions. As a result, he recommended withdrawing the original motion to ask about the interpretation of density and suggested replacing it with a new question about what rules a county commission should follow in interpreting local public initiatives or ordinances. He said that, in this case, the commissioners had an opinion different from the county attorney. He wondered what criteria should be used by the commissioners in making a decision if the county attorney holds a different opinion.

"I think this is important," said Chilcott. "Does the County Attorney's opinion weigh more than the county commissioners', or not?"

Although Deputy County Attorney Alex Beal said, at the time, that the original question had already been forwarded to the Attorney General's office, after the meeting, following a request for a copy of the document, he said that he had made a mistake and that nothing had yet been sent to the Attorney General.

The motion to withdraw the original request was made by Lyons and approved by the two commissioners. But the new motion to request an AG Opinion about the rules of interpretation of ordinances generally did not go so easily. First Commissioner Lyons made a motion to seek an AG Opinion about the density question. Chilcott reminded him that this was the motion that they had just withdrawn. When Lyons was unable to come up with a new motion, Chilcott said, once again, that he was seeking a motion to request an AG Opinion about what rules a commission should use to interpret an ordinance.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," said Lyons.

The motion passed.

Father Ravalli Research Library opens its doors

By Michael Howell

A moving dedication ceremony was held last week in Stevensville to announce the official opening of the Father Ravalli Research Library located on the grounds of the historic St. Mary's Mission. The library is named after Father Antonio Ravalli, an early missionary in the area who, with his various talents from building, to painting, to sculpting, to furniture making, and medicine, helped found Montana's oldest permanent white settlement. He is buried on the grounds in St. Mary's Cemetery. Some of the artifacts produced by the industrious priest still survive and are enshrined in what has been preserved of the historical structures comprising the St. Mary's Historic Mission Complex.

The complex includes the historic chapel and attached residence, Father Ravalli's cabin and pharmacy, and a visitor center/museum. The newly dedicated Father Ravalli Research Library is located on the bottom floor of the visitor center. It is home to almost 800 books full of information on early white settlement in the Rocky Mountain West as well as a wealth of information on the indigenous Native American tribes, especially the early inhabitants of the Bitterroot Valley, the Salish, whose story becomes intimately interwoven with the early missionaries or Black Robes, as they were called. The books are not to be loaned out, but the library is open to the public and research may be conducted in the library itself.

The name on everyone's lips at the dedication of the new library, however, was not Anthony Ravalli. It was Lucylle Evans. Evans played a key role in the restoration of the St. Mary's Mission Complex over the years. Her passion for history, for historical research, for her church and her community was profound. The new research library is primarily the fruition of her work. She collected many books while involved in her own research efforts and many of the books in the newly established library, maybe half, were donated to the mission by Evans.

Her daughter, Susan Evans, currently serving on the Stevensville Town Council, spoke briefly about how her mother moved to Montana in 1947 and, twenty years later after her husband died, decided to go to college. There she developed her passion for books and research to a fever pitch and by 1975 had published one of her own, "St. Mary's in the Rocky Mountains." This was to be followed by "Good Samaritan of the Northwest," "The History of St. Mary's Mission in Stained Glass," and the last book before her death, "The Indians Called Him Lolo."

Over the years, through her writing and research, Evans' life became intertwined with the characters she studied, especially this character Antonio Ravalli. She eventually made her way to Ferrara, Italy to see the place where Father Ravalli was born. As a result of her research she ended up meeting descendants of the priest and, as was her way, establishing a living link with the past.

Aside from her passion for history and her ability to weave it into the present, Evans also had a penchant shared by some of the Native Americans she studied and respected. That is, the ability to have a vision and the wherewithal to turn that vision into a community project. In so doing, that personal vision takes on a life of its own, leading to accomplishments, to realizations, that may not take place until long after the original visionary has expired. The Father Ravalli Research Library in Stevensville is the product of such a vision. Evans could look into the past and the future in a way that was enriching and inspiring for the whole community.

The visitor center/museum will be open until October 15, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is available for use by appointment in the off-season. Anyone wishing to join, volunteer, or use the library resources of the Historic St. Mary's Mission can call 777-5734.

Hamilton Police get new public affairs officer, new bike patrol

By Michael Howell

Department gets volunteer public affairs officer

Be careful what you do for a living, because if you are good at it, if you love it, it's probably what you will end up doing after you retire.

That's what happened to longtime public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, Dixie Dies.

Since retiring from her career as public affairs officer for the Forest Service, Dies began to look around and wonder what to do with all her spare time. Being community-oriented and aware of the vital role served by public affairs officials, Dies saw the need of the Hamilton City Police Department for someone with her skills and decided to step forward and volunteer. As a result she is the new volunteer Public Affairs Officer for the Hamilton City Police Department.

Hamilton Police Chief Ryan Oster said, "We're at the point where we don't need someone full time, but there are the times we need some assistance. Dixie recently retired and has worked extensively with risk management, the media and the public. She was looking to volunteer and we were looking for a volunteer with her skills. Dixie will work on special news projects helping us to get the word out to the community and when there is an incident, will serve as a liaison with the media. We are a small department and when something happens, there aren't enough of us to take command of an incident and be able to give the media and public what they need. We're looking forward to working together."

Hamilton gets bicycle patrol officer

Beginning around the end of May, people visiting the parks of Hamilton will see something new, a Hamilton City Police Bike Patrol Officer.

More and more people are riding bikes, especially as the spring and summer comes along. The new Bike Patrol Officer will serve during those spring and summer months when bike use and use of the city parks is at its peak. The officer will go back to regular duty during the winter.

"We've been seeing the need for the last couple of years," said Hamilton Police Chief Ryan Oster. "With the help of the Rapp Foundation, a donation from the late Ted Babiak, and Valley Bike and Ski, we were able to create the Bike Patrol Officer position."

Oster added, "We have some wonderful parks here in Hamilton, and people enjoy those parks. We are now able to provide a measure of safety to those locations through a Bike Patrol Officer. One of the many advantages of the position is that it will be primarily dedicated to patrolling the parks, special events, and provide more personal contact with the public."

Nick Walters, the new Bike Patrol Officer, will be on hand to educate people about bicycle and public safety, and responsibility of bicycle riders. Walters has been with the Hamilton Police Department for two years. He will complete a four-day intensive training by the International Police Mountain Bike Association before starting his patrol, and learn skills such as bike handling and vehicular cycling, hazard recognition, community policing, basic maintenance, and fitness and nutrition.

Walters said, "I am looking forward to being out in the community in our parks, and helping kids learn what bicycling has to offer."

Walters will also answer questions about bike safety and can be reached at 363-2100. As the program expands, Officer Walters will be available to present programs at schools on bike safety.

Hamilton Mayor Jessica Randazzo, a bicycle enthusiast, said, "I'm excited about this program. It's a great addition to the safety of our community and park users."

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