County approves restatement of North Hills Allied Waste conservation easement to clarify trail easement and co-grantee roles

Missoula County commissioners approved a restatement of the North Hills Allied Waste conservation easement originally granted in 2010 to clarify terms and facilitate multiuse trail connectivity.

Randy Arnold presented the request and said the restatement would make changes to the original easement to allow 5 Valleys Land Trust and the City of Missoula to act as co-grantees and to divide responsibilities, with 5 Valleys retaining most of the easement while the city would hold the trail easement portion. Arnold said the restatement also refines the trail-easement location and some of its terms to make it easier to implement trail connectivity. He said the property is immediately east of Grama Creek and adjacent to the Bluebird Hills Conservation area, with the Bluebird trailhead parking lot nearby.

Ryan Stutzman of 5 Valleys Land Trust joined the meeting to answer questions and to present maps showing the area and relationship to the Allied Waste landfill and adjacent conserved lands. Commissioners moved and seconded the motion to approve the restatement; the motion passed on a voice vote when the chair asked, "All in favor? Aye."

Staff indicated the restatement is parallel to a city process and that the county and city would hold separate easement pieces according to the agreed division of roles.