Commission reviews 2025 vacant-property registry and building-permit fees and updates public-notice posting locations

Anaconda Deer Lodge County commissioners reviewed three administrative resolutions affecting 2025 fees and public notices.

Resolution 25.01 would set registration and inspection fees for the county’s vacant-structure registry under Ordinance 256 for calendar year 2025. County planning staff told the board the draft mirrors language used in recent years. During public comment, James Rosina said he had reviewed the statutory changes enacted in 2023 and told the board the draft aligns with the updated law. Rosina also said local newspapers and associations appear not to have been notified of the statutory change; he said that omission was a shortcoming in communication outside of county staff.

A member of the public asked whether buildings with painted-over, boarded windows would be considered vacant; staff acknowledged the vacancy standard contains subjective language and offered to follow up with Vern Ronald for clarification.

Resolution 25.02 would keep the county’s building-permit fee schedule for 2025 at current levels. Carl, planning department staff, said the county seeks to maintain an existing fee structure and stated it is, to the county’s knowledge, among the more affordable permit fee schedules in the state.

Resolution 25.03 updates locations where the county posts public notices and adds language referencing Montana Code 2-3-103 to ensure consistency with the 2023 statutory changes. A public commenter thanked the chair for clarifying the statute and reiterated the newspaper-notification concern.

None of the three resolutions produced formal votes during the recorded portion of the meeting; commissioners placed items on the agenda for follow-up. Staff offered to return with any clarifications requested by commissioners.