Glacier County Commissioners Michael DesRosier and Ron Rides At The Door approved distributing $100,000 of NaturEner's $188,943 Wind Generation Impact Fee to the Glacier County Road Department for operations in FY 2008-09. The action came during the commissioners' session on Monday, Aug. 18. Chairman John Ray is on vacation and did not attend Monday's meeting nor did Clerk and Recorder Glenda Hall who is attending a conference this week.

The commissioners are looking into the possibility of leaving the $100,000 in an investment account and having Road Supervisor Bill Bandel draw out funds from the account as they are needed.

Bandel said at Monday's meeting that he and the commissioners have decided not to purchase two new motor graders for the department at this time. By deferring purchase of the equipment he will be able to utilize approximately $240,000 for fuel and road materials for projects this fiscal year.

One of the priorities for Bandel's department will be applying Magchloride to dusty county roads. The product has been successful in controlling dust on the Sullivan Bridge Road and the LeBreche Road, said Bandel. He will be targeting roads with homes on the "down wind" side, including the first part of Henderson Road, Hall Road, the loop through NaturEner's Glacier Wind Farm Project and Meadow Brook Road, in anticipation of a future wind farm project.

"We're hoping for a good, open fall to work on these projects," said Bandel.

In late June, the commissioners voted to give $10,000 of the impact fees to School District No. 15 for the school district's before and after school tutoring programs.

The remaining $78,943 in impact fee funds will remain in an investment account until it is needed.

State law mandates the owner or operator of a wind generation facility used for a commercial purpose is subject to local governmental and school impact fees for the first three years of construction. The fee may not exceed .5 percent of the total construction cost.