County demands seat at table with federal agencies The Jefferson County Commission flexed its political muscles, Tuesday, unanimously passing a resolution seeking an equal voice with federal agencies on planning activities within the county. The county commission is sending a letter to federal and state agencies asserting the county’s legal standing and requesting coordination with all federal and state agencies with jurisdiction over lands in Jefferson County. Public lands comprise about 70 percent of the county’s land mass. “We have good relationships with most federal agencies,” said County Attorney Mathew Johnson. “But we’re not treated equally. We’re treated as subordinates.” The latest issue that brought this to a head, Johnson said following the meeting, is the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Travel Plan. But the major impetus was a Forest Service plan in the Clancy-Unionville area several years ago that closed some roads, he said. Disputes over these road closures led to county efforts in 2005 and 2006 to seek legal jurisdiction over all rights-of-way in the county. At that time, the county claimed legal authority under a provision of the 1866 Mining Law. Butte Bureau of Land Management Field Manager Rick Hotaling said he had not yet been informed of the resolution. Another issue is that county commissioners are required under Montana’s sunshine laws to make public documents they receive. But under the federal agencies rules, committee members can’t share internal planning documents, Hotaling said, because these change from week to week. Circulating early drafts to the public would just cause confusion, he said....Thanks for not confusing the public by giving them timely information. Knowing what changes were made, and when and by whom would be oh so confusing. Just keep the poor bastards in the dark.