Commission opens public comment period

At a meeting last week, the Jefferson County Commissioners opened the public comment period for a proposed Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District.

According to Commissioner Leonard Wortman, the comment period will be open the next two to three weeks. He said they have not set a date to consider a Resolution of Intent for the district proposed by members of the Jefferson Valley EMS and Rescue, but he thinks it will be in three weeks.

“If we approve that, then we would order the referendum this spring,” he said.

The Commissioners voted 3-0 in July to approve a resolution to place the question of forming the special district on the ballot. In November, Wortman said a Resolution of Intent was needed to create the district so they will have to start the process over.

The coverage area for the district would include the Whitehall school district, excluding the Whitehall Town Limits and Madison and Silver Bow Counties.

The Commissioners conducted a public hearing at the December 20 meeting to allow residents to speak about the district.

Wortman said most of the comments were whether an Ambulance District would or would not be a good idea.

“That is not the question the Commissioners need to answer. We need to decide if we want to let the people in the proposed District that would be affected, vote on whether they want it or not,” he said.