Will Cascade County be bankrupted? Here’s a possible scary scenario.

 

The county issues Southern Montana Electric (SME) a “location/conformance permit” allowing construction to begin on the Highwood Generation Station (HGS). The county does this, prematurely, before the court rules on the landowner’s lawsuit against the county’s rezoning of the HGS site to heavy industrial; this lawsuit is presently making its way through the court system. SME then has a county permit allowing it to commence meaningful construction at the site investing money, resources, time, and effort.

 

If the court later rules in favor of the landowners, the land reverts back to agricultural zoning and the HGS cannot be built there. Does SME then have legal grounds against the county? They were issued a county permit to begin construction and have proceeded on that premise. A judgment in favor of SME could amount to millions of dollars of loss to taxpayers and bankrupt Cascade County for many years.

Please contact your commissioners (406-454-6810) and tell them to not unwisely issue a location/conformance permit for the HGS until the court renders its final decision on the rezoning lawsuit. To do otherwise would be irresponsible on the part of our County Planning Department and our County Commission.

 

(2004 words)