2024-11-15T00:00:21-06:00 2023-12-31 480567703 PINION LLC 402 N BROADWAY 4TH FLOOR BILLINGS MT 59101 990 2023-01-01 202858176 CITIZENS FOR BALANCED USE CITI 4066004228 PO BOX 606 GALLATIN GATEWAY MT 59730 KERRY WHITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 4066004228 2024-11-14 1 1 DANIEL MILLER P00031554 4062455136 2024-11-14 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z PO BOX 606 GALLATIN GATEWAY MT 59730 171363 0 X WWW.BALANCEDUSE.COM X 2004 MT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE ISSUES THAT CONFRONT OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS AND ACTIVELY MANAGE OUR PUBLIC LANDS. 6 6 0 6 0 0 119952 94573 0 0 0 0 55502 23219 175454 117792 4000 7700 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 136331 82463 140331 90163 35123 27629 136966 164595 0 0 136966 164595 X TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE ISSUES THAT CONFRONT OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS AND ACTIVELY MANAGE OUR PUBLIC LANDS. 0 0 85828 7700 CITIZENS FOR BALANCED USE (CBU) IS CELEBRATING OUR 19TH YEAR IN 2023 OF PRESERVING ACCESS FOR MULTIPLE USE ON OUR FEDERALLY MANAGED PUBLIC LANDS. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM THE THOUSANDS OF OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR HELP, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND THROUGH ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS. MONTANA LEGISLATURE STARTED THEIR SESSION IN JANUARY FOR 2023. CBU TRACKED LEGISLATION THAT MAY AFFECT OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS. CBU DID NOT ENGAGE IN ANY LOBBYING DURING THE 2023 SESSION.CBU HAS AN EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITION ON THE TREASURE STATE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION (TSRA) WHICH REPRESENTS MANY INDUSTRIES ACROSS MONTANA. THESE BUSINESSES ARE ACTIVE IN THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE AND HOLD WEEKLY MEETINGS EVERY THURSDAY MORNING DURING THE SESSION. CBU PARTICIPATED IN THESE WEEKLY MEETINGS TO TRACK LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS THESE BUSINESSES. CBU KEEPS OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS INFORMED ON THE LEGISLATION DISCUSSED DURING THESE MEETINGS AND GIVES NOTICE TO OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE THEY MAY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT. CBU OBJECTED TO THE DIVIDE TRAVEL PLAN AND ATTENDED THE OBJECTION HEARING IN HELENA IN JANUARY. WE EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE MASSIVE CLOSURES TO MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED USE IN THE NEW TRAVEL PLAN. WE ASKED THE FOREST SERVICE TO REEVALUATE THEIR DECISION OF MORE CLOSURES AND URGED THEM TO REVISIT THE DECISION TO ACCOMMODATE OUTDOOR RECREATION BY PROVIDING BETTER ACCESS TO OUR PUBLIC LANDS. OUR OBJECTION WAS DISMISSED AND THE HELENA LEWIS AND CLARK PROCEEDED WITH IMPLEMENTING WHAT CBU BELIEVES WAS A FLAWED PLAN AND DECISION.CBU JOINED WITH OTHER GROUPS IN LITIGATION AGAINST THE HELENA LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST REGARDING THE SEVERE CLOSURES IN THEIR DIVIDE TRAVEL PLAN. THE FS FAILED TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS AND ARBITRARILY CLOSED SEVERAL AREAS AND TRAILS THAT PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE LAND THEY MANAGE. WHEN OUR FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS CLOSE THESE AREAS AND TRAILS WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION, CBU HAS NO OTHER OPTIONS BUT TO FILE LITIGATION. WE ARE HOPEFUL TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR LITIGATION.CBU ATTENDED ANOTHER MEETING IN JANUARY TO DISCUSS THE BRIDGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. CBU IS A MEMBER OF THE CUSTER GALLATIN WORKING GROUP (CGWG) OF WHICH WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE WORKING ON THE BRIDGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. THIS PROJECT INVOLVES COMPLETING AN INVENTORY OF TRAILS AND GATHERING USER NUMBERS ON THESE TRAILS. SIGN INVENTORY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT WILL BE COMPLETED AND A PLAN DEVELOPED AND FINALIZED FOR REPLACING AND INSTALLING SIGNS ON TRAILS IN THE BRIDGER MOUNTAINS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2023.IN JANUARY WE ALSO ATTENDED THE BIG ELK DIVIDE RESTORATION COMMITTEE (BEDRC) MEETING IN HELENA. CBU IS A MEMBER OF THIS COLLABORATIVE GROUP WHICH MEETS MONTHLY TO DISCUSS PROJECTS IN AND AROUND HELENA AND THE HELENA LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST. SEVERAL FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS ARE BEING PROPOSED AND CBU PROMOTED THESE PROJECTS WITH INCLUSION OF A RECREATION COMPONENT. RATHER THAN OBLITERATE ROADS IN THESE PROJECT AREAS WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, CBU IDENTIFIES ROADS AND TRAILS IN THESE AREAS THAT COULD BE PRESERVED AND IMPROVED TO PROVIDE A RECREATION OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC. WITH THE LOSS OF MINING AND TIMBER BUSINESSES IN MONTANA, RECREATION HAS BECOME A PRIMARY ECONOMIC DRIVER IN MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. DEVELOPMENT OF MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED TRAIL SYSTEMS ON OUR FEDERALLY MANAGED PUBLIC LANDS IS A LARGE PART OF OUR MISSION. ACCORDING TO THE FOREST SERVICE, 94% OF THE PUBLIC RECREATES ON FEDERALLY MANAGED PUBLIC LANDS OPEN TO MULTIPLE USE. ONLY 6% OF THE PUBLIC RECREATE AND USE LANDS DESIGNATED AS WILDERNESS, ROADLESS, WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS, (WSA) AND AREAS RECOMMENDED AS WILDERNESS (RWA). WITH NEARLY 50% OF OUR FEDERALLY MANAGED PUBLIC LANDS IN MONTANA OPEN TO MULTIPLE USE, THE LARGE MAJORITY OF USERS ARE FINDING LESS AND LESS AREAS TO ACCESS AND ENJOY. CBU WORKS EVERY DAY TO KEEP THESE LAST REMAINING MULTIPLE USE LANDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.CBU ALSO CONTINUED TO MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOGAN PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGE. THIS PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR RECREATIONAL SHOOTING INCLUDING PISTOL, SHOT GUN, AND RIFLE. THE AREA FOR THIS FACILITY IS ACCESSIBLE YEAR-ROUND. CBU IS WORKING WITH THE MONTANA FISH WILDLIFE AND PARKS TO ACCESS GRANT MONIES TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. IT IS OUR HOPE WE CAN MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD AS THE FOREST SERVICE HAS CLOSED LARGE AREAS OF THE CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST TO RECREATIONAL SHOOTING. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH A SAFE PLACE TO TARGET SHOOT AND A FACILITY THAT CAN BE MAINTAINED. THE AREA THESE STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFIED HAS BEEN USE FOR MANY YEARS BY THE PUBLIC ON THIS STATE LAND SECTION. CBU HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER NUMEROUS AGENCIES INCLUDING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UNIVERSITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND FOREST SERVICE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THE GALLATIN VALLEY SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION (GVSA) HAS THEIR MONTHLY MEETINGS ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY. A REPRESENTATIVE OF CBU ATTENDS THESE MEETINGS TO GATHER INFORMATION ON ISSUES AND PROJECTS DISCUSSED BY GVSA. GVSA GROOMS AND MAINTAINS OVER 140 MILES OF TRAILS IN THE GALLATIN DISTRICT OF THE CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST. MEMBERS OF CBU VOLUNTEER HUNDREDS OF HOURS EACH YEAR TO HELP CLEAR AND MAINTAIN THESE TRAILS TO PROVIDE ACCESS. SNOWMOBILING ALONE GENERATES OVER 20 MILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING IN THE GALLATIN DISTRICT EACH WINTER SEASON. THESE DOLLARS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SNOWMOBILING PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH A RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE SECOND TO NONE.CBU IS WORKING WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND LAND OWNER TO IMPROVE THE TRAIL IN BUCK CREEK. THE CURRENT TRAIL DOES NOT PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE BUCK CREEK PARKING AREA BY THE GVSA GROOMER. THE CURRENT TRAIL IS STEEP AND NARROW. THE GROOMER CURRENTLY ACCESSES BUCK CREEK FROM THE DOE CREEK TRAILHEAD AND PARKING AREA. THIS PARKING AREA REQUIRES THE GROOMER TO CROSS HIGHWAY 191 WHICH IS A BUSY HIGHWAY AND CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CBU HAS MAPPED AND SURVEYED AN IMPROVED ROUTE FOR THE GROOMER TO ACCESS THE BUCK CREEK PARKING AREA. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FOREST SERVICE AND PROPERTY OWNER TO FIND A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. CBU SUPPORTS THE AVALANCHE CENTER IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON AVALANCHE AWARENESS AND SNOW CONDITIONS IN THIS AREA. WITH MORE PEOPLE ACCESSING THE BACK COUNTRY FOR BOTH MOTORIZED AND NON-MOTORIZED RECREATION DURING THE WINTER, AVALANCHE SAFETY AND AWARENESS IS VERY IMPORTANT. CBU ATTENDED THE GVSA POKER RIDE AND FUNDRAISER WHICH CONTRIBUTED SOME OF THEIR FUNDS RAISED TO THE GALLATIN AVALANCHE CENTER.CBU ALSO BECAME AWARE OF A NEW GROUP CALLED THE BEAVERHEAD COUNTY COLLABORATIVE (BCC). THIS GROUP WAS FORMED BY TROUT UNLIMITED AND THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE MORE WILDERNESS IN BEAVERHEAD COUNTY. THESE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD 2 COUNTIES AWAY FROM BEAVERHEAD COUNTY AND OUT OF THE VIEW OF THE RESIDENTS IN BEAVERHEAD COUNTY. THE MEMBERSHIP ON THIS GROUP ARE MAINLY ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT AT ALL REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF BEAVERHEAD COUNTY CITIZENS. THEY COME FROM MISSOULA, BOZEMAN, AND HELENA TO PROMOTE MORE WILDERNESS. CBU REQUESTED TO BE A MEMBER ON THIS GROUP AND WERE DENIED. ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ON THIS GROUP CLEARLY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN BRINGING A BALANCE OF REPRESENTATION OR HEAR OPPOSING VIEWS. ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR MORE LAND OF NO USE AND DESIGNATIONS THAT RESTRICT ACCESS TO 94% OF THE PUBLIC. CBU CONTINUES TO ENGAGE WITH COLLABORATIVE GROUPS TO GIVE A VOICE FOR MULTIPLE USE MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS. THE BEAVERHEAD COUNTY COLLABORATIVE MEETS MONTHLY IN WHITEHALL MONTANA AND CBU WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.THE ACTIONS OF REMOVING BOTH MOTORIZED AND MECHANIZED USE ON OUR FEDERALLY MANAGED PUBLIC LAND HAS BECOME THE NORM IN MUCH OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. CBU IS CONTACTED WEEKLY BY INDIVIDUALS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN DEALING WITH PROPOSED CLOSURES BY THE BLM AND FOREST SERVICE IN THEIR AREA. CBU PROVIDES THEM WITH THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE SCIENCE AND REGULATIONS OF NEPA. WE HELP PEOPLE FORM LOCAL CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE 2012 PLANNING RULE, FOREST PLANNING RULE AND HOW TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS. IN FEBRUARY CBU ATTENDED THE BRIDGER INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING, THE CUSTER GALLATIN WORKING GROUP MEETING, THE THURSDAY MEETINGS OF THE TSRA, AND THE BDRC MEETING IN HELENA. CBU MET WITH THE BEAVERHEAD DEERLODGE NATIONAL FO0REST TO DISCUSS THE NEW TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN THEY ARE STARTING. WE ALSO MET WITH THE BEAVERHEAD COUNTY COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THE FS TRAVEL PLANNING EFFORT. BEAVERHEAD COUNTY HAS AN ADOPTED RESOURCE PLAN AND GROWTH POLICY WHICH THE FS IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW IN THE TRAVEL PLANNING EFFORT. COORDINATION IS REQUIRED BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN DEVELOPING THEIR PLAN. THE FS MUST MAKE THEIR PLAN "AS 85828 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X KERRY WHITE 4066004228 4000 BLACKWOOD ROAD BOZEMAN MT 59718 KERRY WHITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 30.00 X 30000 0 0 STACY BRAGG BOARD MEMBER 15.00 X 0 0 0 KELSEY KRISTENSEN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 BEN ERICKSON PRINCIPAL 25.00 X X 0 0 0 LOREN BLANKSMA BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WES FEHRER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 TODD TROTTER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 30000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 94573 27826 94573 63790 42573 21217 21217 13000 10998 2002 2002 117792 0 0 23219 7700 7700 238 202 36 8601 7311 1290 1711 1711 119 101 18 752 752 550 550 1524 1295 229 88 88 OUTSIDE SERVICES 42113 42113 WEBSITE 10617 9024 1593 PRINTING AND PUBLICATIO 6934 6934 SUPPLIES 6338 5387 951 2878 2660 218 90163 85828 4335 0 133901 155286 28510 19201 3065 9309 136966 164595 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 136966 164595 136966 164595 136966 164595 27629 0 X 0 0 0 X 164220 98437 52694 119952 94573 529876 34890 94375 76790 206055 164220 98437 87584 214327 171363 735931 0 0 0 735931 268 268 268 268 164488 98437 87584 214327 171363 736199 0.99960 0.99960 0.00040 0.00040 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 22542 22542 33813 5636 5636 8454 28510 19201 9309 9309 ANNUAL BANQUET 63790 63790 17571 25002 63790 63790 17571 25002 42573 21217 MT 1 THE CITIZENS FOR BALANCED USE IS NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A GAMING LICENSE. THE CBU SUBMITTED A NONPROFIT ONLINE RAFFLE REGISTRATION FORM TO THE STATE OF MONTANA, GAMBLING CONTROL DIVISION. IN A LETTER DATED MARCH 25, 2021, THE GAMBLING CONTROL DIVISION NOTIFIED THE CBU THAT IT MET THE REQUIREMENTS AND COULD SELL RAFFLE TICKETS ONLINE. THE CBU COMPLIES WITH THE OTHER RAFFLE AND RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS OF MT MCA 23-5-413 AND ARM 23.16.2602 AS SPECIFIED IN THE APPROVAL LETTER FROM THE GAMBLING CONTROL DIVISION. 0 1 0 BEN ERICKSON PO BOX 606 GALLATIN GATEWAY MT 59730 0 0 X INDIVIDUALS 52 17827 FMV X ATV 1 9999 FMV 0 0 0 PART III LINE 4C (CONTINUED) CBU WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH DECISION MAKERS ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OUR 7000 MEMBERS AND 68 SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS IN MONTANA AND THE NORTH WEST. OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. CBU IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL DONATION TO CBU ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. TO BECOME A MEMBER OF CBU AND KEEP UP TO DATE ON OUR EFFORTS AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.BALANCEDUSE.ORG. OUR MEMBERSHIP IS FREE AND ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH US IN KEEPING OUR FEDERALLY MANAGED PUBLIC LANDS OPEN TO ALL. BY WRITING A LETTER, ATTENDING A MEETING, OR MAKING A PHONE CALL YOU CAN HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 FILING WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE MEMBERS AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.