County Commissioners Face Major Spending Requests
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
County Commissioners Face Major Spending Requests Nancy Marks Reporter Broadwater County Commissioners discussed major spending requests from their departments at their regular meeting Wednesday, June 6 at the Flynn Building.
Public Works Director TJ Graveley began the request for approval for a $62,750 weight scale to be installed at the Transfer Station on Indian Creek Road. Currently, his department does not have a scale to track the amount of solid waste coming to the transfer station so it can be accurately weighed and charged to the customer. Additional installation costs of approximately $1,700 would include setting the scale with a crane and preparing the area including concrete pouring. He assured the commissioners he could mitigate some of the installation costs by using local equipment and personnel. “The people of Broadwater County have not been assessed properly. The new scale will fix that,” Graveley explained.
Former Solid Waste Board member John Hahn spoke to the huge increase in the cost of a scale (it sold for $30,000 when he was on the board) as well as the Solid Waste Department’s budget being “in the red”. He suggested cutting costs by installing a credit card payment system at the transfer station to eliminate personnel who issue invoices at the courthouse.
Graveley countered by saying his budget was not “in the red”. Graveley explained his department hauled 4,712T of waste to the landfill in Helena in 2022. Already his department has hauled upwards of 2,000T in 2023. The need for a closer watch when people haul in large loads of garbage, roofing material, and construction materials is very important. A sign at the dump sites defining large loads would help the public to follow the rules on taking large loads to the transfer station, Hahn suggested.
Graveley presented the commissioners with four bids. After research, his suggestion was the Rockwell Scale of Great Falls. The commissioners voted to approve the spending request. The scale should be installed by the end of July, he said. In other public works reports, Graveley pointed out he had hired two new site employees for driving trucks and on-call work. He urged people using the walk-in entrance on days the site is not open to put their garbage in the dumpsters, not loose on the ground.
COUNTY ROAD FLOODING CONTINUES
His road report shows continued flooding from Beaver Creek on Filson Road near Winston. He installed a culvert to divert the water off the road. Ross Gulch Road needs a cattle guard installed. The road department will apply Perma-Zyme, a road stabilizer, to 6 miles on Flynn Land and 4 miles on Highway 437 this summer.
Graveley ended by asking for a job description and wage change for his clerk, Misty Masolo. The commissioners approved a job change to assistant public works supervisor with a $3.50 raise effective July 1.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE ONLINE POLICY MANUAL APPROVED
Broadwater County Sheriff requested a $7,247 annual contract with Lexapol, an online policy manual for the county detention center officers. “Is important to protect the county’s liability. The county attorney’s office can access it as well. Our officers constantly update themselves with this online policy manual. The contract includes training and mandatory signoffs by the detention officers,” he explained. The commissioners approved the contract. Broadwater Public Health Director Ruby Taylor explained the use of her department’s contract with the State of Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Through a new DPHHS grant, she may hire employees to improve the health department’s current infrastructure. She will offer positions for two nurses and a medical assistant. As of now, she has a clerk and an investigation specialist. In total, she will have four people plus herself. No county monies are used to fund the department. The commissioners accepted her report.
Deputy County Attorney Jania Hatfield presented changes in the county’s procurement policy. The commissioners approved the changes up to $10,000 for supplies, larger purchases from $10,000 to $100,000 and over $100,000. Larger purchases must be approved by the commissioners.
OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONIES COMING TO THE COUNTY
Commissioner Debi Randolph has volunteered, with the board’s approval, to become a member of the Region 4 Multi-County Abatement Board. The State of Montana organized the board to disperse the Opioid Settlement monies awarded by a multimillion-dollar settlement with the makers of opioids in the United States.
Commissioner Folkvord, airport board liaison, presented an agreement to move around airport fund monies with approval from Townsend City Council. The Federal Aeronautic Administration's non-primary entitlement fund of $ 1 million had been earmarked for Townsend Municipal Airport upgrades in 2022. Since the city and county did not use the funds that year, the monies were transferred to West Yellowstone Airport for their project. Their project was completed. The FAA recommended then the monies be transferred to Butte Airport, which under agreement, will be paid back in 2024 for use at the Townsend Airport. Commissioners approved the request for this transaction.
