County Commissioners Review End-Of-Year Reports
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
County Commissioners Review End-Of-Year Reports
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Several county boards and departments checked in to report activities before the County Commissioners Wed. Dec. 20 at a regular meeting.
Commissioner Lindsey Richtmyer reported Parks and Recreation Board member Jen Dalrymple agreed to write a grant to the Broadwater County Trust Board for funds to be completed by January 5. The board will be replacing swings in Heritage Park as an Eagle Scout project.
Broadwater County Sheriiff’s Office Detention Commander Johnnie Spurlock reported rates for holding inmates from other counties would go from $69.00 to $82.90, the same rate used by the Montana Department of Corrections. The rates, which will go into effect sometime in February, are some of the lowest in the state. Cascade and Yellowstone County are the largest users of Broadwater’s center. Commissioners approved the resolution to raise county detention rates.
A cost-share program was approved by the commissioners as presented by Noxious Week and Mosquito Director Jessica Bushnell. The first come, first served program for ranchers and landowners will pay for help spraying and using biological control of their noxious weeds in 2024. She will post information on the weed board website, but interested people may pick up applications at her courthouse office.
Public Health Director Ruby Taylor presented a grant she received from Montana Crisis Management to collect data on how many crisis calls Broadwater County receives. The planning grant will run 18 months. Megan Poe will facilitate the grant in the county office. Taylor related her office does not have resources for counselors so she shares with the school. The school has two counselors who are “overwhelmed.” “A lot of kids are not getting the help they need,” she related.
Other service organizations working in Broadwater County such as Family Promise works mostly with the homeless so does not emphasize mental health issues. Also, her department works with Helena Friendship Center who share phone and gas cards. Commissioners approved her request to accept the Montana Health Care Foundation Systems Requirement Analysis (SRA) contract.
Taylor reported she now has flu and COVID vaccines available to the public. COVID boosters are no longer federally paid for, but most insurances pay for the shot. Regarding the RSV vaccine, she has some of the expensive vaccine available , but is “super expensive at $330 per shot” so she only encourages those 60 and over with lung issues to take the shot. She has no RSV vaccine available for children.
Old Baldy Golf Course Superintendent Cory Bakkum reported they were asking for a $70,000 Broadwater County Trust Board grant to replace the course’s pump system. The old pump is on its last legs. The new pump would also irrigate the undeveloped area of the golf course. Bakkum related the course sees many golfers from out of town including from Helena and Three Forks. The commissioners approved the request to accept the grant.
Commissioner and Airport liaison Darrel Folkvord gave a year-end financial report for certification of the board’s budget. An engineering plan to resurface the runways is complete. The four-year project may be delayed another year due to lack of federal funding. The current runways are thirty years old, he said. Due to increased use of the airport for life flights the runways need to be updated. Commissioners approved the certified financial report.
