County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - October 3
 | Author:
Jeff Ross
Contributor |
BROADWATER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 515 Broadway, Townsend
Meetings are held at the Flynn Building (old Opportunity Bank) 416 Broadway.
NO REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING ON OCTOBER 10, 2022 DUE TO THE HOLIDAY. MEETING WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022 AT 10:00 AM
Meetings may be viewed on the website at https://www.broadwatercountymt.com/home/pages/board-videos. Public comment is taken either in writing in advance of the meeting or in person at the meeting. Working meetings are held in various locations, please review the notice of the working meeting to determine the location. Working meetings are not recorded and as a result are not available on the website. Agenda, documents, official meeting minutes and videos of past Commission meetings are available at https://www.broadwatercountymt.com.
OFFICAL agendas are posted in the Courthouse (1st floor bulletin board), Broadwatercountymt.com, on the bulletin board on the 1st Floor of the courthouse, and in the window of the Flynn Building at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
MINUTES Oct. 3
County Commissioners Adds Federal Funds to City Council Water Project
Broadwater County Commissioners voted to distribute the remainder of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds they received to the City of Townsend’s water and sewer Infrastructure Projects at their meeting oct. 3 at the Flynn building. The county received $500,000 of which they spent $105,000 toward upgrade at the Fairgrounds. Commissioners voted in favor of transferring $447,124 to the city.
Mayor Mike Evans spoke in favor of the transfer during a public hearing. He and Chris Hayes, engineer from Robert Peccia and Associates explained the city needed to repair and replace water lines in the city to increase water pressure for residents, especially on the south side of Townsend. “Once we set up a new gravity flow system from wells at the Fairgrounds area, we can solve many of our pressure problems,” Evans explained. Replacing and upgrading the water system will cost approximately $10-$12million when it is finished. The city will use its ARPA monies as well. In the longer term, the City of Townsend will be mandated to meet DEQ standards for a large enough water reserve to meet a multiple building fire in town at a cost of $1.2million.
County Finance Officer Debbie Kelley presented a budget amendment to reflect a change in the county’s valuation which will increase the mill value. The motion to approve passed.
Montana Business Assistance Connection(MBAC) administrator Katherine Anderson presented a budgetary authority resolution to pass $400,000 County District Block Grant funds to Bridger Brewing for their kitchen at the Jack Rabbit Pub near Three Forks. The CBDG revolving fund comes back to the county to be loaned again to any business which qualifies. The money is borrowed at a low interest rate for five years. There is no cost to the county for processing the funds.
Broadwater County inmates at the Broadwater County Detention Center will have medical and mental health insurance of which the county will pay an average of 98 cents per day per inmate in excess of what is already covered through major medical coverage through Montana Association of County Offices (MACO) according to Sheriff’s Department member Brandon Harris. A motion passed to approve the payment.
Public Works Supervisor Josh Obert presented his 2023 budget for the department’s road hardening project. The department has received $79,504 of the state-funded Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Act (BARSA) program through Montana Department of Transportation. The county match for the grant is $3,975. “This is a great deal for the county,” Folkvord said, “We pay $l for every $20 we receive from MDOT.” Discussion followed about the Goose Bay Road not being upgraded. Obert said they had been negotiating with the Bureau of Reclamation concerning the job for seven years. Motion passed to accept the grant.
Community Development Director Nichole Brown presented two boundary Relocation requests which the commission approved.
Claims and minutes were approved and meeting adjourned by Chairman Darrel Folkvord.
October 12 - Commission Meeting October 13 - Fair Board Meeting October 19 - Board of Heath Meeting October 19 - Airport Meeting
Debi Randolph 406-266-9270 and 406-980-2050 Darrel Folkvord, Chairperson 406-266-9272 and 406-980-1213 Mike Delger, 406-266-9271 and 406-521-0834 E-mail commissioners@co.broadwater.mt.us
