4-H Pavilion Contract In Limbo
Author: Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter
4-H Pavilion Contract In Limbo Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter Broadwater County commissioners agreed to postpone signing a contract with Dick Anderson Construction for a new 4-H pavilion until the contract could be reviewed by another attorney, during their Dec. 28 meeting, months after the contract was submitted to the county.
Deputy County Attorney Jania Hatfield informed the commissioners that she had recently forwarded the contract to a third-party attorney to review since she does not have construction contract experience.
“It’s possible that some of the things I’m identifying, somebody whose an expert in construction contracts will tell me, ‘Oh no, that’s normal,’” Hatfield said.
In July of 2022, the Broadwater County Trust Board agreed to fund a $300,000 grant for the construction of the 4-H livestock pavilion. The commission then committed to providing the remaining $100,000 for the project, according to 4-H Livestock Committee Chairman Jason Noyes.
Broadwater County 4-H then committed to securing another $100,000 to install electricity and a PA system in the pavilion. The funds will also allow the organization to purchase show-ring panels. Following the 2022 livestock sale, 4-H raised $30,000 towards their portion of the pavilion bill and continues to seek donations.
Noyes voiced frustration, confusion and disappointment at the Dec. 28 county commission meeting that it had taken this long to move forward with the contract, which had been submitted to the county on Oct. 17.
The 4-H livestock pavilion has been an idea in the making since 2018, Noyes told MT 43 News, and that he’s made a substantial investment in the project.
In past years, the 4-H has used the indoor roping barn to house, show and sell livestock. “In 2018, it became clear that we were running out of space to pen the ever-expanding projects and still secure enough room for a show ring under one roof,” Noyes said in an emailed statement to MT 43 News.
With special permission to continue the 4-H sale during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the group got a taste of what the pavilion’s benefits would be like.
“We utilized a large, outdoor tent set-up adjacent to the barn,” Noyes said. “This allowed us to expand space within the barn and provide an outdoor, well-ventilated space for spectators to watch the livestock show and participate in the sale.”
According to the Noyes, the tent was such a big hit that the organization decided to continue using it for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but it required significant physical labor and was costly.
4-H hopes to complete the livestock pavilion before the 2023 fair, which is currently scheduled for Aug. 2 through Aug. 6.
“The longer we take, the more likely we are not going to be able to get this done on time,” Noyes said during the county commission meeting, adding that supply chain issues could further delay the realization of the pavilion project.
Hatfield responded that the county attorney’s office had been understaffed while County Attorney Cory Swanson was on deployment.
“Ultimately, part of the reason for the hold up has been simply that my office was understaffed,” Hatfield said. “I, as the acting county attorney, was doing two attorneys' jobs and was unable to get to the contract.”
Noyes had also voiced concerns that the contractor, Dick Anderson Construction, had requested to speak with county officials about the matter, but had not received any response.
Hatfield countered that she was waiting to contact the builder until she had all of her comments put together. Both Hatfield and County Commissioner Darrell Folkvord expressed hope that working with this third-party attorney would streamline the approval process.
Folkvord went on to explain that the commissioners were attempting to keep the county’s affairs in mind: “The bottom line is we can’t sign a contract that’s not in the best interest of the county, and we rely on our legal staff to guide us in that direction.”
While the pavilion will significantly benefit the county 4-H program, Noyes said it will be of benefit to the rest of the community as well: “The pavilion will also provide a covered space to be utilized by the community throughout the year, well beyond the week of our county fair”
Swanson was not in attendance at the Dec. 28 commission meeting.
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PhotoCredit: Jason Noyes
click on link to view pdf: BOARD Broadwater Fairgrounds 7-21-22.pdf
