Bridge Work, Election Deadlines and Treasury Reconciliation Lead Broadwater County Commissioners' Meeting
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
TOWNSEND — Broadwater County commissioners on Wednesday heard updates ranging from election filing deadlines and bridge work on Oldtown Road to a continuing effort to bring the county treasurer’s books back into balance — a step county officials said is necessary to prevent the state from withholding certain funding.
County Elections Administrator Angie Paulsen opened public comment with a reminder that candidate filing for Townsend School Board trustee seats closes at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9. Paulsen said three positions are open: two three-year terms and one one-year term. As of the meeting, Judy Gillespie had filed for the one-year term.
Paulsen also noted the next candidate filing window — for county seats — opens Feb. 17 and runs through March 4.
During public comment, Steve Kurk of Oldtown Road in Three Forks thanked the county and commissioners for their involvement in replacing bridges on Oldtown Road. Kurk said the bridges are complete and crews are finishing riprap work along the river and road work. He contrasted the nearly five-year timeline for the Oldtown project with a separate bridge at Bear Canyon that, according to a news report he cited, was removed and is expected to be repaired by April.
Commissioners also approved an agreement requested by County Attorney Kevin Bratcher to contract with Salo Law PLLC for assistance with a backlog of “requests for prosecution,” or cases where a crime report is made but a suspect is not immediately arrested. Bratcher said the contracted attorney, Jordan Salo, has prosecution experience in Gallatin County and with the Montana Department of Justice.
Under the agreement, Bratcher said Salo would review reports, draft charging documents, request additional investigation when needed, or decline charges when evidence is insufficient. Bratcher and his deputy would continue handling court prosecution. Bratcher said the rate is $100 per hour and the work would continue as needed until the backlog is reduced.
Later, commissioners tabled a Copelands family transfer exemption request to the Feb. 11 meeting. Community Development Director Nichole Brown told commissioners the request should be treated as a new exemption filing after a previous version was withdrawn in December. Brown said the affidavit form being used comes from the Montana Attorney General’s Office and is now the standard form for family transfers.
Resident Chuck Hahn raised concerns that county subdivision regulations require an application in addition to an affidavit and said commissioners must use the criteria in those regulations to approve or deny the exemption.
Treasurer Melissa Franks provided an update on the county’s cash reconciliation work after a letter from the Department of Administration’s Local Government Services warned of possible withholding of certain state funding. Franks said she is working through January’s numbers with help from Nancy at the Montana Association of Counties and guidance from the county’s auditor, with a goal of showing three consecutive months balanced.
County Administrative Officer Bill Jarocki said audit findings in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 flagged cash control issues and that the amount the county was “off” increased over time. Jarocki said the county is currently off by about $170,000 and is working to reduce that discrepancy and balance “on the nose” for three straight months to satisfy Local Government Services.
Commissioners also approved claims totaling $835,374.69, $43,958.59 and $82,081.50. Officials said the largest set of claims largely reflected Oldtown Bridge expenses covered by grant funds.
Commissioners reminded the public that there will be no commission meeting the week of Feb. 16 due to travel to a conference. The meeting adjourned at 10:46 a.m.
