Townsend Council Approves Budget Amendments, Backs Sheriff Grant and Expands Tree-Watering Contract
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Townsend Council Approves Budget Amendments, Backs Sheriff Grant and Expands Tree-Watering Contract
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
TOWNSEND — The Townsend City Council on Feb. 3 approved a set of budget amendments, signed off on a letter supporting a sheriff’s office grant request, and voted to make the city’s tree-watering contract year-round as officials discussed infrastructure needs and upcoming street work.
The meeting opened with a public hearing on budget amendments. City officials said appropriations needed to be increased in the comprehensive insurance fund and the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) fund to accommodate final cash transfers into the general fund.
Council approved increases of $18,731.90 for the comprehensive insurance fund and $13,463.05 for the PERS fund. A third amendment increased the general fund by $30,000 for legal services. No public comment was offered during the hearing.
Council also approved minutes from its Jan. 20 meeting and noted Councilman Peter Simon was ill and absent.
Andrea Dabley addressed the council on behalf of a small group participating in the Big Sky Leadership Program through the MSU Extension Office. Dabley said the statewide program requires participants to complete a community service project and that the group is in the early idea stage and not requesting city funding.
Dabley outlined four potential volunteer concepts — “adopt a park,” “adopt a trail,” “adopt a garden,” and “adopt a wall” — and asked where help would be most useful.
Public Works Director Eric Crusch said the small flower garden in Memorial Park could use additional attention. He said the local gardening club historically helped maintain it, but participation has declined. Crusch also suggested curb maintenance as another need, noting overgrown grass along curbs can contribute to long-term damage.
Crusch told the group that projects should be coordinated on a case-by-case basis with public works, and council members emphasized that volunteers should check in before starting work.
Council next reviewed a draft letter of support for the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office as it applies to the Broadwater County Trust Board for Panasonic Toughbook laptops for on-duty deputies.
The letter states the equipment would improve communication between deputies in the field and the Broadwater County 911 dispatch center, strengthening emergency response and public safety in rural and recreation-heavy parts of the county.
Undersheriff Wood told council the current computers were purchased about eight years ago and cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, requiring replacement at an estimated cost of $50,000. Wood said Rotary and the Trust Board have already contributed funding. Mayor Vickie Rauser asked if there was any objection to her signing the letter; none was raised.
Council then turned to a contract change requested by Patrick Plantenberg, chair of the Tree Board. Plantenberg said recent warm winters have created conditions where trees may need watering in December and January — something he said was uncommon in past years.
The existing contract runs from March through mid-November. City staff reported $5,872 remaining in the irrigation budget, a cash balance of $24,053 in the Urban Forestry Fund, and $12,000 remaining for tree purchases.
Council clarified that watering is not paid through water bills and that the Tree Board receives $10,000 annually from the general fund for watering. Plantenberg said the contractor submits monthly hour reports to the city clerk.
Council voted to amend the contract language so the contractor can provide services annually as deemed necessary by the Tree Board, with automatic one-year renewals.
Crusch provided a public works update, including the replacement of a failed lagoon blower at a cost of about $18,000. He said the equipment was about seven years old and that manufacturers recommend replacement between seven and 10 years. Council discussed rotating replacement of the remaining two blowers over time.
Crusch also flagged uncertainty around future PFAS testing requirements and potential wastewater treatment upgrades, saying shifting standards make long-term planning difficult. Council asked for a three-to-five-year outlook on capital needs.
On street maintenance, Crusch said he contacted three contractors for chip sealing this spring and summer and recommended work on the 100 block of North Cherry, the 100 block of South Cedar, and Pine Street from D Street to Fourth Street.
Crusch reported that several large cottonwood trees are being removed in Heritage Park due to rot and falling limb risk, and another was removed in McCarthy Park because structural cracks posed a hazard. He said replacement trees are planned.
The mayor also read a report from Fire Chief Shawn Simon, who is working to move the department’s reporting system to ESO, reviewed emergency access to a new building site, and said recruit firefighter classes have started with three new city recruits expected.
