Trust Board grants fund Rod & Gun expansion, new rescue boat; commissioners adopt exemption process
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
Broadwater County commissioners on March 4 approved two Broadwater County Trust Board grants — one to expand sporting clays at the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club’s Indian Creek range and another to help county Search and Rescue replace a decades-old lake boat — before adopting a revised subdivision exemption review process aimed at making land-division steps clearer for the public.
The meeting opened with routine public comment, including updates from commissioners on recent travel and upcoming events.
Commissioner Lindsey Richtmyer told the public she recently attended the National Association of Counties conference in Washington, D.C., where she serves on a policy steering committee focused on economic development, workforce and labor. She said the trip included being in the nation’s capital the day of the State of the Union address.
Vice Chair Jesse Swenson announced that an upcoming MBAC meeting scheduled for the following day had been canceled and postponed to April 2.
Richtmyer also highlighted plans for a June 13 fly-in at the Townsend/Broadwater County Airport, which she said has grown from a small open-house style event into a larger family day. She said organizers expect a 4-H group to cook breakfast and that Billings Clinic plans to bring a helicopter, with additional military participation anticipated.
Rod and Gun grant: sporting clays expansion
Commissioners then turned to the first of two Trust Board awards: a $23,350.94 grant for the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club to expand its Indian Creek Sporting Clays range.
Trust Board Chair Steve McCullough presented the request and said participation has increased dramatically, creating the need for additional capacity. Brad Peck, representing the club, attended the meeting.
Swenson recused himself from the vote, noting he serves on the Rod and Gun Club board.
During the discussion, commissioners briefly clarified the difference between trap shooting and sporting clays — with sporting clays designed to simulate hunting scenarios such as “rabbit” targets or flushing birds — before voting.
With no public comment, the commissioners approved the grant unanimously among the remaining members.
Search and Rescue grant: new lake boat
The Commissioners next approved a $123,726.50 Trust Board grant for Broadwater County Search and Rescue to purchase a new lake boat designed specifically for rescue operations.
McCullough said the county’s current boat dates back to 1984, when it was purchased after a drowning and the county had no recovery option besides private boats. He said the boat is still functional but is no longer well-suited for modern search-and-rescue needs and replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
The new boat, he said, is purpose-built for rescue work, with rear platforms and an expanded through-hull area that can accommodate a stretcher. He also described a side door designed to help crews bring a person aboard from the water.
McCullough said the boat’s total cost was initially about $220,000, but the manufacturer reduced the price by $40,000 because it is being built for search and rescue, bringing the grant request to $123,726.50.
Timothy McAlpine told commissioners the boat will be a jet boat capable of operating in shallow water. He said it draws about 12 inches of water at idle and about 10 inches when running on plane, which could allow crews to navigate much of the Missouri River when conditions permit.
McAlpine said the new boat is custom-designed and expected to take nearly a year to build. He also said the sheriff’s office plans to sell the old boat, likely marketing it to other county search-and-rescue teams.
Commissioners approved the grant unanimously, with no public comment.
Subdivision exemption process adopted
Later in the meeting, Community Development & Planning Director Nichole Brown presented a revised subdivision exemption review process intended to spell out, step-by-step, what applicants can expect when seeking a subdivision exemption in Broadwater County.
Brown said the goal is to put the process “in black and white” so members of the public can better understand where they are in the timeline and what materials are required. She said the updated process is also intended to align county practice with state law requirements that exemptions be acted on by the governing body.
Commissioners emphasized the process may need adjustments over time, particularly as state law changes, but agreed that a clearer roadmap would help applicants who are unfamiliar with land-division rules.
During public comment, Chuck Hahn asked questions about how the process document relates to the county’s existing exemption application and a proposed replacement form. Brown clarified that the March 4 vote was on the process only, and that the commissioners plan to continue discussing a revised exemption form at a future meeting.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the subdivision exemption process.
The board also approved minutes from the Feb. 11 meeting and approved claims, including payroll of $296,453.19 and additional claim sets totaling $96,781.12, $27,193 and $10,495.74.
Before adjournment, McAlpine asked for written verification of the Search and Rescue grant approval and commissioners said staff would provide documentation, including by email.
The meeting concluded with no further business.
