Broadwater County Commissioners Meeting - 07/01/2026
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Article Published: 07/10/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 01Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
07/01/2026
Broadwater County Commission Approves Golf Course Clubhouse, Tackles Regulatory Updates
The Broadwater County Commission met on July 1st to address several development and regulatory matters, approving the Old Baldy Golf Course's new clubhouse project while tabling decisions on budget adoption and regulatory amendments for further public input.
Golf Course Moves Forward:
The commission unanimously approved Old Baldy Golf Course's request to proceed with the construction of a new clubhouse on the county property. Vice President Scott Demars outlined plans to demolish the existing structure at the end of the season in mid-October, with the new facility operational by the end of March 2027.
The new 60-by-80-foot main building, plus an additional 20-by-80-foot cold storage area, will include a beer and wine license, two golf simulators, and event rental space. The golf course is exploring grant funding and potential loans to cover construction costs, with final funding decisions expected by early September.
"The county's only involvement is granting permission since it's county property," noted Commission Chair Debi Randolph. "The golf course isn't asking for county funds."
Floodplain Permit Fees Increase Significantly:
The commission approved a substantial increase to floodplain development permit fees, jumping from a flat $250 fee to between $1,500 and $1,800, depending on project complexity. The new fee schedule aims to recover actual costs associated with administering the county's floodplain management program through contracted services with Great West Engineering. Community Development Director Nichole Brown explained the increase reflects rising professional service rates and regulatory compliance obligations. The county contracts with qualified floodplain administrators for specialized technical review, and the new fees ensure applicants—rather than general taxpayers—bear these costs.
"This is long overdue," said Commissioner Randolph. "It doesn't make sense for other residents to pay for someone's application."
Budget Discussion Postponed:
The commission tabled the preliminary FY 2026-27 budget decision until July 15th to allow time for public presentation materials and additional staff preparation. County Administrative Officer Bill Jarocki presented a detailed budget analysis showing the county underspent its FY 2026 budget by approximately $755,000, or 6.4 percent.
Personnel costs represent 67 percent of the preliminary budget, with a 4.5 percent increase due to insurance costs, pay raises, and market adjustments. Jarocki noted that the county may be able to maintain or reduce overall expenditures when the final budget is adopted in September.
Commissioners emphasized transparency, requesting simpler public-facing budget summaries alongside detailed analysis sheets to be posted online before the public hearing notice deadline.
Regulatory Updates Pending:
The commission postponed decisions on both updated Buildings for Lease or Rent (BLR) regulations and Broadwater County subdivision regulation supplements until July 8th. Recent state legislation moved RV parks and mobile home parks from subdivision review into BLR review, prompting the updates.
Nichole Brown is working with Deputy County Attorney Haransh Singh to refine language in the subdivision supplements regarding water system documentation, specifically aligning with state statute requirements and recent court rulings.
Next Steps:
The commission meets again on July 8th. All meeting materials and agendas are available on the Broadwater County website. Residents interested in budget details or county operations are invited to attend Tuesday morning CEO meetings at the county office.
