Broadwater County Commissioners Meeting - 08/12/2026
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Article Published: 08/21/2026 Volume: 5 Edition: 07Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
8/12/2026
Highway 287 Safety Concerns Prompt Call for Speed Study and Enforcement
Public comment highlights crash risks; commissioners to pursue MDT speed study; US Antimony mine discussion also featured
Highway 287 safety dominated public comment at the August 12th Broadwater County Commission meeting, with resident Rob Eskridge urging commissioners to take action following the Montana Department of Transportation's upcoming open house on the corridor.
Eskridge painted a grim picture of conditions on the highway, citing 19 deaths between Townsend and Silos in the past three years and describing recent near-misses near his subdivision north of town. "There's people driving too fast. You put on a left turn signal, people behind you on their phones, they're driving at 80 or 85 miles an hour," he said, describing a crash that occurred just 30 seconds after he made a left turn on the roadway.
Noting that public comment at a previous MDT meeting had emphasized left-turn safety concerns, Eskridge offered five recommendations to the Commission: attend the August 20th MDT open house as a working session; identify a person to learn about the speed study process from MDT; add a formal request for an accelerated speed study to the August 27th Commission meeting; request copies of public comment cards from the open house; and arrange a follow-up meeting with Sheriff Mark Wood and Highway Patrol District 7 leadership to discuss enforcement options and signage.
"It's that severe," Eskridge said, noting that he hoped for a billboard near Rocky Mountain Supply reading: "Quit killing our neighbors. Slow down. 19 deaths within the next 9 miles."
Commission Chair Debi Randolph acknowledged the Commission's familiarity with the speed study process. "Since I've been here, which is six years, I believe we've done three speed studies. One has been successful. The other two were denied," she said. She noted that the Commission would attend the August 20th open house and that MDT would likely bring crash data to the meeting. "Please attend that if you can," she encouraged the public.
Randolph also mentioned a "Ride to Remember" motorcycle event passing through Townsend on Saturday at approximately 10:30 a.m., which she said would raise awareness about road safety.
US Antimony Facility Expansion Discussed
Aaron Tenesch, Vice President of the Antimony Division at US Antimony, outlined current operations and future plans for the company's Radersburg facility. The site is not an active mine, but rather a processing center where ore mined in Thompson Falls—and potentially in Alaska—is concentrated before being shipped for downstream processing.
Tenesch emphasized the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and safety. "Environmental stewardship, health, and safety of our crew is all paramount to our operation," he said. US Antimony is a publicly traded company and a five-generation Montana family operation, according to Tenesch, who noted he has owned property in Broadwater County for 23 years.
Currently, the facility operates one day shift with six employees, mostly local. The company is seeking to hire additional staff, including a mechanical or operating foreman, as current leadership is stretched thin. Tenesch invited interested candidates to apply through Indeed or contact the company directly, and suggested reaching out to the local paper and Facebook for job postings.
The facility has undergone a Department of Environmental Quality review and is in the process of filing necessary documentation, including final reclamation plans, based on findings from the permitting process. Tenesch noted that while no significant environmental deficiencies were identified, some documents previously prepared by prior owners needed to be updated.
Antimony Uses: When asked about antimony's applications, Tenesch explained that the critical mineral is primarily used as a fire retardant compound in plastics and as a clarifying agent in glass manufacturing. "Chances are pretty good that plastic on this microphone, that computer, some of the laminates in this room, they have just a tiny amount of antimony that helps them not burn quite as hot as they would," he said. The mineral is also used as an alloying agent with lead in car batteries, bullets, and solder. Solar panels and textiles also contain antimony.
Tenesch noted that antimony is relatively rare in economic concentrations, with the primary mineral being stibnite. Thompson Falls currently supplies the ore, with other historic deposits in Montana and scattered sites across Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska.
Weed Control Contract Approved
The Commission unanimously approved a noxious weed control contract for roadside herbicide application on state and county roads. Jessica Bushnell, Broadwater County Noxious Weed Coordinator, presented the bid, noting that the selected contractor has worked on the county's state highways for the past couple of years and is familiar with weed locations and conditions.
"This contractor has done our state highways in the county for the last couple of years, so they're really familiar with the work and where weeds are," Bushnell said. The contract funding comes entirely from the Montana Department of Transportation, which the Commission noted was an important clarification for the public.
Bushnell announced that the Noxious Weed District has recently launched a fully operational Facebook page to keep the public informed about upcoming work locations. "As we move forward, we're going to try to post, as best we can, where everybody's going to be working," she said, though she noted that work locations may change based on weather or conditions.
Commission Chair Randolph praised the Weed Board's work. "I've said this before, but I just want to thank the weed board so much. They come prepared. They've done their homework. They're a working board. They're really excellent subject experts," she said.
Subdivision Applications Continued
Two significant subdivision matters were presented but continued to the following week's meeting. Nicole Brown, Community Development Director, presented the Western Montana Estates minor subdivision preliminary plat approval request for a five-lot residential development off Highway 287 near Bison Trail.
Brown requested that the Commission not make a decision on the matter, noting that the planning board had only approved the preliminary recommendation the day before the meeting. She indicated the application was already scheduled for the following week's agenda, with an August 20th decision deadline.
The second item, a subdivision exemption application, was also continued to allow for additional revisions and public review. Brown indicated that edits to the form would be incorporated and made available for public review before the Commission's decision.
Consent Agenda
The Commission approved updated Planning Board Bylaws and accepted the resignation of Georgia Munn from the Broadwater County Historical Society and Museum Board. Munn's letter indicated other responsibilities would prevent regular attendance. The Commission also approved minutes from the July 29th meeting and two sets of claims totaling approximately $45,716.
The meeting adjourned at 1:18 p.m., with a site visit to the US Antimony facility in Radersburg scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
