Candidates talk at Conservation District dinner

Farmers, ranchers, political figures and others attended the Hill County Conservation District’s annual legislative dinner Wednesday night in Montana State University-Northern’s Student Union Building Ballroom.

The dinner served as a venue for discussion about the district’s activities and projects this year as well as a chance for local officials and candidates for political office to introduce themselves to the agriculture community.

For $25, attendees dined on prime rib and salad, as they listened to members of the board of supervisors.

The event began at 5:30 p.m. with a no-host meet and greet social, followed by dinner. There was also a  trivia game and poetry read-aloud by cowboy poets Phyllis Rothwell and Larry Miller of Canada and Fred Liese of Turner.

District Supervisor Trevor Wolery presented the district’s report detailing the past year’s projects and accomplishments in a PowerPoint presentation.

The district’s participation in the rehabilitated Milk  River Watershed alliance and the construction of an improved road along the east side of the Kiehn’s Bay at Fresno Reservoir were among the items discussed.

Lee Morse, a conservation district member, said the Kiehns Bay Road project involved constructing 1,520 feet of improved road built above the flood plain to replace six eroding roads on the east side of the Kiehn’s Bay near at Fresno Reservoir that led to the same place.

Money for the improved road project came from the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management and Fresno Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, Morse said.

There is more work left to be done on the project  Morse said .

He said different grants will be looked at that could possibly fund the rest of the  project, and said that Walleyes Unlimited said they would cover some of the remaining cost.

Candidates for county and legislative office were also present.

All three candidates running to replace outgoing Hill County Commissioner Jeff LaVoi were present. They were each allotted time to talk to the audience.  

Hill County Superintendent of Schools and Republican candidate for Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said the county has done a great job maintaining needed services to county residents, while facing a tightening budget.

She said there will be four mill levy items on the ballot this November.

“And I think we are going to need to pay attention to what the community says this fall on those four ballot issues to see whether or not the county feels that these are important enough or not. That is going to be something that is going to guide future commissioners,” she said.

Democrat Jim Bedwell spoke about his 22 years of experience as an equipment operator for the county, building as well as maintaining the county’s gravel roads.

“I know the infrastructure of Hill County pretty well, whether it be roads, bridges, buildings,” Bedwell said.

He said that throughout the years he has enjoyed mentoring the younger workers.

“I just thought it was time for me to step down and take another position with the county,” Bedwell said.

Independent Ted Solomon played up his experience as a rancher.  

“Ranching and farming, you quickly learn the best methods for soil conservation,” Solomon said. “Actually, the better you treat the land, the better it is for your pocket book.”

Solomon talked about his background as the owner of Solomon Fire Equipment which contracts out equipment to the U.S. Forest Service and works with local volunteer fire departments.

Despite never having served in office, Solomon said he would bring the leadership to the commission.

Jacob Bachmeier, the Democratic candidate in the race for House District 28, who is seeking to unseat incumbent state Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, said he did not know a lot about what the Hill County Conservation District did, but it is good for the community and he will work with them if elected.

“The job of a representative isn’t to go to Helena and say I know all the answers. The job of a representative is to go to Helena and listen to everybody and figure out how I can best represent everyone of you,” he said.

Hess was not at the dinner.