Commission appoints Deegan Hill County superintendent

Hill County Commissioners voted unanimously at their weekly business meeting Thursday to appoint retired Havre High School Spanish teacher Marie Deegan as Hill County superintendent of schools until the next election.

"It is going to be really important in August and September, if we can get someone in place to start working with all the budget processing and things that need to go on," County Commissioner Diane McLean said

The commission noted that Deegan is out of town and has not yet formally accepted the position.

McLean added she knows Deegan is a person with energy and will do a good job.

Marie Deegan taught for 34 years, 27 years at Havre High School.

Deegan, who has a master's degree in Spanish also has a law degree. She practiced law before changing to teaching.

McLean said Deegan mentioned she would not be able to start work till Thursday, Aug. 15 due to prior obligations.

In other business, the commission approved a $13,900 bid by Great West Engineering to do the required five-year inspection of Beaver Creek Dam, which previously had been done by Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. It must be done before September.

County Commissioner Mark Peterson said Great West had been out on the dam several times and done work there.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve hiring Great West for the five-year inspection.