Resignations and grants discussed at Commissioner's business meeting

The Hill County Commission approved grants and announced resignations at their weekly business meeting last Thursday.

Hill County Commissioner Mike Wendland read Hill County Commissioners Administrative Assistant Brittany Pfeifer’s written announcement that she would be leaving her position.

Pfeifer’s announcement said she has taken the position of Human Resources Legal Assistant under Hill County Attorney Karen Alley and would be starting in that role today.

“I want to thank you all for everything and that it’s been a very meaningful experience,” her announcement read.

Wendland also announced the resignation of Hill County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Cory Matkin, who has taken a job as an investigator for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

“It’s been an incredible journey especially these last few years and I will certainly miss the exceptional people I have worked with,” his announcement read.

The commission also discussed the Great Northern Fair Board’s request to approve hiring a secretary to assist them with claims and other duties.

The commission was in favor of the hiring, but Alley, who attended the meeting, said in order to advertise the position the Commission would need to determine how many hours of work the position required in a week.

Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said the number of hours for such a job vary significantly, as far more work is required in the summer when the Great Northern Fair itself is being prepared for and takes place.

McLean said she couldn’t say off the top of her head how the amount of hours per week should be advertised, and Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson suggested that he and his fellow commissioners get in touch the fair board to discuss how to properly advertise the position.

The commission also discussed a resolution to accept a recommended funding scenario and approve the submission of a funding application to the Montana Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant program to improve a Hill County RSID 21 lift station.

McLean said the commission held a pair of public meetings on the subject, and they are convinced that the grant is an excellent opportunity to improve the lift station, which contains machinery that is in need of attention.

She said the equipment in the lift station is 50 years old, but their life expectancy is less than half of that.

“We are entirely hopefully we get this grant because without it these upgrades are extremely expensive… we had the public showed up and heard some great comments,” she said.

Wendland said he was glad as many members of the public showed up at the public meetings.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

They also voted unanimously on a grant agreement for Beaver Creek Dam Spill Way Improvement Project.

McLean said the structure Beaver Creek Reservoir, also known as First Lake, is Hill County’s earthen dam and is considered high-hazard, a problem the project aims to address.

Wendland said purpose of the agreement is to establish mutually agreeable terms including that the project must be completed by the end of the year.

He said Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will be tasked with making sure the funds awarded by the Montana Legislature are awarded as agreed upon, and the anticipated expenditure of the project will be $125,000.

Peterson said this agreement represents the final stage of the project which will improve safety conditions related to the structure.

“This project is kinda multi-faceted,” he said. “… This is the last of the major upgrades to finish this and make it quite a bit safer.”