Hill County receives much-needed grant for wastewater upgrade in North Havre

Editor’s note: This version corrects information on a contract with Area X Council on Aging.

The Hill County Commission announced that the county has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant to upgrade the wastewater system in North Havre’s RSID 21.

Hill County Commissioner Mike Wendland, in last week’s commissioner business meeting, read a letter from Gov. Steve Bullock informing them that the county would receive $260,500 in grant funds for the project.

“Projects such as this help promote and develop Montana communities’ ability to provide services that respond to the greatest local challenges,” the letter said.

In past meetings the commission has discussed the need to improve the station which is over 50 years old despite most of the machinery and equipment’s life expectancy being half of that.

Wendland said the state would provide more details on the grant soon.

Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said the grant is a significant boon to the county, given how expensive replacing this equipment is.

“This is really good news,” McLean said. “... Merry Christmas to us.”

Wendland said receipt of this grant was a pleasant surprise, and the commission was sure that Hill County was out of the running for it.

McLean said the county has also applied for a Treasure Statement Endowment Program grant to help with the project, but they won’t know if they got it until Legislature makes a decision.

Other business

The commission also unanimously voted for a resolution to allow the Hill County Council on Aging to receive and disperse some recent funding from the CARES Act.

Wendland said the $11,000 received by the council would be used for the purchase of a more reliable vehicle, since spending those funds on meals would be difficult before the Dec. 31 deadline.

The commission also unanimously approved a new contract with the council establishing a $4 payment per customer for delivering commodities provided by the state.

The Area X Council on aging also provides meals delivered or at the North Central Senior Citizens Center, served as carryout with the pandemic going on, with a requested $5 donation per meal. That was recently raised from $4 a meal, which had been the requested donation for some 13 years previously.

The commission also appointed in a 3-0 vote James Branden to the Hill County Weed Board to fill the spot left by Craig Patrick, who is retiring.

Branden will serve the remaining two years of Patrick’s term.

The commission also announced the completion of the bid package for a new security system in the Hill County Courthouse which will include new cameras and reinforced door locks on the main entrance.

McLean said the county has received a Homeland Security Grant to place the cameras.

“We feel like this is important in this day and age,” McLean said.

The bid package will be advertised in the Dec. 29, 2020 Edition of the Havre Daily News.

The commission also received the final 2021 budget for the county from the Clerk and Recorder’s Office.