Commission discusses Beaver Creek dam work

The Hill County Commission discussed grant receipt, resignations and new hires at its weekly business meeting Thursday.

The commission passed a resolution to amend the budget for the Beaver Creek Dam to receive funds from a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Renewable Resources Grant, which Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said will allow for the last of the dam’s immediately needed improvements.

“This could be the last project to bring Beaver Creek Dam up to specs,” he said.

He said projects on the dam have been going on for his entire tenure at the commission and it’s good to see all that work perhaps coming to an end at last.

Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said the funds for this last round of projects were awarded in the 2019 legislative session and the county was fortunate to get that money.

She said work on the dam will resume as weather improves.

The commission also passed a resolution to create an account to receive and disperse grant money from the Montana Delivering Local Assistance Program for upgrades at the Hill County Detention Center.

They also created a budget for receipt of federal CARES Act money into the county’s general fund.

McLean also announced at the meeting that Great Northern Fair Board Member Ron Konesky recently announced his resignation and that the commissioners will need to add his seat to the list of board positions they are looking to fill.

Konesky’s resignation letter said he can no longer devote as much time as is needed to the fair, and he believes it’s time for someone with fresh ideas to take his place.

McLean said she and her fellow commissioners have done interviews for a position on the Hill County Park Board as well, but no decisions have been made.

She said general progress on filling board positions are going well.

She also said interviews for the county’s two open extension positions are done and the final decision is now in the hands of Montana State University.

The commission also approved a request by Hill County Clerk and Recorder Sue Armstrong to begin advertising to fill a recently vacated clerk position in her department.

Armstrong said the position pays $12.95 per hour and has a similar job description as her own position.

The commissioners also passed a resolution that creating a procedure for approving claims in their absence since they will all be unavalible at the end of the month when such expenses are usually approved.

County Officials Meeting

The commission also participated in a county officials meeting where issues in the larger county government were discussed.

Peterson said the commission is working on enhancements to the dispatch center at the Hill County Detention Center and a project to install cameras in the Hill County Courthouse.

Hill County Building Manger Daryl Anez said he’s going to be walking through the buildings with others to lay out details for these projects.

He also apologized for hardships at the courthouse related to the cold snap the county experienced this past two weeks.

Anez said he’s tried his best to keep the building warm, but there’s only so much that can be done on days when the high is minus 15 degrees.

He said he’s looking into possible ways to upgrade the system for next winter.

Peterson said the county also recently hired a new road and bridge manager, Jim Bedwell, and he’s hoping he’ll be able to hit the ground running soon.

He said no one has yet come forward to become the county’s safety coordinator, and the search continues for a new county sanitarian in the wake of Will Lorett’s resignation last month.