Hill County Commission removes two from RFD1 board

In their weekly business meeting Thursday, the Hill County Commissioners voted unanimously to remove two members of the Rural Fire District 1 Board for repeated absences.

The recommendation to remove the members, Alan LaBuda and Bob Jacobsen, was made by the three other members of RFD1 who said the board’s bylaws permit them to recommend the removal of a board member after three consecutive unexcused absences.

LaBuda and Jacobsen have not attended a single meeting of the board since at least February of this year, and Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said numerous certified letters and phone calls have been made to them without response.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said the meetings of RFD1 are on the same day and time every month and there is plenty of time for members to explain why they can’t attend, so there is no reason for such absences.

McLean said the commission never takes pleasure in removing members from boards like this, but given the situation she doesn’t disagree with the recommendation provided by the board.

She said the commission assumes those that express interests in serving on boards like this do so in good faith and it’s unfortunate that this removal is necessary.

As these are elected board positions community members living in the Rural Fire District 1, essentially a ring around Havre in which the Havre Fire Department provides fire suppression services, will need to register to run for the positions.

If no one runs, McLean said, the commission can appoint people to the board, but she hopes community members are interested enough to apply.

She said she isn’t sure if there is enough time for people to register so that they can run during the election in November.

Regardless of whether they are appointed or elected the people who fill these seats will need to run in all subsequent elections.

Peterson said advertising for the seats will proceed immediately.

RFD1’s recent history has been tumultuous with a major reorganization earlier this year, following last fall’s cancellation of the fire suppression agreement between the district and the city that ensures the city will provide fire suppression to the area effective June 30.

The city has requested that a new contract be written which delegates responsibility for enforcing fire codes in the district.

The board and the city failed to reach a new agreement by the original July 1 deadline, leaving Rural Fire District 1 unprotected, at least on paper. The city has kept extending the agreement, now through the end of August.

Havre Mayor Tim Solomon has said the city is asking for an updated agreement naming someone, whoever the board would like, to be responsible for fire code enforcement.

Fire code enforcement has been the main issue keeping a new agreement from being reached. The board had previously asked Solomon for more time to find an individual willing to fill the role and to get that person properly trained.

During Thursday’s meeting McLean announced nine reappointments to local boards including the Hill County Planning Board, the Hill County Mosquito Control District Board, and the H. Earl Clack Museum Board.

She said the reappointments show just how many community members the county relies on to keep these entities functional.

The commission also renewed a contract with DIS Technologies in Billings to provide the county with firewall protection for the next five years.

The commissioners discussed a the possibility of shorter contracts but the five-year contract offered savings of more than $11,000 compared to annual renewal and they have been satisfied with the performance of DIS so it makes sense to to renew the contract for the maximum length of time.