County discusses ARPA fund applications

Among a number of other issues, Hill County officials discussed progress on American Rescue Plan projects in the county at their monthly meeting Wednesday.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said the county is working on a number of water-related projects they are hoping to get funding for and several of them have been ranked by the state.

Peterson said Hingham’s wastewater system was ranked 96, the Milk River Levee project ranked 98, Lift Stations 29 and 30 ranked 115, and North Havre’s Water District ranked 194.

He said the City of Havre’s water project came in ranked at 144.

He said he this list will go to the Gov. Gianforte’s office, where a committee will further review them and adjust ranks.

Peterson said he has no idea how it will all turn out, but he knows there are more projects than there is money for and the county won’t know if any of its projects will get what they requested for at least a few weeks.

The county is also hoping to get funding for Box Elder’s septic system and for the replacement of Kremlin’s main water line, he said.

He said the Kremlin’s project is still in the early stages, and Box Elder recently sent out a request for proposals for their own project.

Outside of ARPA projects, Hill County Commissioner Jake Strissel said the commission is conducting interviews with people looking to fill various open board positions including on the Great Northern Fair Board, as well as a replacement for Hill County Building Manager Daryl Anez, who will be leaving the position in the near future.

Hill County Commissioner Diane MeLean said the county is also proceeding with its WorkSafe Champions training which nine employees have volunteered to engage in.

McLean said the county is taking advantage of this training because their workman’s compensation rate is pretty high and they want to remedy that while, more importantly, promoting a safer work culture at the county.

She said she hopes the nine employees who engage in this program can bring what they learn back to their respective departments.

She also mentioned that the commission is still looking into a policy that would allow county employees keep their longevity when moving to other departments.

McLean said having employees effectively start over when switching departments isn’t the most fair policy, but the proposed change could make brining in an experienced employee to a new department burdensome.

The commissioners also talked about a recent request they received from a county employee to notify the public that people who buy vehicles need to get a title for it and if they want a bonded title they will need to bring all the necessary paperwork and information or it won’t be issued.

Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown said people across the state have been exploiting the bonded title system and this has lead to them becoming more difficult to issue.

Bonded titles can be obtained for a vehicle purchased from someone else in the event that no record of the title can be found.

Brown said people have been buying vehicles but not putting them in their name so they can sell them on, presumably confident that the person they sold the vehicle to can just get a bonded title.

She said there are circumstances in which bonded titles are legitimate, but the system is being manipulated and she needs people to know that if they buy a vehicle they have to get a title.

According to the Montana Department of Justice people looking for a bonded title need to have, proof of ownership i.e. a notarized bill-of-sale, cancelled check, purchase invoice etc., a Vehicle Identification Number Inspection Certificate completed by law enforcement as well as an application for bonded title including the circumstances through which they acquired ownership, disclosure of any security interests like liens, and a determination of the vehicle’s value using the National Appraisal Guide.

Brown also said, regardless of what they’re told, people can’t just sign a no-interest statement on the vehicle.

McLean said the county doesn’t have a Facebook page and she doesn’t want to make one, so she doesn’t know how they can get the word out.

She also said the commission is discussing how to address an issue related to certified mail being accepted improperly by county employees.

Hill County Attorney Karen Alley said pieces of certified mail are being signed for without a department’s knowledge or consent and recommended that the commission craft a policy spelling out the rules and educate county employees about what they are and aren’t allowed to sign for.

Alley also mentioned that there will be a large jury trial the week of Aug. 30 which has necessitated that the courthouse garage be sealed with evidence tape, as it is a trial exhibit in the case.

She said it is a felony offense to cross that tape unless otherwise authorized.

“That will be tampering with evidence and I will have no hesitation filing that,” she said.

Other Hill County officials also provided updates on their department recent activities during the meeting.

Hill County Building Manager Daryl Anez said the courthouse’s new camera system is up and running but his employees still need an opportunity to learn how to use the system which FICO will be helping them with.

Anez said they are also looking into what kind of signage they need to make sure the public is aware that the interior of the courthouse as well as the area outside is being monitored.

Hill County Sheriff Jamie Ross said outside of helping with the recent evacuation of the Zortman area due to the Pine Grove Fire, it’s been business as usual at his department.

Mosquito District Supervisor and Weed District Coordinator Terry Turner also provided an update on the West Nile Virus situation in Montana.

He said five counties, including Blaine County, have found the virus in mosquito pools and it could show up in Hill County before long.

“We get a good east wind, it could be here,” he said.

On the weed side of things, he said the district has removed some phragmites in Blaine County, and has been helping Rocky Boy deal with a spotted knapweed infestation with bio-control agents they recently acquired.

Turner also asked the commissioners if any progress had been made on setting up county credit cards, but McLean said that issue fell by the wayside this month so she didn’t have an update.

She also introduced the group to the county’s new superintendent of schools, Vicky Proctor, saying she’ll be a fun person to have around.

Proctor said she’s working on elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund plans with a few schools in the area.

She thanked everyone at the meeting for their time and patience with the newest addition to the group.

McLean also made a request to county officials that they not bring up issues not on the agenda at the public comment section during the commission’s business meetings.

She said in the last few weeks the commissioners been questioned publicly about issues they don’t have background information on and if officials want to talk about an issue they should set up a meeting or get it on the agenda.