Meadowlark Estates Water and Sewer District officially dissolved

Hill County Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to dissolve the Meadowlark Estates Water and Sewer District at the request of the state after residents of the area voted 22 to 3 to do so.

In October, Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said Meadowlark Estates, many years ago, had planned to put in a water and sewer system and applied to become a district, but later decided against creating the system, making the district inactive.

He said because the district was inactive it was not reporting anything to the state and has since racked up about $1,100 in penalties owed to the state, and the commission decided to try to dissolve the district in order to negate those penalties.

The commission originally thought it would be a simple process and that they’d be able to dissolve it with a resolution in a commission meeting, Peterson said at the time, but it had become clear that it is a more-involved process.

The commissioners tabled the resolution at that time, and earlier this month sent ballots to the people of the district to vote on whether or not to dissolve the district.

Of the 29 residents 25 returned their ballots, almost 90 percent of whom voted to dissolve.

At Thursday’s meeting the commissioners also approved a contract with Great West Engineering to initiate a inspection of the Cottonwood Bridge and draw up a preliminary report on their findings.

The commissioners said the completion of this report will allow them to apply for Coal Endowment Program funds necessary to repair the bridge.

Cottonwood Bridge is the only crossing on the Milk River north of the Fresno Dam and has multiple stringers in need of replacement. Peterson said the bridge has had an 8,000 pound weight limit all summer.

Peterson said the project will take several years to complete.

The commission also announced that it will be holding a public hearing to establish hours for the transaction of business at the Hill County Courthouse for calendar year 2022.

The hearing will be Thursday, Jan. 6, and will establish hours of operation for the courthouse from 8 to 5 on weekdays, holidays excluded.

Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said anyone interested in attending can call the courthouse or the commission for further information, and she encouraged anyone interested to attend the hearing.