County officials discuss staffing, ARPA and elections

Hill County Officials provided a number of updates on their recent activities at a meeting Tuesday, including the ongoing search for more staff, work on American Rescue Plan Act funded projects and the upcoming elections.

Hill County Sheriff Jamie Ross said they are down to four full-time employees at the Hill County Detention Center and they’ve had to pull deputies off the street to fill the gaps.

Ross said crime is rising and they are responding to calls as best they can.

“We’re just trying to keep our heads above water,‚” he said.

Lexis Dixion of the Hill County Clerk and Recorder’s office said her office is working on preparations for the election, and said they still have one more training for election judges, who, she reminded people, cannot be directly related to anyone running.

The Hill County Commissioners were also at the meeting and discussed ongoing projects funded by ARPA funds.

Commissioner Mark Peterson said work on Lift Station 21 should be done this fall, but they are still waiting on parts for Lift Station 29 and 30 so that probably won’t be done until next year.

Peterson also said meters to measure water level, inflow and outflow at First Lake on Beaver Creek Park being installed, data from which will be accessible on the internet.

He also said an inspection of the Milk River Levee by the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers is scheduled for next week.

Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown also reminded everyone at the county to properly document their use of ARPA and CARES Act funds to they don’t end up being haunted by it years later when the federal government asks for proof of how they used it.

Commissioner Diane McLean also reminded everyone that the county is still in Stage 1 fire restrictions, and there are cattle on the park so drivers should be careful.

Commissioner Jake Strissel said the commission is also interviewing and receiving applications for the position of Hill County Council on Aging Director.

Strissel said they have an interim director in Marci Bergren but they are getting people interested i,n the permanent position.

He also talked about a Preliminary Architectural Report being drawn up on the Rudyard Senior Center which will give them a better idea of whether the building is repairable.

Montana State University Hill County Extension also provided an update on their activities at the meeting, with Agent Kati Purkett saying that their Year End Celebration is set for Oct. 2, and will feature all their yearly awards.

Purkett said they’re also hosting a pumpkin carving class Oct. 14 and a class on making gift jars Dec. 1.

She said they’re also holding an estate planning class in November.

Extension Agent Colleen Pegar said she is working on setting up a workshop at Stone Child College on beef production.

Officials also discussed a number of internal issues at the meeting including potentially creating a more defined policy on how employees are contacted in the event of an emergency like heavy snowfall or power outage.

McLean said this may be a subject they have to talk about in more detail later, for the sake of drawing up a policy.

McLean also asked Hill County employees to participate in their Personal Identifiable Information training, which will improve data security, which she said is important especially in the wake of the recent Suffolk County cyber attack in New York which saw personal data leaked online in an attempt at extortion.

“Please do it for the good of our county,‚” she said.

She also said there will be no business meeting next week as the commissioners will be in Billings for a Montana Association of Counties Conference.

McLean also reminded everyone that Hill County Commission Executive Assistant Sheri Williams needs minutes from the county’s boards and they need to get those to her.