Commission sets public meeting on zoning change for ag chemical store

The Hill County Commission during its business meeting Thursday set a date for a public hearing on a proposed zoning change for a new location for selling agricultural chemicals.

The commission set a hearing for 9 a.m. July 13 in the Commission Office in the Hill County Courthouse about Mountain View Co-op’s request to change some land just east of Havre and south of U.S. Highway 2 from agricultural to commercial zoning.

Commissioner Mark Peterson said representatives of the company told the commission they want to erect a new building from which to base their agricultural chemical sales and application business in Havre.

The co-op bought the agronomy business Taylor Aviation that was based in Havre and Fort Benton, and the new facility would house their Havre operations.

The business now is operating out of the former Hi-Line Dodge location on U.S. Highway 2 West, Peterson said.

The cooperative has said it and Taylor Aviation are working on transitioning Taylor Aviation’s aerial application business to Mountain View Co-op.

The commission also set a date for a public hearing on a zoning request change in North Havre requested by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

FWP requested a change from agricultural to residential for a location on River Road just off of Fifth Street North where it proposes moving its Havre office.

The commission set the public hearing 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 13, in the Commission Office.

Peterson also read a letter from Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation saying the county was approved for funds from the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program for work on the tailwaters of Beaver Creek Dam just south of Havre.

Peterson said the county has seen erosion downstream from the dam and the funds will be used for stabilization work.

“This should be one of the final projects on Beaver Creek Dam,” he said.

The commission also tabled two items that have been on its weekly agenda for some time because the preparatory work was not all completed.

One was a renewal of a lease by Tilleman Motor Co. for a location on the industrial park west of town for its ag equipment dealership. Peterson said the Hill County Attorney is reviewing the lease but the review is not completed.

Commissioner Jake Strissel moved to table the item until the review is complete and the commission unanimously approved the motion.

The commission also tabled approval of a memorandum of understanding between the county and Havre Trails because the memorandum was not yet filed with the Hill County Clerk and Recorder.

“Hopefully, we can get this soon.” Strissel said.

Peterson also presented a list of employee notices, including a series of part-time hires for seasonal work at Beaver Creek Park, the county mosquito and weed districts and the Unified Disposal Board.

Many of the hires were for the sixth through eighth consecutive year.

“It’s kind of nice to see these people coming back year after year,” Peterson said.