City-County News in Brief

The Board of Valley County Commissioners approved the granting of $60,000 towards the repair of Skylark Road at its Sept. 16 meeting. The motion passed unanimously — though Committee Chairman Bruce Peterson expressed concern as to the source of the funding before casting his vote. 

“We should request a $5,000 loan from the golf committee,” he joked.

“So long as you don’t schedule the repairs during the playoffs, that should be fine,” replied KLTZ’s Stan Ozark, grinning.

In times of tightened purse strings, some find solace in keeping things light. The roadwork which will result from the amiable men’s decision, however, will be anything but.

“You’ve gotta grind the blacktop down, shape it, pour gravel on top, then seal it over with calcium chloride,” said Commissioner Dave Reinhardt. 

The road must be recoated once a year. The tentative plan is to commence the project sometime before winter swoops in and hijacks the process.

Also approved was a plan to cut the county vehicle fleet from five cars to four.

Later that day, City Accountant (Treasurer) Stacy Amundson prepped the Glasgow Budgetary Committee on the 2015-16 fiscal year’s preliminary budget. All departments were asked to cut 10 percent from their estimates prior to her calculations. Amundson estimates a total of $250,000 was sliced from the general fund’s proposed expenditures.

The final vote on the budget’s approval will be held at the Oct. 5. The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m .; Glasgow residents are encouraged to attend.

The council also approved hourly raises of 50 cents and a $28 increase in health insurance coverage for both the Police Department and non-bargaining city employees.

Sept. 21’s City Council meeting saw the board approve the extending of the inter-local agreement between the city and Valley County concerning the upkeep of the library. The deal is for five years.

Councilman Rod Karst and councilwoman Melanie Sorensen were appointed to the review committee for the Levee RFPS.

Mayor Becky Erickson announced that the Levee Safety Committee met with the DNRC, DEQ, and DOC to discuss the ongoing bidding process for a federal resiliency grant. Montana is one of twenty-four states still in the running to receive a grant, and Glasgow is one of seven communities in Montana which would receive funds. Director of Public Works Robert Kompel added to Erickson’s comments in calling attention to a Levee meeting with the DNRC and DES scheduled for Oct. 4 at the Cottonwood Inn. The meeting will commence at 6:30 p.m. and last for two hours.

Police Chief Bruce Barstad made known his desire for the council to set a minimum bid on the department’s old Ford Crown Vic, formerly its trauma car, and a decommissioned Chevy Blazer. Barstad also noted that Border Crime Control will conduct an on-site visit to GPD.

Policeman Tyler Edwards and policewoman Renee Jones will serve as instructors at a Montana Border Control training conference in Missoula.

Karl Krause of the Street Department updated the assembly on the construction of Candy Cane Park. He noted that the fence is up, and seed will soon be sown into the park’s tilled soil.