County road department seeking permanent mill levy to fund operations

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By Dean Rhyneer

The Townsend Star

Last week we reported that the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office was asking for a permanent mill levy to fund their operational expenses. Well, they are not the only ones. The county road department has come to the conclusion that they need additional funding as well. On March 3rd, the Broadwater County Commissioners approved a resolution that will include both of these decisions on the June 3rd ballot.
Much like the sheriff’s office, the county road department feels it is in great need of additional funding to properly do their job, and the only place to currently find that money is from local tax payers. According to the resolution, the funds would be used mainly for, but not limited to, operating supplies, personnel costs and equipment replacement. It points out that Broadwater County currently has 759 miles of road and only three equipment operators and three graders, going on to state that it would be in the best interest of the public and the county to approve additional funding, via a mill levy, so that “maintenance can be performed in a more timely and efficient manner.”
Broadwater County Road and Bridge Operations Manager Dana Rauser said, “We simply need more money, with fuel prices going up and an increasing demand from the public to be everywhere at the same time.” He went on to explain that the road department has not asked for an increase in mill levies to fund their operations in the past twenty years. “It’s just that time again that the growth of the county has exceeded our current budget,” stated Rauser.
Rauser’s request to the commissioners for the mill levy explained that the additional funds would allow the ability to purchase more crushed gravel to be on hand at more areas around the county, making maintenance more efficient.

According to the request, crushed gravel costs $9.60-$10.25 per yard or $6.50 per yard to have it crushed by a contractor. He also is proposing to build up many of the local roads to make them easier to maintain on a regular basis, but this wouldrequire additional help, equipment and supplies. The request explains how the purchase and use of more dust control solution would cut back on mechanical maintenance of many of the more highly traveled roads. The magnesium chloride solution used for this costs $3,100 for a load that will cover approximately two miles of road, according to Rauser. Also outlined in the request is a list of the department’s equipment and an explanation of how much of it is aging and will soon need major work or be replaced. Rauser’s estimates are that each piece of equipment would cost between $214,000 and $268,000 to replace. How the hiring of an additional operator would make the department more efficient was also included in the request. He explains how the road department would then be able to plan, schedule and perform more preventative maintenance “instead of the current situation of reacting to degraded road conditions.
If approved, the proposed mill levy would generate 12 additional mills, raising approximately $114,400 per year for the county road department. Costs to the tax payer would amount to about $36.12 in real property taxes annually on a property valued at $100,000 and about $72.24 per year on a property valued at $200,000. This is based on the current mill value of $9,533.352.
So voters will have to decide on June 3rd if they are willing to pay for this additional tax, as well as the 11.12 mill increase proposed for the sheriff’s department. The two proposed mill levies, if both were to be approved, would increase taxes on a $100,000 property by approximately $69.59 per year and about $139.18 on a property valued at $200,000. Perhaps a heavy burden to many, but will the approximately $200,000 increase in funding for the two departments be worth it? Is it worth it to make Broadwater County a safer and smoother place to live? Make your opinion known by voting on the issue on June 3rd.

By Carla Stewart & Lisa Larson

The crowd went wild as Casey Fitzsimmons entered the building. You would have thought we were in Ford Field in Detroit, but, instead we were in the Townsend High School Gym with students from kindergarten to 5th grade. Those kids were so very excited about the fact that a professional football player was going to be talking to them; the excitement was difficult to contain.
Casey is a Montana native. He was raised in Wolf Point and later moved and graduated from Chester High School. He was recruited to play college football at Carroll College. Casey was on the first Carroll team to win the NAIA title. Casey was later recruited to play for the NFL and has been in the NFL for six years.
Casey spoke to the crowd of students about how he has learned to live his life and he shared those ideas with our students. He spoke about the idea that not everyone can be a leader, but if you choose to be a follower you need to know who the “driver is in the car you are choosing to follow.” Also, Casey pointed out that we all have failures in our lives, but we need to learn from those failures and move on to making ourselves better and to never give up. Casey spoke about the importance of setting goals in your life and “putting your name” on your actions. The bumps in the road are opportunities to reassess your goals and turn failures into successes. These ideas go along quite well with the teachings of the MBI team and staff at Townsend Elementary.
The MBI Team and staff at Townsend Elementary are focusing their attention on the 8 Keys of Excellence for our behavior skills this year. These 8 keys can guide us from childhood on into our adult lives. These skills each have a sign and a message for the students to remember how to “live their lives above the line.”
The 8 Keys of Excellence
Integrity- Is the state of authenticity when our values and actions are aligned. Integrity happens when what we value is evident in our actions.
Failure Leads to Success- Feedback from failures provides the information we need to learn so we can succeed.
Speak with Good Purpose- Speaking in a positive manner. Being responsible for honest and direct communication and focusing on truth-telling, and maintaining integrity.

Casey Fitzsimmons takes time out to sign autographs for local students

This is it- The commitment to focus our attention on the present moment and the willingness to make whatever we are doing most important.
Commitment- Is the ability to follow our vision without wavering; staying true to the course.
Ownership- Is the quality of accountability and responsibility. The ability to be counted upon and the willingness to take responsibility for the choices we make.
Flexibility- The willingness to change what we are doing to achieve the outcome we desire. Flexibility allows us to choose the best option to accomplish the outcome.
Balance- Balance is our personal “bank account” of meaning and fulfillment within our life. To stay in balance we must make the choices that give the greatest meaning to us.
It was an absolute pleasure and an honor for our students to experience someone of such talent and down to earth personality. The students were a buzz the rest of the week about Casey Fitzsimmons and how we all should lead our lives” above the line.”
We would like to thank the MBI team and Chuck and Vicki Harvey for making this assembly possible.

Broadwater County residents will soon be asked to put on their collective thinking caps and respond to a county-wide survey regarding current and future recreation opportunities and facilities in the county. The survey, developed by the Broadwater Parks and Recreation Council and Upland Montana Consulting , will be mailed to all Broadwater County boxholders and mailing addresses the week of March 10th.
The survey was developed to update information from residents about their current recreation activities and desires for additional future activities and facilities. This information is needed to plan for the growth of these activities as the population of Broadwater County grows, and to successfully compete for grants and funds for recreation projects. Residents’ level of interest in supporting additional facilities will also be queried through the survey.
All survey respondents who choose to will have their name entered into a drawing to receive a $100 gift certificate for Bob’s Thriftway in Townsend. Surveys can be mailed in or dropped off in survey boxes located at Copy Cup, Townsend Community Library, Betsy’s Kitchen and the Townsend City Office. Surveys are asked to be returned by Friday, March 28th. Results of the surveys will be tabulated and presented publicly in April.
The survey is a cooperative venture sponsored by the Broadwater Trust Board, Broadwater Community Foundation, Broadwater County Development Corporation, Townsend Schools and the Forest Service. For more information, contact Tonya Wyse at 949-3710 or Beth Ihle at 439-0453.