County Commissioners Respond To Questions About Property Purchase

After Wolf Point resident Bill Juve raised concerns last month regarding a property purchase, county commissioners replied to a list of questions during their meeting on Tuesday, April 19.

Regarding if the purchase of the Colgan gravel pit in January 2017, was approved at a public commissioners’ meeting, commissioner Gordon Oelkers said that commissioner Duane Nygaard stamped approval on the claim with no motion in a meeting to approve on Feb. 1, 2017. Oelkers said the abstract office was pushing for a check to close.

“That was a mess up on Duane’s part,” Oelkers said during the meeting.

Regarding who owns the mineral rights and gravel on the property, Oelkers said the county claims ownership of the property and 85 percent of the gravel. Jim Patch’s family owns the other 15 percent of the gravel.

Regarding whether the county has been selling the gravel to compete with private enterprise, Oelkers explained that when the pit was purchased, Wolf Point Sand and Gravel had an agreement to purchase gravel for five years and a three-year renewal. The commissioners had their county attorney look into not renewing the contract because the county can’t legally sell gravel. Wolf Point Sand and Gravel has an agreement that is valid through July 30, 2023. Commissioners said that they have been advised by the Montana Association of Counties to honor the contract.

Regarding why a reclamation plan hasn’t been filed, commissioners said they have a consultant working on the pit permitted reclamation.

During the meeting, Juve questioned the timing of the agreement as it seemed like it only took a day to prepare a check.

Road foreman Ken Norgaard said three or four other potential buyers were interested in the property.

“We didn’t want to lose the pit,” commissioner Gary Macdonald added. “It was too convenient for us.”

Norgaard said the county had the first option as a result on previous conversations.

“Then there was ample time,” Juve noted.

Norgaard replied, “No, there wasn’t ample time.”

Macdonald noted at least two lawyers have told commissioners that they would lose if they attempted to get out of the agreement.

Even with the current agreement in placed, the county is receiving revenue from the pit. March royalties received from the county amounted to $8,010.21.

Norgaard said the taxpayers will make money from the purchase in the long run.

Oelkers said the matter was handled incorrectly at the start.

“Lesson learned,” Macdonald said. ( Publisher’s Note: The above statements from the Roosevelt County Commissioners have not yet been independently verified for correctness by the Northern Plains Independent.)