Commissioners Will Discuss Agreement With Wolf Point
Wolf Point Mayor Chris Dschaak’s meeting with Roosevelt County commissioners regarding a memoriam of understanding got off to a rocky start, but the parties agreed to schedule work sessions to work on a possible agreement.
The issue regards the county and city working together on the issue of dilapidated tax-deed properties.
The MOU states that the city and county would work together to clean up one lot a month. The city would waive all landfill costs associated with the clean-up of said lots as part of the agreement and provide a minimum of two city employees, two small dump trucks, one skidsteer and one backhoe. The county would provide all gravel for reclamation of lots containing basements or needing backfill. The county would also provide a minimum of three county employees, two large dump trucks and a trackhoe.
Dschaak originally discussed the proposal with commissioners during a meeting in late May. At that time, commissioners told Dschaak and deputy county attorney Thomas Bleicher to work on developing a proposal.
Dschaak said Wolf Point’s city council unanimously approved the MOU during its meeting on Monday, July 17.
At the county meeting on Tuesday, July 18, Commissioner Robert Toavs made a motion to approve the MOU.
“I won’t second it,” Commissioner Gary Macdonald responded. He said the MOU was supposed to be discussed between parties before going on the agenda.
Dschaak expressed frustration because he felt he was following the commissioners’ instructions. He also felt that some commissioners didn’t have an open mind to the proposal.
“You’re wrong. We’re not totally against it,” Macdonald said. “There are some things we don’t agree with.”
During the meeting in May, Macdonald explained that rural taxpayers pay for a separate mill levy for county road repairs. He said there have been complaints in the past when county employees performed work within city limits.
Dschaak said that he doesn’t feel the county will receive complaints. He feels the main complaints in the past came when employees used the equipment for private work.
“It’s not just for Wolf Point. We’re just the first ones to come with a MOU,” Dschaak said.
He added that the county would re-coup the money on the sale of the properties.
Commissioner Gordon Oelkers suggested that three or four work sessions take place before the item is placed on the agenda.
Oelkers said the MOU needs to be good for all the cities and the entire county.
The first work session was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25.
A motion to table the item and conduct the work session passed unanimously.
