Commissioners Discuss Road, Crossing Improvements; Minor Subdivision Plans Approved

The Roosevelt County Commissioners held their regular meeting Tuesday, June 2. Commissioners Gordon Oelkers, Duane Nygaard and Gary Macdonald were present. Attendance via conference call was optional.

Oelkers gave an update about changes to County Road 1013, where another individual died recently crossing the main BNSF rail line. Two local men were killed at the same crossing in August 2019.

Said Oelkers, “Our area communities have lost three lives in less than a year at this railroad crossing. Last fall, the county voted to replace the old bridge with a culvert and widen the road to 28 feet using bridge and road safety funds. This culvert project is bid out and once we receive all the BNSF permits, work will start this summer. [...] After the county has a 24-foot plus approach to the 1013 railroad crossing, Montana Department of Transportation district administrator Shane Mintz stated a study will be done as a first step to get federal safety funds to place lights and arms at the crossing. This has been a process that seems slow, but we are looking forward to next summer when we can place lights and arms on the dangerous crossing.”

County planner Casey Burke discussed a minor subdivision to be located one mile east of Bainville. The commissioners approved the subdivision unanimously.

Dallas O’Connor was reappointed as trustee for hospital districts 1 and 9. Jim Albertson was reappointed as trustee for hospital districts 3 and 45.

Jessie Delisle resigned from 911 dispatch.

The mosquito board made a request to purchase a vehicle from High Plains Motors in the amount of $31,584. The request was approved.

Claims were accepted for May 21 in the amount of $81,192.72.

John Orr was discussed for hire with the road department. The subject was tabled for further discussion.

Angelica Sutton was approved for hire with the Wolf Point Museum. Randy Pautsch and Heather Boysun were approved for hire as mosquito sprayers.

A promotional raise was approved for detention center employee Tyler Sterling and an annual pay raise was approved for road department employee Rex Jensen.

The commissioners approved minutes for the regular May 19 meeting and special administrative meetings May 26 and 27.