County Commissioners Move Up Bridge Repairs

Roosevelt County commissioners have voted to increase the priority of the Shotgun Creek Bridge Project, located east of Bainville.

During their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18, commissioners approved to move the bridge ahead of the slab project for Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Act funding.

Commissioner Gordon Oelkers explained that the county recently received a notification from the Montana Department of Transportation that the bridge, located east of Bainville, requires immediate repairs and must be closed immediately.

Commissioners stress the bridge is closed and should not be driven on.

Interstate Engineering will develop a plan for the project. The plan should be completed around the end of the year. Spring construction is anticipated.

Oelkers said until the project is done, it will force school buses to go a different route, probably four miles longer than normal.

Also during the meeting, commissioners approved Interstate Engineering to move ahead with a task order regarding a proposed cold storage building for the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.

The task order, which will cost $7,500, will include preparing bid documents, a rough sketch of the building and doing building permits.

The 64’ by 64’ building, planned to be built across from the courthouse, will be utilized to store evidence and vehicles. The current location has been broken into several times.

Commissioners approved the rehiring of Travis Redekopp to the detention center.

The annual pay raise for dispatch employee Tristian Ward was approved.