County Commissioners Discuss Rates, Salaries

The Roosevelt County commissioners approved rates for meals and mileage during its weekly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Rates for meals during trips will be $10 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and $17 for supper. The federal mileage rate has increase to .76 cents for the first 1,000 miles and then .73 cents for each additional mile.

Salaries for county elected o_cials were o_cially set. The increase is $3,500 to each of their salaries.

The salary for the county attorney also was increased by $3,500. Commissioner Gordon Oelkers mentioned the possibility of advertising for a deputy county attorney.

Oelkers said he was one of about 10 individuals who recently toured the Culbertson Readiness Center and organizational maintenance shop, which are located in the former National Guard Armory. The county is purchasing the buildings for $1.085 million. If everything goes well, the acquisition should be finalized by Dec. 1.

The county’s plan is to transform the associated vehicle maintenance shop into a fire hall in Culbertson. The commissioners said the three large back doors would be ideal for the Culbertson Volunteer Fire Department.

“For a million dollars, it’s going to be a heck of a deal,” Oelkers said. “You can’t build something like that.”

The commissioner mentioned that the facility will also potentially provide space for other county o_ces including the fair o_ce, weed department and Disaster and Emergency Services.

“It’s going to be a great asset for Roosevelt County,” Oelkers said.

During commissioners’ reports, Oelkers talked about meetings at the National Association of Counties. He said there was a lot of discussion about data centers. “Some are in favor, some are against,” he said.

Oelkers said a lot of Montana counties, including Roosevelt, have entered into stage 1 fire restrictions.

Marcus Jackson was hired to work in the detention center.