Culbertson Council Weighs Purchase Of Guard Building
The Culbertson Town Council began considering how to pay for the National Guard OMS Maintenance Shop during its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 14.
Roosevelt County Commissioner Gordon Oelkers reported that the property is expected to be ready for closing Dec. 18. The town may purchase the building outright or establish a five-year payment plan with Roosevelt County.
Council members plan to examine the available options again in October and make a final decision by their November meeting.
The county is purchasing the maintenance shop and readiness center, and then might sell the maintenance shop to the city.
The council also reviewed a proposal from Magnus Services LLC to amend its existing agreement with the town. The company proposed a 20-year lease with an annual payment of $10,000, along with a payment of 1.5 cents for each barrel of water removed.
Town Attorney Laura Christoffersen recommended that the town receive at least $25,000 annually through a combination of the base lease payment and per-barrel charge.
Council members discussed the recommendation with Magnus representatives and requested information showing how many barrels are currently being removed from the town’s pits. No action was taken, and the discussion is expected to continue in the coming months.
Street repairs planned through Top Gun Asphalt have been delayed because Roosevelt Medical Center did not yet have its project funding in place. Once the funding is secured, the company is expected to work on the medical center’s parking lot and the town’s street repairs during the same trip.
Top Gun Asphalt plans to complete additional work on Culbertson’s west side before beginning repairs on the east side.
In other business, the council approved the trade-in and purchase of a John Deere Gator. Members also approved trading in and purchasing two X738 tractors and mower decks.
The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office reported 37 calls for service, one arrest and seven citations. Citations included disorderly conduct, two speeding violations, two stopsign violations, failure to yield to an authorized emergency vehicle and failure to have the required tail lamps.
The clerk-treasurer reported that the town had earned $23,567.51 in interest so far this year. The town’s budget and required USDA Rural Development sewer bond reports have been submitted.
The council is also gathering estimates for new flooring. Three companies were contacted, but only one estimate had been received by the meeting. Groves of Plentywood submitted an estimate ranging from $31,000 to $33,600, depending on the type of application. The town is waiting for two additional estimates.
During public comment, Todd Gabriel provided an update on the Culbertson airport and asked how much the council wanted to spend on signs at Bruegger Park. Members discussed spending approximately $3,000 to $4,000 and whether the town should replace only the sign inserts or the entire signs. Gabriel will gather estimates for the project.
