Pondera County commissioners approve Conrad Airport lease, WIC contract, bridge work and bank signatory updates

PONDERA COUNTY, Mont. — The Pondera County Commission on March 19 approved a series of routine contracts and administrative actions, including a one‑year hangar lease at Conrad Airport, a county appointment to a regional opioid‑abatement governance committee, a continuation of the county’s WIC (Women, Infants and Children) services contract through Sept. 30, 2025, and an agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation to replace a bridge with culverts on Swanton Road.

The actions, taken without extended debate, also included adoption of three bank‑account resolutions for Stockman Bank signatories, approval of a $16,795 purchase quote for nine desktop computers and software, and the approval of the commission’s February minutes. Commissioners additionally reminded the public that the March 26 meeting will be canceled because commissioners will attend the Montana Association of Counties Road Supervisors conference in Great Falls.

The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance; no substantive public comments were recorded.

Conrad Airport hangar lease: The commission approved a one‑year renewal for Hangar No. 2 at Conrad Airport with tenant Dennis Slonovic. The motion to approve was made and seconded on the record; the transcript records the motion carried. The lease term was described in the meeting as one year; other contractual terms were not specified in the transcript.

Opioid abatement governance appointment: Commissioners voted to appoint Amy Shaw, identified in the meeting as a Pondera County Health Department coordinator, to represent Pondera County on the Region 2 governance committee for the Montana Opioid Abatement Trust. The motion was made and seconded and the record shows the motion carried. No term length or reporting requirements for the appointment were specified in the meeting.

WIC contract continuation: The commission approved a continuation contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) for Pondera County WIC services through Sept. 30, 2025. The county reported $66,374 for general WIC services and $13,340 for breastfeeding peer‑counselor services; the combined total given in the meeting was $79,714. Commissioners said the contract follows the federal fiscal year schedule and that the county will re‑execute a new contract in September 2025.

Bridge addendum with MDT: The commission approved a bridge addendum with the Montana Department of Transportation that gives permission to replace at least one county bridge with culverts (Swanton Road was named during discussion). The estimated cost discussed in the meeting was approximately $122,000 and the agreement term was stated as 10 years. Commissioners said the work is part of a bridge grant but did not specify the grant program by name in the transcript.

Bank resolutions and purchases: Commissioners adopted three resolutions (numbered in the meeting as 19, 20 and 21) updating signatories for Stockman Bank accounts serving the justice of the peace, the treasurer’s office and the sheriff’s office. Separately, the commission approved the purchase of nine computers, including Microsoft Office licenses and setup, at a quoted total of $16,795 to be paid from the respective departments’ equipment budgets.

Votes at a glance

- Approve Conrad Airport Hangar No. 2 lease with Dennis Slonovic — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript. - Appoint Amy Shaw, Pondera County Health Department coordinator, to Region 2 Opioid Abatement Governance Committee — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript. - Approve DPHHS WIC program services contract through Sept. 30, 2025 ($66,374 general; $13,340 breastfeeding peer counselor; total $79,714) — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript. - Approve bridge addendum with Montana Department of Transportation (Swanton Road culvert replacement; est. $122,000; 10‑year term) — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript. - Adopt Resolutions 19, 20 and 21 updating Stockman Bank signatories (justice of the peace, treasurer, sheriff’s office) — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript. - Approve purchase of nine computers and software, setup total $16,795 — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript. - Approve February minutes — motion approved; vote counts not specified in the transcript.

All formal approvals were recorded on the meeting transcript as motions that were seconded and carried; individual roll‑call vote totals were not provided in the transcript.

The meeting was adjourned after these items.