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Committee Hears Support for Governor’s Appointees to Board of Water Well Contractors
Summary
Senate Natural Resources held a hearing on Senate Resolution 43 to consider three governor-appointed members to the Board of Water Well Contractors; proponents described the nominees' experience and the board’s licensing role. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing.
Senate Natural Resources opened a hearing on Senate Resolution 43 to consider the governor’s appointments to the Board of Water Well Contractors. Sponsor Senator Wiley Galt of Central Montana introduced the nominees and yielded to proponents.
The governor’s office representative, Hannah Slusser, said the board ‘‘is responsible for licensing water well drillers and contractors and enforcing water well construction standards.’’ Thomas Palin, program manager for the board of water well contractors, told the committee the board is ‘‘for the protection of the public and for the conservation of underground water resources’’ and that the governor-appointed contractor seats must meet residency and non‑affiliation requirements. Palin told the committee the board currently oversees a combination of 251 licensed water well contractors.
Proponents introduced the three nominees: Ronald L. Askin (owner, Ronald L. Askin Drilling and A and A Well Service LLC, Miles City), a third‑generation driller first licensed in 1992 and board chair; a Mr. Eslinger (owner, Eslinger Drilling and Pump Service, Corvallis); and Dan O’Keefe (O’Keefe Drilling Company). Rhonda Wiggers, representing the Montana Water Well Drillers Association, said the nominees are active association members, take interns through the licensing process, and ‘‘have done a great job on the board of water well contractors.’’
No opponents or informational witnesses appeared. The sponsor closed by thanking the nominees for their service and the committee closed the hearing; no confirmation vote or committee action was recorded in the transcript.
Because the hearing did not include a committee vote, committee members asked no substantive questions beyond procedure. The record shows proponents emphasised experience and geographic diversity among the contractor appointees.
The committee moved on to other bills after closing the SR 43 hearing.
