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Broadwater County approves purchase of two used snowplows and details winter road priorities
Summary
Commissioners approved buying two used snowplows from Lewis and Clark County for $50,000 and heard updates from Public Works on road weight restrictions, plowing priorities and flood preparations.
Broadwater County commissioners voted Feb. 19 to buy two used snowplows from Lewis and Clark County for $50,000, and heard a public-works update urging residents to be patient as crews address widespread winter damage.
The purchase — two frame-mounted plows priced at $25,000 each — was approved with $25,000 proposed from the county's road CIP and $25,000 from PILT funds. The motion passed unanimously after a short discussion on staffing and timing.
The vote came during a longer update by TJ Gravely, Broadwater County public works director, who also reminded residents that the county’s annual weight restrictions begin March 15. Gravely described severe storm damage across the county and that crews have been working “nonstop early morning, late night,” and warned that county crews will not pull vehicles out for motorists: “We are not a towing service,” he said. He asked residents not to plow snow into county roads and to push snow into ditches or drainage.
Gravely said the two plows are frame-mounted, which allows them to be used on gravel county roads without damaging equipment. He told commissioners the plows could be in service quickly if Lewis and Clark County releases them, and that they would be prioritized for bus routes, mail routes and problem blacktop areas such as the 3 Forks milling project.
Commissioners and staff also discussed local flood risk as warming weather approaches. Gravely said the river was developing ice jams and that Centerville and Crow Creek Valley could see minor flooding, noting some roads were raised after 2018 mitigation work. The meeting covered communications tools as well; the county has enabled two-way messaging through TextMyGov (referred to as BC Notify), which staff said will be used for road-closure and flood notices once response procedures are in place.
Ending: The commission approved the purchase and staff said they will continue daily operations to clear prioritized routes and post closures via the county website and TextMyGov when necessary.
