Broadwater County commissioners approve MSU extension contract, road department labor deal and multiple appointments; table one land transfer

Broadwater County commissioners on a regular meeting approved the fiscal year 2026 extension services agreement with Montana State University Extension, a road department collective bargaining agreement through June 30, 2028, several board appointments and multiple claims, and tabled a family transfer exemption request for two weeks.

The approvals affect county services from agricultural extension and 4-H programming to road crews and local boards. Commissioners held a brief public discussion about expansion of extension services before voting unanimously on the contract.

Montana State University Extension agreement

Commissioners approved the FY26 extension services agreement between Montana State University Extension and Broadwater County. Nicole Brown, Broadwater County community development director, explained the contract is an annual cost split with MSU; she said the county’s contribution “on our side is 39,000” (spoken as $39,000) and that the county’s personnel-related contribution was stated in the meeting as roughly $73,183, with an additional line described as about $10,500 for an extension agent salary. The figures were presented by staff during the discussion and were described as the same amounts as the prior year.

John Ferratt, speaking as a rancher, 4-H volunteer leader and a Broadwater County resident, urged the county to consider expanding extension capacity. “4 H is the number 1 and best youth development program in the world, which is why I volunteer for such,” Ferratt said, adding that fair participation and a livestock sale this year generated heavy community involvement and local scholarship funds. Ferratt asked the commission to explore adding a second full-time extension agent to expand agricultural and youth programming; commissioners did not take a formal action on that request but approved the contract before them.

Road department collective bargaining agreement

TJ Gravely, public works director, presented the road department collective bargaining agreement and said County Attorney Bratcher and county staff had reviewed it. The agreement runs through June 30, 2028. Commissioners voted to approve the collective bargaining agreement by voice vote.

Boundary relocation and land-use items

The commission approved a boundary relocation exemption request from Gerald and Michelle Deach to move the lot line between Lots 180 and 181 in the Village at Oak Ridge approximately 8.31 feet north to increase the setback between a small outbuilding and the property line. Nicole Brown said the request was within a subdivision and that staff had provided a report; commissioners voted to approve the boundary relocation.

A separate transfer-exemption request for the Riser family (Section 15, Township 7 North Range 2 East) was not heard because the personal representative, Kathy Foote, could not attend. Brown read a written request from Foote asking that the item be tabled; commissioners agreed to return the matter to the Aug. 27 agenda.

Board appointments and hospital district

Commissioners appointed Julie Swanson to a five-year term on the Broadwater School and Community Library Board and Shelley Douthat to a three-year term on the Broadwater County Museum Board. The commission also appointed Kim Rickard Smelter to a three-year term on the hospital district board; the hospital district board currently is managing remaining funds and working with counsel on how those funds may be transferred back or used for county needs.

Claims, minutes and other routine business

The commission approved several claims batches and project payments, by unanimous voice votes, including claims of $297,600.30; $24,187.76; $14,914.25; $1,019.62; and an airport project payment of $410,566.39. Commissioners also approved minutes from July 23 and July 30.

Other items

During public comment and early business, Gravely also told the commission that one of the solid-waste business-assessment items approved by the commission and by the board would provide a property assessment exemption tied to veterans with a 100% disability rating for their primary residence; he said paperwork must be filed with the county office by Sept. 1 to reach the Department of Revenue in time for the November tax bill. Gravely clarified the exemption applies to primary residences only and not to business properties or multi-unit rental properties.

Looking ahead, the commission will revisit the Riser family transfer exemption at its Aug. 27 meeting and said staff would notify interested parties if that schedule changes. The meeting ended after a series of routine approvals and announcements about road re-openings.