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Broadwater County approves business‑assessment fee schedule for Solid Waste District No. 1
Summary
After an eight‑month review by the Solid Waste Advisory Board, the Broadwater County Commission adopted amendments to the Solid Waste District No. 1 business assessment fee schedule May 28, 2025; the resolution affects all parcels in the county solid waste district and includes an appeal process.
The Broadwater County Commission on May 28 adopted a resolution implementing a business‑assessment fee schedule for Broadwater County Solid Waste District No. 1 following a public hearing in Townsend.
Public works director TJ Gravely, who presented the proposal, said the Solid Waste Advisory Board has worked roughly eight months to classify businesses and clarify how assessments are calculated so that businesses pay a consistent share. “They’re trying to classify and clarify the business assessments as far as how many assessments each one will get,” Gravely said.
The adopted resolution, which Gravely read aloud at the hearing, cites Montana Code Annotated provisions governing a solid waste district fee for service and a required public hearing. The resolution states it affects all parcels within Broadwater County Solid Waste District No. 1 and records that the commission considered written and oral comments submitted by the hearing deadline of May 28, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Gravely told commissioners the advisory board removed a sentence from the fee schedule that had defined a business by enterprise activity and number of parcels; staff and board members said they will continue to refine categories and incorporate input from other counties’ policies. Gravely also noted operational distinctions: the jail and sheriff’s office were assigned different unit counts in the schedule — the sheriff’s office is listed as one unit and the jail as three units — and the jail generates revenue through a contract to house inmates.
Commissioner comments emphasized that solid waste is operated as an enterprise fund and must fund itself through fees rather than general fund transfers. Gravely also asked residents to direct questions to the public works department rather than social media: “Please contact me and not social media,” he said.
A motion to adopt the Solid Waste District No. 1 business assessment fee schedule and associated resolution was moved and seconded; commissioners voted by voice and the motion passed. The resolution states the board considered all comments and adopts the recommended amendments; the adopted schedule and policies were attached to the resolution for implementation.
