Broadwater County approves trust grants, updated bylaws and $685,796 in claims; declines tree-watering contract

The Broadwater County Commission on April 23 approved multiple trust-board grants, updated trust-board bylaws and county claims totaling $685,796.30, and decided not to pursue a proposed $6,320 contract for tree watering at county recreation sites.

The commission approved a Broadwater County Trust Board grant of $11,550 to the Broadwater County Lions Club to help purchase an auto-fry cooker that includes an Ansul automatic fire-suppression system. Trust-board member Kim Kondalick told commissioners the full suppression-equipped unit is quoted at $16,500; the Lions Club plans a 30% match of $4,950 and requested the remainder, $11,550, from trust funds.

The commission also approved a $30,000 STOKE grant request for the McCarthy Park courts in Townsend. Project proponents said the total project cost is estimated at about $45,000, with sponsor matching funds from STOKE including $10,000 cash plus roughly $3,000 in in-kind work and additional volunteer labor and materials to reduce costs; proponents said some painting and volunteer labor will be used to lower professional bids that reached much higher amounts.

Other approvals included updated Broadwater County Trust Board bylaws (minor edits, including new language clarifying advisory members’ roles and cleanup of the signature page) and a memorandum of understanding to serve as a pass-through for a $4,000 grant to the Big Elk Divide Restoration Committee (BEDRC); the BEDRC grant term was stated as running through March 30, 2026.

The commission approved multiple claim groups by voice vote. The board approved payroll claims totaling $293,165.47; a set of claims totaling $36,427.23; another claims batch for $42,884.54; and a final set of refund checks totaling $313,319.06. Taken together, those approvals total $685,796.30. Commissioners called for the customary voice votes; the transcript…