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Belgrade city manager reports on EMS district talks, $20M water bond, parks hire and DNRC wetlands submittal
Summary
City Manager Neil Cardwell updated the council on a regional EMS delivery board kickoff and options for district formation, announced Jordan Green as parks director (start ~Dec. 1), reported a $20,000,000 water bond issuance with an investment-grade S&P rating, and said an 80-acre park/wetlands concept was submitted to DNRC for feedback.
City Manager Neil Cardwell updated the Belgrade City Council on several staff initiatives, including regional EMS governance discussions, a parks director hire, a major water financing step and a parks/wetlands concept submitted to state review.
On EMS governance, Cardwell said he attended a county-hosted kickoff meeting for a proposed Gallatin Valley EMS delivery board with possible participation from Madison, Jefferson and Broadwater counties; participants included cities and several fire districts. He said the group will draft an interlocal agreement and bylaws to define the board's authority and membership and that Belgrade's position is that any district that results should go to the voters if an assessment is contemplated. Cardwell explained two formation paths discussed: creating the district administratively (which would include a 10-year sunset) or taking the proposal to voters initially (which would avoid the sunset).
Personnel: Cardwell announced the hiring of Jordan Green (currently city administrator in Deer Lodge) as the new Parks, Trails and Recreation Director, with an expected start date around Dec. 1. He said the recruitment drew over 100 applicants nationwide and that Green's municipal administration experience and grant familiarity made him a strong pick.
Financing: Cardwell said the city will issue a $20,000,000 initial outlay in bonds for a water storage tank project and associated wells. He reported the city received an investment-grade rating from S&P and procured bond insurance and said bond-pricing meetings are scheduled in mid-November with council action to follow (packet return to council anticipated Nov. 17). "We will be issuing a $20,000,000 initial outlay in bonds for the water project that's forthcoming," Cardwell said.
Land/parks: Cardwell reported the city submitted a very preliminary design to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for feedback on an 80-acre parcel envisioned as a community master park with a wetlands component. He said inclusion of a wetlands component could allow partial funding from the wastewater fund and lessen parks-division funding requirements, but that appraisals and further DNRC feedback are pending.
Why it matters: The EMS discussions could reshape regional emergency services governance and funding; the water bonds support a major infrastructure project; the parks hire and DNRC submission affect local recreation and long-term land planning.
What comes next: Staff will draft interlocal-agreement language for the EMS board, Jordan Green is expected to start in late 2025, bond pricing and council review are scheduled in November, and the DNRC feedback and appraisal steps will determine next steps on the 80-acre parcel.
Provenance: EMS discussion begins at SEG 266, Jordan Green hire at SEG 373, bond discussion at SEG 403, DNRC submission at SEG 443.
