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Park County commissioners approve transit grants, Cooke City plowing contract, road transfer and health funding
Summary
On Jan. 20, 2026 the Park County Board of Commissioners voted to submit operations and capital grant applications for Windrider Transit, approve a Cooke City snow‑plowing contract, transfer West End Road to Livingston, designate a URA representative, authorize a public health grant application, and accept a $7,200 donation for Hope Squad suicide‑prevention programming.
Park County commissioners met Tuesday and approved a series of administrative actions including two Windrider Transit grant applications, a Cooke City plowing contract, and measures to support public‑health and trails projects.
Kristen, speaking for county staff, said the Windrider Transit operations budget is about $175,000 and the county will seek roughly $138,000 from the Montana Department of Transportation while using TransAid and local reserves for the remainder. Commissioner Wells moved to submit the FY26275311 operations grant application; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Kristen also described a capital grant request to replace aging buses; the county will request about $124,000 for a 13‑passenger vehicle under the same FY26275311 program. The commission voted to submit the capital grant application as well.
In other actions, commissioners approved a one‑year contract for snow removal in Cooke City. Public Works staff noted Cooke City’s distance from county shops makes contracting preferable; the contractor, described in the meeting as Bob Smith, has plowed the area for about 10 years. The board moved and approved signing the winter 2026 plowing contract.
The commission also approved a resolution to transfer West End Road to the city of Livingston. County staff explained the transfer is a pass‑through required by state procedures and carries no cost to the county. The board signed a letter of support for the Main Boulder Trail stewardship grant after Lloyd Ruh of the Big Timber / Sweetgrass County Recreation Association reported that Citizens for Balanced Use has pledged up to $7,500 in matching funds and that the project requires a $10,000 local match.
The board designated county superintendent Lisa Rosberg as the county’s representative to the Urban Renewal Agency board following staff briefings about recent state‑law changes that entitle the county to a representative. Rosberg accepted the appointment.
On public health, staff described the next step in implementing the community health assessment: developing a community health improvement plan and applying for follow‑on grants (staff noted potential awards up to about $35,000). Commissioners approved submitting the public health system improvement grant application. Separately, the board accepted an anonymous private donation of $7,200 to fund two years of the Hope Squad peer‑to‑peer suicide‑prevention program at the high school and training for two staff mentors; staff said the program is planned to start in August 2026.
The meeting included routine quarterly budget updates from multiple departments; staff reported line‑item variances tied to a 10‑day jury trial, vaccine purchases, equipment maintenance and seasonal public‑works activity. The commission approved the minutes from Jan. 13, 2025, handled consent items, and adjourned.
The county clerk will post formal minutes and contract documents to the county website; staff will return with grant materials and planning recommendations as requested.
