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Park County approves small grants, senior‑center reimbursement and administrative items in Dec. 23 meeting
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Summary
The commission approved multiple staff‑recommended submissions and administrative items including Windrider transit and Diaper Depot grant submissions, a notice of intent for Main Boulder bridge resiliency funds, reimbursement for a senior‑center water heater, TV‑board consolidation, administrative leave after a courthouse power outage and authorization to post a 0.75 FTE accounting clerk.
Park County commissioners on Dec. 23 approved a series of staff requests and administrative items in a meeting that also included longer discussions about the county’s growth policy and health‑department staffing.
Key approvals and actions
- Windrider transit (Community Closet) grant: Staff described a grant request to buy a laptop, docking station and software for Windrider Transit; Kristen said there would be no county match. The commission voted to submit the Community Closet transportation grant for Windrider micro‑transit.
- Diaper Depot grant: Kristen said the health department had provided 525 diaper bundles this fiscal year and expects another ~600 through 6/30/2026; the commission approved submitting a grant to support the Diaper Depot program.
- Main Boulder bridges (Montana resiliency funds NOI): Staff said the county can apply for up to $500,000 and that a required match is already met through another MDT grant; the commission approved filing a notice of intent to apply.
- Shields Valley Senior Center water‑heater reimbursement: Staff reported the center replaced a failed heater in early December and requested reimbursement of an unbudgeted cost the staff estimated at about $2,000; commissioners approved reimbursement, expected to come from PILT or commission discretionary funds.
- Cooke City Water District MOU discussion: Ben Zavora (Cooke City Water District) requested reinstating and raising a longstanding resort‑tax MOU from $20,000 to $30,000 annually to help service water‑system debt and operations; commissioners asked staff to prepare an MOU for a January agenda and noted the possible impact on other resort‑tax applicants.
- TV boards consolidation: Two over‑the‑air TV district boards asked to combine into a single board overseeing both districts while preserving separate accounts and representation; commissioners approved the administrative consolidation.
- Administrative leave after courthouse power outage: The commission approved administrative leave for employees affected by the 12/17 power outage; staff said about 10 employees were impacted and thanked local contractors who provided temporary power.
- Park Cooperative Weed Management Area: The commission approved signing a letter of support and providing fiscal oversight for a ~41,000‑acre weed‑management grant with ~73% landowner participation.
- Accounting clerk hire: Finance presented a plan to post/hire a 0.75 FTE accounting clerk after adopting an AI‑based accounting system; commissioners approved posting/hiring the position.
Votes at a glance
- Windrider Community Closet grant submission — approved (voice vote) - Diaper Depot grant submission — approved (voice vote) - Notice of intent for Montana resiliency funds (Main Boulder bridges) — approved (voice vote) - Shields Valley Senior Center water‑heater reimbursement (~$2,000) — approved (voice vote) - TV‑board consolidation (administrative approval) — approved (voice vote) - Administrative leave for courthouse power outage employees — approved (voice vote) - Park Cooperative Weed Management Area fiscal oversight letter — approved (voice vote) - Post/hire 0.75 FTE accounting clerk — approved (voice vote)
Several approvals were by voice vote; the transcript does not record roll‑call tallies. The commission accepted meeting minutes for Dec. 16, 2025 and adjourned the session.
