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Madison County commissioners approve funding, contracts and appointments in unanimous votes
Summary
At their June 16 meeting in Virginia City, Madison County Commissioners unanimously approved the consent agenda, accepted an archaeologist bid for the courthouse project, took library parking bids under advisement, approved conditional funding for Big Sky Transportation District, and made multiple appointments and contract actions.
Virginia City, Mont. — The Madison County Commissioners acted unanimously on a slate of administrative, procurement and grant items at their June 16, 2026 regular meeting, approving a consent agenda, several contract amendments and appointments, and authorizing conditional funding for the regional transit district that serves some county commuters.
The meeting opened with Commissioners Duke W. Gilman (District 1), Ron E. Nye (District 2, chairman) and William A. Todd (District 3) present. Commissioner Gilman raised a procedural note about the Forest Service’s Greenhorn timber-harvest project, which he said is facing a preliminary injunction and asked the board to consider a letter of support at a special meeting. Commissioner Nye voiced support for timber projects that improve forest health. Finance Director Donna Avilez told the board the sheriff department’s back pay must be issued by a special check run in addition to regular payroll and said, “The finance department would prefer to have the payout completed in this fiscal year.” Commissioner Todd said the payout does not strictly have to occur during this fiscal year.
Consent agenda and procurement The board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes for June 8 and June 9, 2026, and payments from two predator-control funds (Montana Stockgrowers Association, $6,367.00; Montana Woolgrowers Association, $396.50) and a Task Order to the State Department of Public Health and Human Services master contract. Commissioner William A. Todd moved the approval; Commissioner Duke W. Gilman seconded; Commissioner Ron E. Nye voted aye; motion carried 3-0.
During a public bid opening for the Thompson–Hickman Library parking-lot project, Titan, Inc. submitted a low bid of $153,566.00 and Jackson Contractor Group, Inc. bid $308,500.00. The board found both bids met the requirements and voted to take the bids under advisement for further review.
Historic courthouse work and engineering contracts The commissioners accepted an archaeologist’s bid from Mitzi Rossillon for $24,827.50 for work on the Madison County Courthouse project. The board also approved Amendment #1 to Great West Engineering’s Professional Services Agreement; both actions passed unanimously.
River restoration and fairgrounds project Shawna Lutgen, Madison County grants manager, and Jeremiah Theys of Great West Engineering briefed the board on RRG 27-1979, a Big Hole River Restoration startup project; Theys said the RRG is a county match to a federal grant and described the grant-administration relationship with the Big Hole Watershed Committee. The board approved a documentation-extension request for the RRG grant. Theys also told the board that the Fairgrounds Event Center bid packet lacked sufficient detail and prompted contractor questions; the commissioners retroactively canceled the prior bid selection and recommended the fair board supply additional detail before reissuing a bid.
Transit funding decision Darren Brugmann of the Big Sky Transportation District asked Madison County to apportion $125,000 (about 3% of BSTD’s operating budget) to support transit services used by Madison County commuters working in Big Sky. After discussion, the board approved guaranteed funding of $80,000 and authorized up to the requested $125,000 contingent on matching funding from Gallatin County. The motion passed 3-0.
Other actions The board approved a Montana Department of Transportation land rental payment of $920 for shop-equipment parking in Ennis, and approved a donation request from the Beaverhead–Deerlodge Working Group. Commissioner Todd moved to accept the resignation of Clyde Carroll from the Twin Bridges Park District Board and to appoint Jessica Hutchingson to the Twin Bridges Park District Board and Jerry Lince to the Solid Waste Board; each action passed 3-0.
What happens next The meeting adjourned at 10:38 a.m. The commissioners scheduled their next regular meeting for Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the Public Meeting Room of the Administrative Building in Virginia City. Several items taken under advisement, including the library parking-lot bids and contract details for the Fairgrounds Event Center, will require follow-up review and formal award or rebid at a future meeting.
