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Commissioners approve cooperative purchasing MOU with Montana amid concerns over local contractor inclusion
Summary
Lincoln County approved a cooperative purchasing memorandum with the State of Montana to permit use of state-approved contractors for long-term debris removal; commissioners questioned whether local contractors would be excluded from work or reimbursement if not on state lists.
Lincoln County commissioners on Dec. 17 approved a cooperative purchasing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State of Montana to allow the county to use state-approved contractors for long-term debris removal and related recovery projects. The approval followed discussion among commissioners and staff about potential effects on local contractors.
A commissioner asked directly whether the state’s preapproved contractor list could exclude local firms from performing work or from being reimbursed for debris services. Staff responded that the county did not have full details of the state list but that local contractors generally can apply for state approval; staff cautioned that reimbursement could be affected if a contractor is not on the state list. Commissioners emphasized the county’s interest in helping local businesses participate and asked staff to provide guidance for contractors on how to become preapproved.
The MOU authorizes the county to utilize state-approved, prequalified contractors for debris removal and related procurement; staff said the agreement is intended to streamline long-term recovery contracting and to enable reimbursement pathways for eligible work. Commissioners voted to approve the MOU and instructed Emergency Management and procurement staff to obtain executed copies and to reach out to local contractors about state approval processes.
Context: the county is moving from immediate emergency response toward longer-term cleanup and recovery after storm impacts; commissioners noted piled debris in streams and potential flood hazards that require coordinated removal. No specific dollar amounts or contractor names were recorded in the meeting record.
Next steps: Emergency Management and Procurement will obtain the executed MOU, distribute it to relevant county departments, and create outreach materials explaining how local contractors can seek state approval for inclusion on procurement lists.
