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Petroleum County road official warns of culvert repairs, announces town hall on proposed mill levy
Summary
Road Department official Ray Rowton told commissioners flooding damaged county roads and that a large culvert on Kelly Road will need replacement; a town hall is scheduled Oct. 7, 2024 at 6 p.m. to discuss a proposed road mill levy for the November ballot.
Ray Rowton, a representative of the Petroleum County Road Department, reported to the county commissioners on Oct. 7 that heavy recent rains caused flooding that damaged Cemetery Road and Kelly Road and that temporary repairs have been made. He said the large culvert on Kelly Road will need to be replaced and that the work "will be a costly repair," though the minutes do not specify an estimate or funding source.
Rowton also summarized recent project work: the Allen Hill project has been completed with material and gravel laid, and a new culvert was installed near residents Tim and Sarah Browning. He noted delivery of planks for the Haylee Coulee FEMA project and said road crew members Jeremy and Kale are working on a FEMA project at Gilfeather Place — Lower River Road. To finish the Haylee Coulee work, Rowton said he plans to rent a skid steer for $300 per day from Tom Loomis.
Rowton reported county equipment problems that could affect road work schedules. The county Volvo is out of service and requires welding; a Kenworth truck radiator is broken and is being sent to Billings for repair. He added the county's loader has been "not running great," describing repeated stalling and idling problems. The minutes record discussion of how to modify the semi mount to try to prevent recurring failures, but they do not list a repair plan or cost estimate.
The commission recorded that Rowton announced a Town Hall meeting for Oct. 7, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for public discussion of a proposed road mill levy that will appear on the November ballot. The minutes do not include the levy rate or projected revenue; those details were not specified in the record.
The town hall offers residents an opportunity to ask questions about road conditions, repair priorities, equipment needs and funding options. The county's next formal steps on any levy—such as a final levy rate, formal resolution or budget amendment—are not recorded in these minutes.
