Roosevelt County commissioners readvertise fence bid, later approve Badlands Fencing for fairgrounds

Commissioners debated whether to approve a new perimeter fence for the Roosevelt County fairgrounds after Fair Board members said the existing fence was falling down and recent vandalism and a past missing-child incident raised safety concerns. At the July 2 meeting, Presiding Officer Gordon Oelkers said he was concerned about approving $35,000 in fence work without recent competitive bids and asked whether the planned fence could conflict with a possible future transfer of a National Guard building into county use. Fair Board member Keith Nordlund said the proposal is for chain-link fencing that can be moved if necessary, that the fence would square off the current angled boundary and allow gates to be secured, and that ‘‘the fence is falling down and this new one is 6 feet tall’’ to improve safety and venue rental prospects.

After discussion on July 2 the board denied approval of the Montana Fence invoice and voted to readvertise the project; Angela Miller, Fair Director, was directed to re-advertise. At the July 23 meeting, following a re-bid, the board approved Badlands Fencing’s proposal of $35,500 plus up to $3,000 in additional materials or scope for a total not to exceed $38,700 (motion by Commissioner Robert Toavs; seconded by Commissioner Gary Macdonald; passed). The approval was framed as a security and venue-improvement measure; commissioners and fair staff said they want the fence movable if facility plans change.