Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor:

I read with interest an article in your paper detailing actions taken by the Roosevelt County Attorney Frank Piocos in the matter of gravel purchases that appear to have a direct benefit to County Commissioner Duane Nygaard. The deception began in 2015, and has continued resulting in payments of over $100,000.

The Montana Constitution and the MCA’s (Montana Code Annotated) provide rules and laws governing how citizens and especially elected officials may operate. The Montana Constitution provides for public input on all matters of importance to citizens. This was bypassed when the commissioners voted to give themselves and other county employees a stipend without any prior notice to the public. The county attorney took no action when he was advised of the breach of the Constitution, not even a letter of reprimand.

There are many MCA’s that deal with the actions of elected officials. One is MCA 7-5-2106 which is under Conduct of County Government titled Control of Conflict of interest states: No member of the board must be directly or indirectly interested: 1. In any property purchased for the use of the county; 2. In any purchase or sale of property belonging to the county: or 3. In any contract made by the board or other person on behalf of the county for the erection of public buildings, the opening or improvement of roads, the building of bridges, or the purchasing of supplies or for any other purpose.

There is a document signed by the County Road Foreman, Sept. 16, 2015, to purchase gravel from the property owned by Commissioner Nygaard’s children.

There is an item on each county commissioners meeting agenda that asks if there is any conflict of interest. As far as can be determined, Commissioner Nygaard never commented on his interest when approving payments for gravel from what is now called Nygaard pit.

If there had been only one payment made and approved by Commissioner Nygaard it may be overlooked, however, when a two-term commissioner continued to approve payments that directly or indirectly benefited him this clearly is a violation of MCA 7-5-2106.

On July 19, 2021, the County Road Foreman submitted a claim in the amount of $79,750, just under the $80,000 threshold for competitive bidding, to be paid to Century Companies for gravel. It is believed that his material came from the Nygaard Pit. If in fact it came from the Nygaard Pit, this purchase would indirectly benefit Commissioner Nygaard.

The filing of documents and gravel purchases appear to be processed to keep them hidden as much as possible so it was difficult to know what was going on. I don’t remember how County Attorney Piocos determined that the statues of limitation have run out. I am not an attorney, but I don’t think there is a time limit for action when a public official uses his elected position for his own benefit.

Debbie Matejovsky ***

Dear Editor: On Monday, Jan. 24, a pack of dogs came into our yard and killed our dog Bently. There were eight dogs in the pack.

Bently was an unsuspecting, good natured yellow lab, not quite 3 years old. He loved to play ball and go for rides with Jim in his pick-up.

Jim hadn’t seen the dogs in the yard when he let Bently out but when he was ready to go to town, he called Bently. Bently didn’t come which was unusual, so Jim decided to go look for him. He didn’t know Bently was lying by our gate, dead.

In the meantime, our little black lab, Sadie, jumped out of the pick-up and ran across the yard. The pack intercepted her by the root cellar, not 100 yards from the house. Luckily, Jim was outside when Sadie was attacked. He was able to get Sadie within minutes but not before she was severely injured. She has been at the veterinarians clinic in Sidney all week. Hopefully, we will be able to bring her home today, Jan. 31. She will still need a lot of care.

I miss Bently. I miss the exuberant greeting I got every day when I came home from work. I miss having balls dropped at my feet when I walk across the yard or in my lap when I set down in my easy chair. Bently’s not so subtle invite to play ball.

I am thankful Sadie is going to live.

I am writing this to remind my many dog loving friends that owning a dog is very gratifying but it is also a responsibility.

And, I am wondering if it will take a child getting mauled or murdered by a pack of vicious dogs before the authorities take the problem of unattended dogs forming packs and running loose seriously.

Sincerely, Margie Shanks