Commissioners Research Purchasing Armory
Roosevelt County commissioners are hopeful that the National Guard Armory will continue to be an asset for the county once it closes sometime this fall.
Commissioner Gordon Oelkers was recently in Helena to testify on three bills. During his time there, Oelkers had the opportunity to visit with Adjutant Gen. J. Peter Hronek.
Roosevelt County will have first refusal to purchase the property for a fair market value. Oelkers said Gov. Gianforte has expressed that onetime dollars might be available to help the county purchase the armory.
Oelkers explained that the shop with three bays would be ideal for Culbertson’s fire department. The armory could be utilized for county and fair activities. Another area is a possible spot for storage or for the weed district.
The county owns the land where the armory sits.
When the Montana National Guard announced the decision in June of 2024 of its plan to close the site in Culbertson, it noted that soldiers who are part of Detachment 1, 260th Engineer Company in Culbertson will consolidate with the rest of the unit and attend drills in Miles City or Billings.
“I want to assure the citizens of Culbertson that we remain ready to assist all communities across Montana if called upon, even those without an armory,” Hronek said at that time. “I thank you for the incredible relationship that we have built with Culbertson since 1980 and look forward to continuing to work with this great community to foster recruiting opportunities and keep a strong National Guard across the state.”
