Commissioners Approve Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
The Roosevelt County Commissioners held their regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11, in the commissioners’ office in Wolf Point.
The commissioners approved moving the county into Stage 1 fire restrictions. According to Roosevelt County fire warden Mike Olson, Stage 1 means that camp fires and other fires are prohibited except in approved recreation sites. Liquid petroleum and propane (stoves that can be turned on and off are allowed. Smoking is prohibited outside vehicles, building and developed recreation sites, unless you are in a 3- foot diameter area clear of all burnable vegetation and materials.
No burn permits will be issued during this time.
Persons may have a backyard fire on their own property as long as the fire size does not exceed a maximum size of 36” in diameter and is in a fire ring. Anyone starting or maintaining a backyard fire is responsible for any damages or costs associated with the fire if it leaves their property.
Commissioner Gordon Oelkers gave an update on improvements to a rail crossing on County Road 1013. Oelkers said the county met with representatives from BNSF and the Montana Department of Transportation met to discuss improvements to the dangerous crossing. He said changes to the culvert under the crossing will need to go through the easement approval process, which he said may be expedited.
He added that MDOT approved the site for crossing arms and lights, which will be paid for with federal safety dollars. Oelkers said the improvements may be completed simultaneously, but could not provide a timeline at this stage in the easement approval process.
Claims for July 22 were approved in the amount of $148,644.58. Claims for August 6 were approved in the amount of $136,112.44.
Annual pay raises were approved for detention center employees Keelia Brock and Elise Akers, as well as road department employee Ed Kalal. Library employee Silva Pronto was approved for a six-month pay raise.
An agenda item for approval of bids for concrete work on the courthouse was tabled for further discussion.
