Connect With Your Community!
Connect With Your Community!
During last week's meeting at the Headwaters Livestock Auction, the Broadwater County Commissioners revisited the possibility of a Southern Emergency Response Center on two acres of donated land in the Wheatland Targeted Economic Development District on the east side of U.S. 287.
The proposed facility was initially brought to the attention of area residents at public meetings in May and August 2023. Following the August meeting, a Preliminary Architecture Report was sent to the Montana Department of Commerce for the possible response center that would house the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue, Fire, Ambulance, and Emergency Response and Community Rooms.
During the October 2, 2024, meeting, Scott Cromwell of Slate Architecture estimated that the cost for a proposed 16,320-square-foot facility with inflation added would be between almost $6 million and $7.2 million. With a 2,800-square-foot addition that would include two pull-through bays for a total of 19.200 square feet, the estimated cost would be between almost $7 million and $8.6 million. He estimated the yearly costs for utilities would be $44,952 and $36,747 for maintenance or $6,808 a month to run the building.
Commissioner Darrel Folkvord told the audience the county has saved some money, but the rest will have to be grant funding, or the project will have to go out to a bond.
"If you feel that is not within your reach, then there is no use spinning our wheels on a project nobody wants," he said.
Commissioners Debi Randolph and Lindsey Richtmyer encouraged residents to provide feedback about the possible emergency center. Randolph said the county is at a huge advantage because the land was donated and told residents in attendance to go home, think about it, talk to their neighbors, and get back to us.
"We need to make some movement on this, and it will come from you," Randolph said.
Richtmyer said the Commission has repeatedly heard services are needed, and the community will have to come together and decide how they see that happening. She added that the Commission has tried to get grant money and contributed money to get the project started, but it will only get more expensive each year, and she hopes the community will discuss the issue.
Those in attendance raised concerns about the cost, size, and the issue of a bond in an area with just 816 addresses.
Folkvord discussed the possibility of building the response center in phases. Cromwell said that after hearing feedback, they could reduce the size, but all of it needs to be expandable for the future and that they need to plan for future growth.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
During the meeting, Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser gave an update on the county's southern end.
According to Rauser, because of the increase in wrong-way drivers on Interstate 90, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer recently reached out about the problem. He said the two counties, along with the Montana Highway Patrol, have started an overtime operation to target DUIs and wrong-way drivers.
Rauser reported a significant increase in DUIs in the southern end and all of Broadwater County, and they recently stopped four wrong-way drivers on the interstate.
"It is a problem, we understand that, and we are trying to do what we can to help prevent some of it," Rauser said.
Rauser also told the Commission and audience they have seen an increase in drugs in the county, including fentanyl. He said most of the drug problem is coming down U.S. 287.
The Broadwater County Sheriff's Office is currently looking to fill an open position for a resident deputy in the Three Forks area.
Rauser said they are experiencing some problems filling the position because of the cost of living in the Three Forks area.
Rauser hopes the mill levy for his office, which expires next year, will be renewed. If it passes, he can work with the Commission on a living stipend for deputies in the area.
The Sheriff's Department and the Road Department have also purchased a speed trailer for the county, and Rauser said the first place they put it was on Wheatland Road, where there was an 'insane amount of traffic.'
Rauser said they are trying their absolute best to be in the county's southern end, adding that being seen and having a presence prevents crime.
He said that over the last five years, they have made many strides to close the gap on how fast it is growing, but if the mill levy were not to pass, the services of the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office would be greatly diminished.
