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Yellowstone County News
113 Northern Ave. Huntley MT 59037
Phone: 406-348-2649
Fax: 406-348-2302
Email: info@yellowstonecountynews.com
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| Publishers: Randall "Pete" and Rebecca Tescher Robison
Managing Editor: Rebecca Tescher Robison
Reporting Staff: Rebecca Tescher Robison, Evelyn Pyburn, Jeanne Travisono, Robert Nolte, Sharon Michaels
Production Staff: Jeanne Travisono, Lynn Remington, Rebecca Tescher Robison, Susan Dussault, Robert Nolte,
Advertising Sales: Harriat Conklin,
Correspondents: Carl Wolf, Leland Cade, Jim Goltz, Martin Mull
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Yellowstone County News for Week of June 26, 2009.
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Project Fun Day planned for Aug. 1
WORDEN - An all-day “Project Fun Day” is planned for Saturday, Aug. 1, along Worden’s Main Street. The Worden Community Club is sponsoring the event, which will include games, vendors of all kinds, a flea market and street dance. Proceeds will go toward the community club’s scholarship fund and the community sign. For more information or to reserve a vendor spot, call Linda Holmes at 967-3612 or Tom Hilger at 281-7521.
Taxpayers get a look at smaller school plan, financial impacts
Bond issue election expected by September
by Sharon Michaels
WORDEN - After hearing about the tax impacts of the proposed $16.75 million school building at the Huntley Project School District’s community meeting on Tuesday, June 23, community members seemed receptive to the plan and its cost.
More than a dozen taxpayers used the computers provided to check the tax impact on their specific property.
On a home valued at $100,000, the taxable market value is $66,000. A 20-year tax exempt bond (estimated at 4.5 percent interest) would cost that taxpayer $145.69 annually or $12.14 monthly. On a 16-year zero percent bond, it would cost the taxpayer $125.97 annually or $10.49 monthly. The zero-percent bond is part of the stimulus package for Montana schools this year. The district hopes it qualifies for this special funding.
The tax impacts studied by the voters at this meeting are based on the $9.75 million bond needed to replace the high school and include the junior high and sixth grade in the new building.
The proposed new school will serve approximately 450 students for grades 6-12. It will be physically connected to the existing elementary and will contain 28 classrooms, study hall, library/media center and multi-use commons area (lunch and activity room). It will seat approximately 250 people in grades K-12 for meals and assemblies, a performance stage opening into the commons area, a food preparation kitchen and a multiple court gymnasium seating 1,430 spectators. A mechanical room in the building will provide a new central heating and ventilation system to serve the the existing elementary school and CTE building. The elementary can then be remodeled for art and music classrooms and the existing art room will become a fifth grade classroom.
“The reasons for moving the junior high to the new building is because the code upgrades needed would cost $4 to $5 million,” said Chairman Mark Fox.The building is over 70 years old and would require patch after patch, he added.
“The board’s boss is the voters. You will let us know what opportunities we can take advantage of,” said Fox.
After touring the campus, the board received the following recommendations from JGA Architects: All elementary students should be located in the elementary school. Currently, fifth and sixth grade classrooms are held in the art building across the parking lot from the elementary school, forcing about 72 elementary students to pass through the parking lot to participate in school activities, to see the nurse, eat lunch and attend special education programs. Because of staffing limitations, nearly all of the staff teaches both junior high and high school classes, requiring junior high students to attend classes in high school and high school students to attend classes in the junior high.
Both the junior high and elementary buildings have aging heating systems that should be replaced before failure occurs. The CTE building is heated by inefficient electric systems causing it to be the most costly building to operate.
The proposed 90,261-square-foot building cost is estimated at $16.75 million. Of this amount, approximately $7 million will be paid by the insurance, leaving $9.75 million for a bond obligation to be approved by the voters of the district.
The board will need to pass a bond resolution by their next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 30 at 6:30 p.m.
The election will have to be held by Sept. 1, according to Yellowstone County election department, for the mail ballot to be completed.
Previous to the community meeting, the board met to hire Elementary Special Education teacher Kelly Webb at $36,210. Webb has nine years experience and came highly recommended.
The new high school business teacher, Derek Miller, was hired at $28,850. This will be Miller’s first year of teaching.
The elementary principal, hired to replace resigned principal Brent Lipp, was Clint Croy at $60,000 per year. Croy has five years experience as principal and was also highly recommended.
Transportation Manager Larry Walsh received a three percent raise in salary from $34,135.63 to $35,159.70.
Fisher Construction Manager Brent Sumner said the demolition and site clean-up was going well and they should start on the gym by next week.
Besides the resolution for the bond issue, the board will have to make a decision on the release of Superintendent Dave Mahon’s contract at their next meeting on June 30.
Water/sewer district to repair damaged curb stops
by Sharon Michaels
WORDEN - Due to the recent accidental damage done by Burlington Northern railroad, the Worden-Ballantine-Yellowstone County Water and Sewer District decided at its monthly meeting on June 10 to update its inventory for emergency repairs.
A loader operated by BNSF railroad had run over the district’s curb stops near the Worden crossing, which resulted in the shut-off of water in Worden. In the process of repairing the curb stop, the district discovered they needed to have more supplies on hand.
The board also discussed the possibility of changing the location of these curb stops.
Treasurer Gary Foss asked the board to consider a back-up certified operator. “This is essential to us,” said Foss.
President Sandy Kust said she had been studying for the certification test. She was told there is a book the district can buy to study for the test that pinpoints the practice test. Kust will order the book and take her test in September. Don Dvorak will take his test in October.
In other business, the water fill station is still on hold. Lights have been installed at the pump station and all electrical work has been completed. The audit has been completed. Auditor Jeff Mracheck was invited to review the audit with district but did not attend the meeting as planned.
The new sewer line to be replaced on Yellowstone Avenue is still on hold. Carol McClain’s garage is on the district’s right-of-way but the problem is not yet resolved.
The Consumer Confidence Report has been compiled. It will be published in the Yellowstone County News and displayed in the district’s office, reported Kust.
Dvorak requested flow meters to be placed on fire hydrants.
Operator Dick Miller will be on vacation June 29 through July 5, said Kust. Dvorak, Ken Johannes and Kust will be filling in for Miller.
The board will be sending a service agreement to new owner Wade Smith who purchased the six-plex previously owned by Dan Kautz in Worden. The agreement will include one water hookup, one sewer hook-up and six construction charges for the apartment building.
The district’s next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 8.
Feel free to view Yellowstone County News archives.
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The Yellowstone County News is a weekly newspaper publication that is updated online every Friday. The Yellowstone County News covers Yellowstone County in specifically Billings Heights, Shepherd, Huntley, Lockwood, Worden, Ballantine, Pompey's Pillar, and Custer, Montana.
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