// WELCOME TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION BRIEF!

You asked for it! Readers of our Legislative Updates and City Council Bulletins have been inquiring, when will you start covering the County Commissioners? The answer is: NOW!

Similar to our Legislative and City Council newsletters, we'll provide some useful background/explanation/context to one of the items discussed by the Commissioners, the agenda for their Tuesday morning meetings so you can see what's coming up, and links to watch meetings or contact Commissioners if you'd like to reach out.

We're excited to jump into this new weekly publication and hope that you find the information to be valuable.

Here's the catch: you have to sign up. We'll be sending this to all of our email subscribers on Fridays throughout the month of June. Starting in July, if you've not subscribed, you won't receive it. Consider the next four weeks your "Free Trial Offer!" If you like it and want to continue receiving it, you'll have to undertake the arduous task of clicking the link below. If you're not interested, you won't receive the County Commission Brief starting in July. We hope you'll all click the link below!

// FEE INCREASES FOR FIRE SERVICE IN THE BUFSA

When they’re not waxing their fabulous mustaches, posing for calendar photoshoots, or practicing their puck handling to exact revenge on the Billings Police Department at next year’s Guns and Hoses hockey rematch, the Billings Fire Department (BFD) is responding to a host of emergencies beyond fires. They handle river and rimrock rescues, emergency medical situations, and deal with all kinds of hazardous materials. And they’re really good at it, as evidenced by the recent upgrade in the BFD’s Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating. The ISO rating accounts for a number of factors like emergency response and fire prevention and is used by insurance companies for calculating insurance premiums. The upgrade from a rating of 3 to 2 (on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best) is a testament to the incredible work our fire department does in Billings. 

What many people probably don’t know is that the BFD’s great work also extends outside of Billings, into the county. Not the entire Yellowstone County, but to an area outside of Billings known as Billings Urban Fire Service Area, or BUFSA. Kind of a mouthful, but the BUFSA is an interlocal agreement, or contract, between Yellowstone County and the City of Billings to have the BFD provide fire protective services to county residents just outside of city limits. BUFSA's protective embrace covers approximately 10,000 residents, and approximately 44 square miles, almost the same area as the City of Billings! These residents can sleep soundly, knowing that their homes and loved ones are safeguarded by some of the best fire services around. 

The map below shows where Billings city limits end and BUFSA coverage begins (see legend in bottom right). You'll also notice a number of volunteer fire departments that surround the BUFSA.

(click the map to see a larger version)

With property tax concerns at an all time high, critical readers are probably thinking through the next logical question: who pays? Which brings us to the County Commissioner’s meeting this week. The lone public hearing agenda item was a resolution to adjust the BUFSA fee schedule, essentially a tax on properties in the BUFSA, considering recent property tax reappraisals. That fee is collected from county residents in the BUFSA and transferred to the City of Billings, compensating the BFD for coverage of the area.

Public safety is the top concern for our businesses, but not far behind is concern over property taxes. Considering the new fee schedule alters the market value brackets, the new rates, and the state's re-evaluation of properties over the last two years, it’s hard to say how these changes will shift the overall burden of paying for services. If you live outside the city, and within the BUFSA, you can compare your previous value to the new rate using the tables above. If you’re checking your tax statement, you will find the BUFSA fee in the “Special Assessments” section (highlighted below).

Despite widespread animosity in Montana toward increasing taxes, nobody showed up to give public comment at the meeting. A lot of factors come into play. Most people probably didn’t know this change was taking place and didn't take time to consider how it might affect them. Additionally, it can be a challenge for citizens to take time off in the middle of a work day to attend County Commissioner meetings. 

Ultimately, that’s the value we hope to provide with this newsletter. Below, you’ll find the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting. Take a look and see if there’s anything of importance to you and your business. Farther down, you’ll find some buttons linking you to the emails of your elected County Commissioners. Even if you can’t make it to the next meeting, we encourage you to reach out and give your feedback on items of interest. Our elected officials sincerely appreciate genuine, respectful feedback from constituents. Please don’t hesitate adding your voice and input to their considerations. 

And don't forget to sign up and continue receiving this newsletter!

// BOARD MEETING AGENDA - 9:30 a.m. - STILLWATER BUILDING

In this section, we will include the TUESDAY meeting agenda for you to view. See what County Commissioners will be discussing next week.

OFFICIAL AGENDA

TUESDAY June 4, 2024

Meeting Start Time: 9:30 a.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Stillwater Building 316 N. 26th Street, Room 3108

Pledge to the Flag: Moment of Silence: Minutes

REGULAR AGENDA

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON REGULAR, CONSENT AND FILED AGENDA ITEMS

1. FINANCE

Notice of Public Hearing for FY24-25 Budget - Public Hearings will be held Monday, June 24, 2024 at 1:30 and continue through 5:00 p.m. Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Room 3108

2. PUBLIC WORKS

Resolution 24-96 for Public Hearing on Possible Sale of Charles Russell Park in the Frontier Subdivision

CLAIMS

CONSENT AGENDA

1. CLERK AND RECORDER

Plat of 2 Stroke and Tutus Subdivision and the S.I.A.

2. COMMISSIONERS

a. Board Reappointments - Rob Schessler to Laurel Fire District #5/ Robby Badgett to Broadview Cemetery Board/ Pam Hofferber to Adult Resource Alliance/ Judy Goldsby to Laurel City/County Planning Board/ Peggy Mcsweyn to Shepherd Cemetery Board

b. Board Openings - Updated List

3. FINANCE

a. ARPA Project Tracking Sheet Update

b. Finance Contract with Hardy Construction for the County Admin Building Temporary Wall and Door

c. Bond for Lost Warrant

d. Metra Request to Expend for Ticket Booth for Gate 1

e. Metra Contract Addendum #1 with Republic Services for Solid Waste Disposal

f. Metra ARPA Arena Indoor Sewer Lines Contract with Star Services

g. Certification Regarding Lobbying

4. PUBLIC WORKS

a. Request for Qualifications - DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING and CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT for Lockwood Sidewalk Project

b. Invitation for Bid 56th & Hesper Roundabout

5. SHERIFF

Maintenance/Service/Support Agreement between YCDF & CML Security for Period 7/1/24-6/30/25

6. TREASURER

Abatement of Property Taxes Delinquent for Five or More Years

7. HUMAN RESOURCES

a. Stealth Partner Group, LLC Agreement

b. PERSONNEL ACTION REPORTS - Sheriff's Office - 2 Appointments; County Attorney - 1 Appointment; Metra - 1 Appointment

FILE ITEMS

1. CLERK AND RECORDER

Board Minutes - Yellowstone Conservation District Minutes July 2018 to May 2024

2. COMMISSIONERS

a. Support Letter - Crisis Diversion Grant

b. Billings Bypass Highway Easement Parcel No. 7-38

3. FINANCE

MetraPark Budget Adjustment-FY 24

4. PUBLIC WORKS

Contract with Wright Company MT, Inc. for Weed Spraying for River Ranch Retreat RSID 806M

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON COUNTY BUSINESS

// WATCH THE MEETING ON COMMUNITY 7 TELEVISION

// EMAIL YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

COMMISSIONER

Don Jones

COMMISSIONER

John Ostlund

COMMISSIONER

Mark Morse

// ADDITIONAL BILLINGS CHAMBER RESOURCES

// BUSINESS ADVOCACY SPONSORS