Park County signs cooperation letter with MSU Western Transportation Institute for Highway 89 safety study

Park County commissioners voted June 3 to sign a letter of collaboration with Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute (WTI) to support a grant application and a safety study of Highway 89 South.

County staff described the document as a letter of collaboration required to demonstrate local partnership for WTI's grant submittal. The commission had previously approved collaboration at the May 27 meeting, and the June 3 signature formalizes that partnership.

Public commenter Lloyd Ruh, who said he worked with the Federal Highway Administration on a related program, cautioned the commissioners about reporting and performance requirements associated with large federal grants and encouraged careful review of terms and conditions. Ruh said small jurisdictions face recurring quarterly reporting and long performance periods that can impose administrative burdens.

A county staff member responded to Ruh's concerns, saying WTI's proposed budget included reimbursement for county grant administration and reporting time and that she had reviewed the grant terms Ruh referenced.

Commissioners said they support a study of Highway 89 South safety issues. A motion to sign the letter of collaboration was made and seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Action: motion to sign letter of collaboration; approved by voice vote. No county matching obligations beyond collaboration were recorded during the vote; county staff noted they had reviewed the grant terms and that WTI included administration costs for the county in the proposal.