Commissioners create RSID 890/890M to pave S. 50 Fourth Street W amid resident objections

The Yellowstone County Commission voted May 16 to create Road Special Improvement District (RSID) 890 and 890M to pave roughly 1,300 feet of S. 50 Fourth Street West from Nye Bauer north, a project county engineers said benefits 22 parcels.

Senior county civil engineer Mike Black presented the plan and estimated the probable project cost at about $135,000. He said Yellowstone County’s cost-share policy would cover approximately 25 percent of eligible costs up to a departmental cap (the engineer cited a $31,000 cost-share example) and that the net assessed amount would be about $103,000, or approximately $4,700 per parcel based on the county’s mapping of benefited properties.

Black said residents would be offered the option to pay the assessment up front to avoid interest or to finance the charge. He noted that five written protests had been received (one representing two parcels) and that the county would determine the for/against percentage at the meeting before acting.

Multiple residents testified at the public hearing and objected to the district map and assessment method. Jerry Young supported paving but asked for consistent map labeling (he emphasized the importance of designating the road as South 50 Fourth Street West for emergency services). Several residents including Rebecca Kallin, Deann Ray, Jeannie Malco, Chuck Kramer and Chris Nelson said they opposed the RSID because they do not use the full length of the improved road, because nearby users on Hennessy (spelled Hennessy/Hennessey at different points in the transcript) appear not to have been included as benefited parcels, and because many residents say they cannot afford an upfront payment.

Black responded in Q&A that county legal staff reviewed the benefit map and agreed the depicted parcels were those considered benefited under statute; he also said some parcels have alternate outlets (for example to 50 Sixth) that affect benefit determinations. He confirmed a plan schedule that would complete design by mid-June, bid and award by late July, and construction in August if the district moved forward.

After hearing testimony and staff responses, the board approved resolution 23-66 to create RSID 890 and 890M. Commissioners recorded that seven of the 22 benefited parcels were in opposition based on the hearing and correspondence.

Next steps: staff will proceed with design and bidding if the district is created; affected property owners retain options to pay assessments up front or finance them per the county’s program.

Vote: Resolution 23-66 — motion carried by voice vote (ayes recorded); transcript records opposition in testimony but no roll-call count.