Votes at a glance: Yellowstone County approves tax abatements, sets hearings and refers bids to staff

The Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners took a series of routine and semi-routine actions on April 2, including the approval of tax abatements, the setting of public-hearing dates and referral of procurement bids to staff.

Tax abatements: The board approved Resolution 24-61 to grant an 80% Class 8 property tax abatement to Coca-Cola Bottling Company (High Country). The board also approved Resolution 24-62 to grant an 80% abatement to Signal Peak (recorded in the minutes as 'Single Peak'/'signal peak'); both items were approved by voice vote following brief hearings. A member of the public asked whether the abatement process was established by the state; county staff confirmed the Legislature sets the overall process and the commissioners determine the abatement percentage.

Procurements and referrals: Commissioners opened several bids and referred them to staff for recommendation, including an RFQ for architectural/engineering services for the Yellowstone County detention/short-term holding facility (one statement of qualifications from Schutz Foss), courthouse security-camera bids (announced amounts: Comtech about $209,250.7; High-tech Solutions System Group $58,598; Telnet about $121,451.21), a crack-seal project (Z and Z $66,004.88; Hard Drives Construction $104,500), and an asphalt overlay project (Riverside Contracting $414,006.57). The board voted to refer the bids to staff for evaluation and recommendation.

Hearings and proclamations: The commissioners set a public hearing for Resolution 24-64 (intent to grant a Class 8 abatement to 'fortify' on Class 8 property) for April 16, 2024, and set a public hearing on Resolution 24-65 (subdivision regulations around Laurel) for April 23, 2024, both in Room 3108 at 9:30 a.m. They also initiated jurisdictional zoning around Laurel (Resolution 24-66) and set a May 21, 2024 hearing. The board approved a proclamation (Resolution 24-55) declaring April 2024 Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Claims and consent: Claims numbers 24-135 and 24-136 were approved and the consent agenda, as amended, was approved and placed to file.

Public comments: Speakers at the meeting included Steve Simonson of the Billings Association of Realtors, who requested time on an August agenda for a workforce-housing discussion, and several Laurel-area residents who spoke during the growth-policy hearing.

The board adjourned at the end of the session; many of the procurement referrals will return to the commissioners with staff recommendations.