Pondera County commissioners adopt updated subdivision rules and approve grants, contracts and appointments
March 01, 2026 | Pondera County , Montana
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The Pondera County Board of Commissioners adopted updated county subdivision regulations on March 6, 2024, to align local rules with changes to the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act enacted in 2023. The board passed Resolution #31-2023/24 on a 3-0 vote, after a public hearing at which no written or oral comments were received.
The change adds, among other provisions, an Expedited Minor Subdivision Review process, the board said at the hearing. Commissioners said the updated regulations are effective March 6, 2024.
Why it matters: updating the county subdivision regulations implements state statutory changes and affects how land divisions and small subdivisions will be reviewed and processed in Pondera County going forward.
Alongside the subdivision action, commissioners handled several budget, personnel and procurement items across March meetings. The board adopted Resolution #32-2023/24 to amend county budgets to account for two grant awards: a Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) contract for Fund 2976 with $27,065 in revenue and a National Environmental Health Association award for Fund 2870 with $5,000. That resolution passed on a 2-0 vote with Commissioner Jim Morren absent.
The board also approved a separate resolution, #33-2023/24, raising the department head purchasing limit without prior commissioner approval from $500 to $1,500 per purchase, provided the expenditure remains within the department’s approved budget; that measure passed on a 2-0 vote.
Appointments and agreements: Under Montana election law, the board declared Ernie Boumans and Jim DeStaffany elected by acclamation to three-year terms on the Rural Fire District Board after each filed a Declaration for Nomination; the motion to declare them elected was moved by Commissioner Thomas Kuka and seconded by Commissioner Zane Drishinski and carried.
The board opened and took under advisement requests for engineering qualifications from Heberly/Triangle Engineering and Stahly Engineering for a five-year principal-consultant role. At a later meeting the board approved a Professional Services Agreement with Stahly Engineering to provide general engineering services countywide; that motion carried.
Other actions: Commissioners approved adding an additional deputy position to the sheriff’s department; approved the purchase of culverts for the Road and Bridge Department for $12,000 from the BARSAA fund; authorized drawdown #5 for the Federal Aviation Administration project for the Pondera County Airport in the amount of $19,130 (the county’s 10% share is $1,913); and approved two copier purchases for the Attorney’s and Clerk & Recorder’s offices totaling $11,356.50 from the Capital Improvement fund. The board also approved routine claims ($96,127.63) and payroll ($298,396.05) for combined payments of $394,523.68.
Public comment and meetings: Residents raised local concerns during public comment, including drainage near Brady Methodist Church (Road/Bridge Superintendent Frosty DeBoo suggested using pipe available in the Conrad yard) and continued discussion about EPA wastewater issues (discussed in multiple meetings and at a Feb. 29 special session attended by representatives from Calumet, Montana Renewables and Montana Fluid; Dave Galt of Calumet attended). The board canceled its March 27 regular meeting so members could attend the MACRS Annual Conference in Great Falls and held a special meeting on March 28 to approve copier purchases.
Procedural notes: The board approved a preliminary EMPG grant application, approved an updated job description for the Road/Bridge Mechanic position, designated polling places for the 2024 federal primary and general elections (Brady Community Hall; Pondera Center, Conrad; Valier Civic Center; Heart Butte High School), and authorized County DES Coordinator Morgan Johnson to travel to the Mass Fatality Conference in Rapid City using available grant funds.
The meetings adjourned in late March after the listed actions were completed; the minutes record no public opposition at the subdivision hearing and no audit findings in the federal audit closing for fiscal year 2022–2023.
Votes at a glance: Resolution #31-2023/24 (adopt subdivision regs): passed 3-0 (Commissioners Thomas Kuka, Zane Drishinski, Jim Morren). Resolution #32-2023/24 (budget amendments for Funds 2976 and 2870): passed 2-0 (Commissioners Zane Drishinski, Thomas Kuka; Morren absent). Resolution #33-2023/24 (raise department head spending limit): passed 2-0. Other motions recorded as “motion carried” where shown in the minutes.
The change adds, among other provisions, an Expedited Minor Subdivision Review process, the board said at the hearing. Commissioners said the updated regulations are effective March 6, 2024.
Why it matters: updating the county subdivision regulations implements state statutory changes and affects how land divisions and small subdivisions will be reviewed and processed in Pondera County going forward.
Alongside the subdivision action, commissioners handled several budget, personnel and procurement items across March meetings. The board adopted Resolution #32-2023/24 to amend county budgets to account for two grant awards: a Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) contract for Fund 2976 with $27,065 in revenue and a National Environmental Health Association award for Fund 2870 with $5,000. That resolution passed on a 2-0 vote with Commissioner Jim Morren absent.
The board also approved a separate resolution, #33-2023/24, raising the department head purchasing limit without prior commissioner approval from $500 to $1,500 per purchase, provided the expenditure remains within the department’s approved budget; that measure passed on a 2-0 vote.
Appointments and agreements: Under Montana election law, the board declared Ernie Boumans and Jim DeStaffany elected by acclamation to three-year terms on the Rural Fire District Board after each filed a Declaration for Nomination; the motion to declare them elected was moved by Commissioner Thomas Kuka and seconded by Commissioner Zane Drishinski and carried.
The board opened and took under advisement requests for engineering qualifications from Heberly/Triangle Engineering and Stahly Engineering for a five-year principal-consultant role. At a later meeting the board approved a Professional Services Agreement with Stahly Engineering to provide general engineering services countywide; that motion carried.
Other actions: Commissioners approved adding an additional deputy position to the sheriff’s department; approved the purchase of culverts for the Road and Bridge Department for $12,000 from the BARSAA fund; authorized drawdown #5 for the Federal Aviation Administration project for the Pondera County Airport in the amount of $19,130 (the county’s 10% share is $1,913); and approved two copier purchases for the Attorney’s and Clerk & Recorder’s offices totaling $11,356.50 from the Capital Improvement fund. The board also approved routine claims ($96,127.63) and payroll ($298,396.05) for combined payments of $394,523.68.
Public comment and meetings: Residents raised local concerns during public comment, including drainage near Brady Methodist Church (Road/Bridge Superintendent Frosty DeBoo suggested using pipe available in the Conrad yard) and continued discussion about EPA wastewater issues (discussed in multiple meetings and at a Feb. 29 special session attended by representatives from Calumet, Montana Renewables and Montana Fluid; Dave Galt of Calumet attended). The board canceled its March 27 regular meeting so members could attend the MACRS Annual Conference in Great Falls and held a special meeting on March 28 to approve copier purchases.
Procedural notes: The board approved a preliminary EMPG grant application, approved an updated job description for the Road/Bridge Mechanic position, designated polling places for the 2024 federal primary and general elections (Brady Community Hall; Pondera Center, Conrad; Valier Civic Center; Heart Butte High School), and authorized County DES Coordinator Morgan Johnson to travel to the Mass Fatality Conference in Rapid City using available grant funds.
The meetings adjourned in late March after the listed actions were completed; the minutes record no public opposition at the subdivision hearing and no audit findings in the federal audit closing for fiscal year 2022–2023.
Votes at a glance: Resolution #31-2023/24 (adopt subdivision regs): passed 3-0 (Commissioners Thomas Kuka, Zane Drishinski, Jim Morren). Resolution #32-2023/24 (budget amendments for Funds 2976 and 2870): passed 2-0 (Commissioners Zane Drishinski, Thomas Kuka; Morren absent). Resolution #33-2023/24 (raise department head spending limit): passed 2-0. Other motions recorded as “motion carried” where shown in the minutes.
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