Commissioners address road maintenance, millings offer and possible DNRC land swap

Road Supervisor James Gibson reported routine deliveries (culverts) and ongoing tree‑trimming along county roads. Commissioners relayed that the Road Department declined an offer of 9,000 cubic yards of milling material from a Montana Department of Transportation Hwy 2 project planned for 2027; the Road Supervisor had indicated the department was not interested in the material.

Members of the public raised maintenance and safety concerns: Brad Diesen reported a near‑incident involving a UPS truck on Brazil Creek Road and noted a significant dip at one end of Cherry Creek Bridge. Commissioner Tweten and Road Supervisor Gibson agreed to inspect and prioritize repairs as feasible.

Don Pyrah of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation described a potential land swap involving roughly 160 acres of state land that borders the county landfill and an area of county land west of St. Marie. Pyrah said the county would need to cover appraisal, application, survey and closing costs (estimated at about $15,000) if it wishes to proceed; he proposed a field visit when weather permits.

At the weekly meeting commissioners approved two right‑of‑way permits: ROW #925 to allow installation of a cattleguard (applicant: Jim Uphaus) and ROW #926 authorizing Norval Electric to reroute overhead power lines in the Aiken Road area. Both permits were approved on motions that passed unanimously.

Residents requested the county search historical records about Billingsley Ranch Lane, which a landowner said received no maintenance for decades; commissioners reported no petitioned county right‑of‑way was found and said routine plowing of the nearby county road could include a single pass on the private spur when time allows.

No county action to accept MDT millings or to execute a DNRC land swap was recorded in February; both matters remain under consideration and subject to further cost estimates or field inspection.