Dr. Garcia, SD2 Superintendent, Will Provide Voters With a Presentation
Dear Editor, Dr. Garcia, SD2 Superintendent, will provide voters with a presentation describing the Safety Mill Levy and how funds will be spent on April 23 at 5:30 pm in the Billings Public Library. The program will be broadcast on Community Seven and available on Facebook and YouTube. The needs for providing school safety have […]
Ellis to Remain on County Water District Board Following Court Decision that Board Lacked Authority to Remove Her
Following a closed session of the County Water District board, last Wednesday, Board President Doug Kary announced that the board had unanimously agreed to accept a settlement offer from Pam Ellis and Yellowstone County. The County Water District accepted the defendants’ offer that the district pay for $9500 of the defendants’ legal costs and to […]
Neither Initiative Establishes Rank-Choice Voting.
Dear Editor, What do constitutional initiatives CI-126 or CI-127 do? The petition language is: “CI-126 amends the Montana Constitution to provide a top-four primary election open to all voters and candidates followed by a general election. All candidates appear on a single primary election ballot, and the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to […]
Thank you for continuing to educate the public (and the boards)
Dear Editor, Thank you to Jonathan McNiven and reporters Evelyn Pyburn and Michael Marino for their coverage of local government including the city, county, school boards and water districts. Thank you for continuing to educate the public (and the boards) about the value of open public meetings. Jonathan’s meanderings make it clear that CWDBH is […]
Judge Sets New Dates for Water District Case Against County, Ellis
Following something of an impasse at a court hearing on October 23, District Court Judge Colette B. Davies said she would allow the County’s appointee to the County Water District Board, Pam Ellis, to file a counter suit against the Water District Board; the Judge has issued a schedule to allow Ellis to do so. […]
Water District Plans to Delay Manager Search; Debate Bylaws and Recall Issue
Step by step the Heights County Water District Board went through the bylaws of the organization at a special work session last Wednesday. They also discussed finding a replacement for general manager, given the resignation of Peyton Brookshire, as well as getting another attorney to represent the board, having also received the resignation of Susan […]
Water District Marketing Contract Poor Use of Ratepayer Dollars
Dear Editor, At the CWDBH (Water District) meeting on April 15, the General Manager Peyton Brookshire proposed hiring a marketing firm at a cost of $91,150 per year. The proposal did not include advertising costs such as newspaper ads, banners, etc.
HB 35 = Elimination of City / County Appointees in Three Districts
Dear Editor, Larry Brewster, Representative for Heights HD 44 introduced HB 35 to eliminate the city and/or county appointees in three districts: the County Water and Sewer District of Billings Heights (CWDBH), Big Sky Water and Sewer District and Evergreen Water and Sewer District. Of the 800+ districts in the state of Montana, the CWDBH […]
New Leaders of the Heights Task Force
Dear Editor, Please welcome the new leaders of the Heights Task Force elected at the October meeting: Chair Frank Ewalt, First Vice Chair Ed Hostettler, Second Vice Chair Nancy Steel and Secretary Pam Ellis.
Why I put up with County Water District
Dear Editor, Residents have asked, “Why do I have to put up with County Water District when I am a Billings resident?” I believe it is because Montana makes it almost impossible to annex the District into the city.