Phillips County Commissioners approve upgrade of motor graders, accept resignations

The Phillips County Commissioners held their weekly meeting on Tuesday afternoon in Malta with four things on the agenda for the day. In attendance were County Commissioners Lesley Robinson, Richard Dunbar and Phillips County Clerk and Recorder Marian Ereaux.

First up was the approval of seven new motor graders. The bid was awarded to Tractor and Equipment at a cost of $59, 520 each (after a trade-in value of $243,000 on each grader was calculated. The cost of a new 160M2 model of Cat Graders $304,470. ) The funds to purchase the items will come out of the Federal Mineral Royalties.

The next item up for discussion was the appointment of new Park Board Member Shane Bishop who replaces Cindy Olsen who recently moved to Billings. Olsen had served on the board since 1996. The Park Board oversees the Milk River Pavilion in Malta. Bishop was approved as a new board member and will finish the remaining two years of the term left behind by Olsen.

Up next was to accept the resignation of Saco’s Grandview Cemetery Board Member Bill Marks. In his resignation letter, Marks wrote that “it has been my pleasure to serve on Grandview Cemetery Board.” Marks said that he enjoyed his time on the board but added that it was time for someone else to take over his position. The commissioners accepted Marks’ resignation and then approved Bill Haynes as his replacement.

The final item on Tuesday’s agenda was the purchase of 100-feet of 36-inch plastic culvert pipe to be used at Beaver Creek Overflow Bridge in Saco near old Highway 2. The pipe costs $4,236.55. Commissioner Dunbar said that the company the pipe is being purchased from in Billings quoted a price of $1,000 to ship the item. Dunbar added that the commissioners will get the pipe themselves and forego the freight cost. The purchase was approved.