Hess speaks at Havre legislative video conference

State Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, said she believes a deal will be worked out to fund major infrastructure repairs in Montana.

She said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle favor spending money to fix decaying roads, bridges and sewer systems.

The only disagreement, she said, is how to fund the project

Hess spoke at the weekly legislative forum Tuesday sponsored by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce and Havre Public Schools.

Gov. Steve Bullock has proposed taking advantage of low interest rates and bonding for his proposed $380 million infrastructure program.

Republicans want a pay-as-you-go plan.

“I’m sure we'll work something out,” she said.

Hess was the only member of the Hi-Line’s delegation to Helena who was able to make Tuesday’s session.

Also, during the abbreviated session, Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson asked if the Legislature could do anything to alleviate problems at the county detention center.

The county is having a hard time hiring corrections officers, he said, in part because of the stress caused by crowding.

He said people charged with felonies are often lodged in the detention center for a long as two years while their case winds through the judicial system.

Then, when convicted and sentenced, it often takes several months for them to be transferred to Deer Lodge Correctional Facility, the state prison, because it is too crowded to accept new inmates.

Other factors are to blame for the problems in hiring new people, including the lure of higher wages in the Bakken oilfields, he said.

Hess said she was sympathetic to his problem, but knew of no legislation concerning that matter.