Josh Heitzenroder appointed to the Great Northern Fair Board

In a series of 2-0 votes the Hill County Commission approved a number of actions at its weekly business meeting Thursday including the appointment of a new member of the Great Northern Fair Board.

Hill County Commissioner Mike Wendland had a personal engagement that prevented him from attending.

The commission approved Josh Heitzenroder to replace Shawn Bickford for the remainder of his term on the Great Northern Fair Board.

Bob Kaul was the only other applicant for this spot on the board and Hill County Commissioner Diane McLean said she hopes he will stay involved in fair board activities regardless.

“We really appreciate everyone who steps up to these board positions,” McLean said, “… I hope that Bob will continue to have input at board meetings and into things that are happening at the fair.”

The commission also voted for a pair of resolutions that would amend the Hill County Budget Council on Aging Fund to provide for additional funding recently provided by the United Way of Hill County.

$2,400 was awarded to the Volunteer Meals Program, and $3,700 to Meals on Wheels for COVID-19-related expenses.

During the meeting, Council on Aging Director Don Kenny thanked the commissioners for approving this amendment, as well as United Way of Hill County, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and others.

“This money will be used in June to meet out food expense and should carry us into the year 2021,” Kenny said.

The commission also approved a renewal of the county’s property and casualties insurance with the Montana Association of Counties.

McLean said this year the cost of this insurance saw an increase of 21.77 percent due to the county adding several new vehicles from the Hill County Sheriff’s Office to the policy.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said the commission would be making an effort in the future to find a way to lower that increased cost.

“We are going to definitely go back and look to see if we have some vehicles that have a few years on ’em that have been on full coverage that can be reduced down to liability, and try to shave some of that cost off, but for now we’d like to approve it,” Peterson said.

During the meeting the commission also approved a grant of $5,100 to the DUI Task Force for compliance checks, media advertisements, equipment up keep, mock jury trials and training for prosecutors officers and deputies.

“Hill County does have some pretty high numbers of DUIs and those sort of things,” McLean said. “… We appreciate the efforts of this task force.”

The commission also tabled a vote on what insurance the county would carry for worker’s compensation insurance.

McLean said a decision would need to be made by July 1, but the commission needs more information before it makes a decision between MACo and Koefod Agency.

She said that information would hopefully be received by the commission soon and a decision would be able to be made next week.