County officials hear update on American Rescue Plan funds

Hill County officials held a meeting Wednesday morning to provide updates on their departments’ activities including discussions about applications for American Rescue Plan Act funds and open staff and board positions.

Hill County Commissioner Mark Peterson said the commission is going to reapply for ARPA funds for RSID 29 and 30 and the Milk River Levee project in the hopes that they may be awarded some money in the next round of funds.

Peterson said the North Havre Water District that serves northeastern Hill County and the Hingham Sewer Districts will also be reapplying in this next round.

He also said a bid for the Beaver Creek Dam Spillway and Spill Basin Repair Project was recently awarded, and work on the project will begin, and hopefully end, this fall.

He said the fire suppression agreement between Rural Fire District 1 and the city of Havre was also recently approved by both parties, and they are waiting on the state to approve the contract.

Hill County Commissioner Jake Strissel said the commission is also looking at filling various board positions throughout the county, including on the Great Northern Fair Board which has been without a quorum due to a lack of members for well over a month.

After the meeting, Hill County Human Resources Legal Assistant Brittany Pfeifer said her office is seeking to hire a part-time clerk for the Hill County Auditors Office, and she would be posting a new part-time position, administrative assistant to Beaver Creek Park, that day as well.

The Hill County Park Board this month approved Beaver Creek Park Superintendent Chad Edgar’s request to split that position into two part-time positions instead of having one full-time position.

Pfeifer also said she’s been receiving some applications for contact tracing positions with the Hill County Health Department, but they still have positions open.

The next county officials meeting will be held Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. in the Hill County Courthouse Timmons Room.