The new, recycled, Mayor of Big Sandy is Shaud Schwarzbach. He will serve as Mayor, replacing the current Mayor Steve Stiles, who resigned due to illness. The council wants to have a Proclamation and proper acknowledgement given to Steve Stiles for his service, but that presentation will take place when Steve is healthier. In January 2018 Shaud will have served the town of Big Sandy for 18 years. Schwarzbach will serve for a two-year term, after which Shaud will retire from the city Council.
The council member spot, which was held by Shaud Schwarzbach, from Ward two, will need to be filled. Colby Baumgarn himself will have served the city for 16-year when his term is up, is hoping that some person will care enough about our city to step forward and be a doer! Ward two is the section of the city that is divided by main street heading east to west, across the railroad tracks and to the cemetery. Any person living south of that dividing section on the Mint Side of town or the high school side of town of that street will be eligible to serve from Ward two. He/She will serve for a two-year term and then they will need to run for reelection.
Colby Baumgarn expressed to Dennis Hale how impressed he was with the Sheriff's Deputies for slowing down during the highway high speed chase that went right through our town on December 13th. It happened around 4:00 p.m., as school was letting out for the day. He wanted the deputies to know how much it meant to him that they put the safety of everyone first.
Ann Booth, an Economic Development Specialist from Triangle Telephone Communications, presented a check for $2,500 to the town of Big Sandy. It was a grant that was applied for two years ago which will allow the community of Big Sandy to have a presentation system locally for video conferencing. This grant was applied for after a committee of local residents met together to discuss the viability and importance of a local video conferencing option in our community. We will have the ability to communicate to anyone face to face around the world via video. The top priority for use of the money would be to buy a smart TV. Where it is to be located
is still to be determined. Also, being considered is a television with a Chrome 6 system which would be used as a tool to let the community know what activities are scheduled for Big Sandy and would be displayed in a yet to be determined location in the town.
The lagoon system works like this. It can hold one year of sewage before it goes into a holding tank becoming clear water which afterwards is dispersed onto the land. This year they are seeing some small damage to the soil, so they are trying to figure out why. The city council has made a request from the Montana Department of Environmental Standards allowing Big Sandy to have a backup plan which would allow them to place lagoon water back into Big Sandy Creek. This would only be allowed during the fall, winter, and spring season with comprehensive water testing.
On January 18th, the council members will have a working day to review all Big Sandy lots to help determine water usage before a new Water Use Protocol is written. This water use protocol will also include wording concerning a new pay timeline for your water bill.
Three members from Havre's Bear Paw Development came to inform the Council that they are waiting for a waiver, which they believe will be coming very quickly, to fund the Brown Field removal of contaminated ground dirt at the old gas station by Q's. A fund of $350,000 has been approved. They received written approval from EPA for testing the levels for the number of years that will be necessary. The old gas station contamination by the Q's motel has sat for 20 years and is 300X above allowable levels. All costs of the removal would be covered by grants. No actual dollars from the town of Big Sandy will be used except for some matching service to help with the disposal of the dirt. The cleanup cost/grants can only be given to the town of Big Sandy, which means the owner of the land must surrender the property to the town of Big Sandy. When Big Sandy takes owner ship the cleanup will begin. Discussion is being held with BLM, however no finally decision has been made with BLM, about a roadside tourist information placement at that spot.
Shortly our town will be upgraded with four electric speed signs. One will be placed at both schools. If the remaining two electric speed signs have homes yet it was not mentioned at the meeting.
