A CHANCE for GROWTH Ennis Harrison Sheridan Twin Bridges
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THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS Montana’s Oldest Publishing Weekly Newspaper. Established 1873 75¢ | Volume 142, Issue 40 www.madisoniannews.com Thursday, July 31, 2014 Planners revisit ‘safety review’ – even if they ultimately choose has no zoning regulations or It’s for their own safety – and have to make the changes” County planning board works to to ignore the recommendations. requirements for obtaining land- the safety of fire, ambulance recommended, she said. “It’s not regulatory, it’s use permits, “We usually find and sheriff’s officers who may While the review is manda- perfect preconstruction documents educational. It’s all about public out about need to respond to tory, what the homeowner does health and safety,” Fechter said. (home- “It’s not regulatory, the residence some with the information is com- By Lori Newman Office. It’s also causing the As for the review the PSR building day, she said. pletely voluntary, Fechter said. The Madisonian planning board to make a few it’s educational. It’s is currently undergoing, “We’re plans) Madison [email protected] tweaks to its “Preconstruction all about public health just making sure nothing in when they County is the only Fire chief inspects Safety Review” document. here sounds like a homeowner come in and safety.” county in Montana The local fire chief inspects The building boom at the The review is a document - Charity Fechter, or builder is legally obligated for a septic that offers this the property and site plans with Yellowstone Club and other that County Planner Charity county planner to do anything,” Fechter said permit or kind of review. the builder, gives his sum- subdivisions around Big Sky Fechter hopes everyone planning at the county planning board’s an address, “We’re getting mary of what would make the is causing plenty of work for to build any structure in Madi- Monday night meeting. so they can install elec- good compliance with it, even the Madison County Planning son County will want to have Because Madison County tricity,” Fechter said. though (homeowners) don’t Turn to PLANNING on pg. 2 A CHANCE FOR GROWTH Ennis Harrison Sheridan Twin Bridges The Madisonian/Abigail Dennis Madison County is embracing a new economic development plan to help towns around the entire county grow. County commits $20K to economic development Survey will assess the needs of local businesses, towns What’s next? The first step is reaching out to the com- By Abigail Dennis director Charity Fechter, and Rob Gilmore become reactive to the needs we discover.” panies, businesses and not-for-profits and The Madisonian with the NRMEDD met last Friday to discuss The NRMEDD is cooperating with the compiling information about what resources [email protected] a tangible plan for moving forward and county and the MCEDC. Though the exact each one feels would be beneficial to growth. reaching out structure of the six-person MCEDC is still up To do that, the NRMEDD has created a busi- A new agreement between Madison to businesses in the air, Schulz said it is important to keep ness assessment – a survey that will take County and the Northern Rocky Moun- around the the council involved with the process to ad- less than five minutes for business owners “We’re not asking to complete. That survey is available for all tain Economic Development District businesses to help us, county. vise Gilmore and serve as a sounding board. (NRMEDD) will give businesses and not- “We’re “Even though it’s funded through Madison County businesses and not-for- for-profits in the Madison and Ruby Val- we’re asking them starting with the county, the council needs to be profits at: www.research.net/s/MadisonFirst. leys resources for economic growth. to tell us how we can a frame- involved in the everyday coordina- “[The assessment] will examine over- “What is important to me is the end help them.” work,” Gilm- tion,” Happel said. “The government all health of businesses in the county and result,” said Les Gilman, a Madison ore said. shouldn’t be involved in that.” provide insight on individual businesses that - Les Gilman, may need assistance,” Gilmore said. “This County Economic Development Coun- board member, “Next, we Happel moved to accept a one-year cil board member and owner of IH Cat- engage with contract with the NRMEDD with a county is really an opportunity for companies to Madison County check what services they would benefit from tle Company near Alder. “In the end, Economic businesses commitment of $20,000, which was sec- we want economic development.” Development … first we onded by Schulz. Commission Chairman – it’s about providing access to services.” Gilman, county commissioners Dave Council are proactive Jim Hart was absent, but both Happel and Turn to MCEDC on pg. 2 Schulz and Dan Happel, county planning and then we Schulz voted in favor of the contract. County gets new superintendent of schools Ennis to host 2015 Pam Birkeland excited to get to work with Madison County schools state fire convention By Abigail Dennis students across Madison County. riculum instruction and a K-12 benefit, County Commis- The Madisonian An important part of the job educational administration de- sioner Jim Hart said. Event coincides with fire [email protected] description also includes orga- gree. She taught nizing the county spelling bee. multiple grades department’s 100th anniversary Madison County has a new Birkeland has a home in in Fort Benton superintendent of county schools Helena and said she will com- and Highwood, By Lori Newman “We thought it would be a beginning Aug. 18. Pam Birke- mute back and forth since the before accept- The Madisonian big pre-season boost for the land will fill the vacancy created Madison County superintendent ing her cur- [email protected] area – it’s right after school when current superintendent Me- position is only part-time. She is rent part-time gets out … and before most of linda Legg leaves the position to also employed with the Montana position with As many as 700 people the Yellowstone tourists start teach full time at Ennis Schools. Office of Public Instruction, fo- OPI last year, will visit Ennis next spring coming through,” she said. “I’m excited to work with cusing on her work with Smarter she worked for when the town hosts the “It should almost double our the teachers and administra- Balanced Assessment, Mon- 14 years as a state’s biannual volunteer population for three days.” tors around the county in tana’s new online assessment. central office firefighters convention. The state fire chiefs conven- whatever capacity they need Though she’s never been a administrator “This will be the biggest ru- tion usually draws between 40 my help,” Birkeland said. county superintendent, she’s for school dis- ral fire convention ever held in and 50 people and the volun- The position requires that familiar with the education tricts in Helena Montana because they’re com- teers’ convention has attracted Birkeland guarantee all the system and has been work- and focused on bining the fire chiefs convention anywhere from 200 to 600 par- teachers in the county have ing to get up to speed on the curriculum and and volunteer firefighters con- ticipants in the past, Haas said. their certificates in order. She ins and outs of the job. assessments. vention,” said Nici Haas, vol- “We’re going to have lots will also make sure buses are “I have been training with Birkeland’s unteer firefighter with Madison of things for their families to inspected and that the drivers [Legg] off and on in July,” she ability to ap- Valley Rural Fire Department do, too, so we’re expecting at have their certificates, she said. said. “We’ll have another day ply her past and captain of the all-volunteer least a couple hundred more” Since the Alder School in August and then my of- experiences Madison Valley Ambulance. family members to accompany does not have a superintendent ficial start date is Aug. 18.” and knowledge Every motel room in En- the firefighters, she said. or principal, she will serve She also has an elementary to Madison Photo courtesy of Pam Birkeland nis has already been blocked Activities for families, as the supervisor there while education degree, a K-12 library County schools Pam Birkeland is excited to familiarize herself off for the weekend of June also working with homeschool endorsement, a master’s in cur- is a huge with Madison County schools as the new county 11-13, 2015, Haas said. Turn to CONVENTION on pg. 2 superintendent. Banking YOUR Way - When YOU Want it TABLE OF CONTENTS Local News----------------A3 Columns-------------------B6 BillPay @ www.rubyvalleybank.com Opinion--------------------A4 Public Notices/ WebStatements Lifestyle--------------------B1 Classifieds-------------B7-B8 Member Health & Wellness ----B2-3 Calendar-----------------B12 FDIC Visa® Check Card Comics/Games----------- B4 P.O. Box 417 • Twin Bridges, MT P.O. Box 587 • Sheridan, MT 24 Hour Better Banking @ 888-842-5121 59754 59749 Visit us online at (406) 684-5678 (406) 842-5411 www.madisoniannews.com A2 Thursday, July 31, 2014 PLANNING from pg. 1 The information includes Most property owners are Madison County Commis- location and slope of driveways, taking the information to heart sioners approved the review Conforming Mortgage Fixed Rates property safer – like cutting the home’s proximity to nearby and taking steps to make sure form last year following the some trees around the home, or structures, the location of the their homes are “fire-wise” and lightning-caused Eureka fire 30 Years - .000% Points that are too crowded to get a fire nearest water supply for fire hos- have clearly marked and regis- that broke out Aug.