The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will hold an open house for the sidewalk and shared-use path project proposed in Columbus. The open house will be held January 14 from 6- 8 p.m. at the Columbus City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 2nd Floor (408 East 1st Avenue North).
Author: Press Room
Dickinson Press Newspapers Found
Bundles of Dickinson Press newspapers were found in the dumpsters behind the Dickinson Post Office. The bundles of papers were unopened and therefore undelivered. The United States Postal Service says it is investigating irregularities in mail delivery service in Dickinson. Staff from competing newspapers checked the garbage bins behind the Dickinson post office, where hundreds of newspapers — still bundled, unopened — were found. Other undelivered mail pieces were found with the newspapers.
Bozeman-Yellowstond International Airport
The Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport will expand its service to two major hubs this summer. The airport will almost double the number of passengers it can carry daily to and from Seattle on Alaska Airlines and will change its Delta Airlines service to Atlanta from seasonal to daily beginning this summer. Alaska Airlines, which offers four daily flights to Seattle from Bozeman and back has upgraded the equipment used on two of those flights.
Montana Simulcast Racing, LLC
Nick Alonzo has operated Montana Simulcast Racing, LLC, since 2012, but he has decided to close the business. Simulcast racing was a key contributor to purses at the live race meets held each year in Miles City and Great Falls. These events have been funded by the Montana Board of Horse Racing even if there is no simulcast provider.
True Water Fly Fishing
Ben Eisinger opened the True Water fly-fishing shop in downtown Kalispell after 25 years selling automobiles. True Water Fly Shop is located at 35 Fourth St. W. in Kalispell.
Steer Clear of the Many Glacier
According to Glacier Park press releases park-goers should essentially steer clear of the Many Glacier end of the park for the next two seasons while the road, receives an overdue major reconstruction. The project will “significantly increase travel times to the Many Glacier area,” and visitors should expect “travel delays of up to 40 minutes each way from Babb to the Many Glacier Hotel.” The entire Many Glacier Campground will transfer to reservation only in order to reduce congestion in the area.
MDT Seeks to Rehab 94 Corridor
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to notify the public and seek comments on a proposal to rehabilitate 10 bridges within the Interstate 94 corridor in Yellowstone County. The bridges are located between mile posts 14 and 21, starting at Ballantine and continuing to approximately 2.5 miles west of Pompeys Pillar.
Proposed work includes resurfacing or sealing the existing bridge decks, upgrading the bridge rail and roadway guardrail, replacement of bridge deck joints, deck drainage improvements, and upgrades to the adjacent roadway and signing. The purpose of the project is to repair deteriorated elements of each bridge to extend their service life.
The project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2021, depending on the completion of all project development activities and availability of funding.
An important part of properly planning for future projects is partnering with the community. Montana Department of Transportation welcomes the public to provide ideas and comments on the proposed project. Comments may be submitted online at http://www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml or in writing to Montana Department of Transportation, Billings office at PO Box 20437, Billings, MT 59104-0437. Please note that comments are for project CN 9585000.
The public is encouraged to contact Billings District Administrator Rod Nelson at (406) 252-4138 or project Design Engineer Jason Senn at (406) 444-9128 with questions or for additional information.
Matt Smith Joins KLJ
Matt Smith has joined the Billings office of KLJ, an engineering firm. Smith has joined the team as a project manager.
He is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Montana and earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Montana State University.
Federal Overtime Rule Rules
At the beginning of the year, small business owners must begin complying with changes in the federal overtime rule. The minimum salary for the overtime exemption will rise from $23,660 annually to $35,568 annually. That means employers have to pay time-and-a-half for executive, administrative, or professional employees who make less than $35,568 for any work done beyond 40 hours per week.
The Department of Labor estimates that the change affects 1.3 million employees, raising the cost of compensation for the affected businesses. The cost would have been a lot higher had NFIB not stepped in with a lawsuit that blocked the Obama administration from raising the overtime threshold salary to $47,476. The new Trump administration increase was meant to be a compromise.
Affected NFIB members should double-check to make sure they are in compliance. The Labor Department found 11,018 overtime rule violations in 2019, forcing payment of millions in back wages. Don’t make a mistake and find yourself on the hot seat.
Eshbaugh First Deputy Chief
The Lockwood Fire Department has appointed former Captain Karim Eshbaugh, to the newly -created position of Deputy Fire Chief. Chief Eshbaugh has 17 years of experience with Lockwood Fire. He will begin his new duties on January 1, 2020.
Eshbaugh’s salary will be $80,000. He will report directly to the Fire Chief, John Staley. His responsibilities will include managing training, emergency medical services, and daily operation.
He will work 40 hour weeks and will be on call for major emergencies as the Incident Commander.
