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.

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 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.

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.

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.

The newest report from the Tax Foundation on the consequences of high state cigarette excise taxes reveals that 21.34 percent of the total cigarettes consumed in Montana are smuggled into the state. Montana ranks twelfth highest in the nation in terms of smuggled cigarettes.

The organization makes the point that crafting tax policy, often has, no matter how well-intentioned, unintended consequences that outweigh their benefits.

One notable consequence of high state cigarette excise tax rates has been increased cigarette smuggling as people procure discounted packs from low-tax states and sell them in high-tax states.

The data was based on 2017 during which Montana’s tax on a pack of cigarettes was $1.70, the same as it has been since 2006. During that time smuggling cigarettes into Montana has declined from 31.20 percent.

Growing cigarette tax differentials across states have made cigarette smuggling both a national problem and, in some cases, a lucrative criminal enterprise.

Cigarette smuggling also puts consumers at risk with counterfeit cigarettes and perpetuates a black market which negatively affects tax revenue.

New York and California have the highest inbound smuggling activity in the country, with an estimated 55.4 percent and 44.6 percent of cigarettes consumed in the state deriving from smuggled sources in 2017, respectively. New York has a tax of $4.35 (the highest in the nation) and California has a tax of $2.87. Missouri has the lowest tax rate of 17 cents.

New Hampshire has the highest level of outbound smuggling at 65 percent of consumption, likely due to its relatively low tax rates and proximity to high-tax states in the northeastern United States.

Following New Hampshire is Delaware (40.6 percent outbound smuggling), Idaho (26.8 percent), Virginia (24.2 percent), and Wyoming (22.4 percent).

Pennsylvania, following a cigarette tax increase from $1.60 to $2.60 in early 2016, has seen a significant increase in smuggling into the state.

Cigarette tax rates increased in 37 states and the District of Columbia between 2006 and 2017.

The data was based on 2017 during which Montana’s tax on a pack of cigarettes was $1.70, the same as it has been since 2006. During that time smuggling cigarettes into Montana has declined from 31.20 percent.

Commercial

  • City Of Billings/T.W. Clark Construction Llc, 4845 Midland Rd, Com Addition, $2,550,000
  • Yellowstone County Council On Aging/H. C. Lift, 935 Lake Elmo Dr, Com Addition, $180,000
  • Family Services/Empire Roofing Inc, 3927 1st Ave S, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $99,424
  • Fed X/Cobb Environmental & Technical Services Inc, 1148 1st Ave N, Com New Other, $3,000
  • Yellowstone Health Partnership/T.W. Clark Construction Llc, 116 S 25th St, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $550,000
  • Kairos Properties Llc/Sunset Construction Llc, 1363 Montana Ave, Com Remodel, $156,000
  • Rimrock Owner Lp/Rolo Construction Inc, 300 S 24th St W, Com Remodel, $500
  • R E O Llc/Shaw Construction, 2590 Holman Ave, Com Remodel, $3,000
  • Lara, Scott B & Linda K, 315 S 34th St, Com Remodel, $5,000
  • Plaza Office Building Llc/Artisan Builders, 1629 Avenue D, Com Remodel, $20,000

Residential

  • Classic Design Homes Inc/Classic Design Homes, 4039 Lodge Ln, Res New Single Family, $221,830
  • Classic Design Homes/Classic Design Homes, 2213 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family, $235,729
  • Specialized Construction Inc/Specialized Construction, 2127 Lakehills Dr, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $47,635
  • Specialized Construction Inc/Specialized Construction, 2124 Lakehills Dr,
  • Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $47,600
  • Nick Wong/Paramount Construction And Remodeling, 123 Terry Ave, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $15,000
  • Thomas, J Richard & M Sharyn/Your Home Improvement Company, Llc,
  • 333 Stillwater Ln, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $8,500

A continuing resolution for federal funding for the current fiscal year gives Missoula International Airport the surety it needs in planning a proposed $67 million terminal, following a record passenger year and in anticipation of additional new flights. The project is expected to be completed in 2021.

Uncooperative winter weather has slowed progress on the terminal project at Billings Airport, with the possibility that it may stall until spring. But, if increases in passenger enplanements over the past two months continue through December, Billings too may break its 2018 record of 451,564 enplanements. November of this year ended with 431,000 enplanements YTD, compared to 413,795 in November 2018.

If, for shivering Montanans, the winters of the recent past have seemed colder and summers inordinately cooler, they would be right.

The average monthly temperatures in Montana have been declining at a pace of 0.4 degrees F each decade, since 2005, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The data also reveals that Montana has been experiencing a modest increase in precipitation since the early 1900s. Although interrupted by periodic drought during recent years – not historically unusual – the long-term increase in precipitation has continued into the new century.

Also, climate change has been a benefit to Montana.

To the degree that there has been warming, “Satellite measurements of global vegetation intensity show Montana is benefitting from global greening more than almost any other region of the planet.”

The Heartland Institute recently announced these findings as the result of research done by James Taylor and Anthony Watts in a policy brief entitled “Climate Change and Montana: a Scientific Assessment” (NOAA). The document provides Montana-specific climate information for lawmakers to assist in dealing with Gov. Steve Bullock’s executive order of July 1, 2019 creating the Montana Climate Solutions Council, charged with preparing the state for climate change impacts and to create a plan to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2035.

The data reveals that Montana has warmed very little during the past century, and not at all during the past 15 years. “NOAA temperature records show a modest warming trend has occurred in Montana since 1985, at a pace of 0.2 degree Fahrenheit per decade,” but the most accurate and advanced temperature-gathering stations which became operational in 2005, show Montana temperatures have dropped at a pace of 0.4 percent per decade.

“It is counterfactual to claim humans are causing a recent increase, or any increase at all, in recent Montana temperatures,” the report emphasized.

What modest increases in temperature that have occurred, along with long- term precipitation increases, have benefitted Montana, as indicated by increased crop production (wheat, corn, barley, oats, potatoes, sugar beets, hay) that has set new records, almost every year. And, in fact there is much to indicate that warming temperatures are a positive to human existence and especially so in Montana since warmer climate “would provide greater opportunities for tourism, exercise, and recreation in Montana,” concludes the report.

Warmer temperatures also result in fewer human deaths than does colder weather.

The authors warn that while Montana has suffered economic losses and struggled, unnecessarily so, from government –imposed climate programs focused on restricting the production and use of coal and oil, the state should prepare for what is likely to be another wave of activism targeting another aspect of the state’s basic economy – livestock production.  “This also threatens to disproportionately harm Montana, which is an important beef and sheep producing state,” said the report, noting that Montana ranks seventh among the 50 states in beef cattle production and eighth in sheep and lamb production.

Climate activists have outlined an anti-livestock agenda in the UN which claims that “The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.”

In September 2018, the UN published an article – “Tackling the World’s Most Urgent Problem: Meat” — summarizing the views of the winners of the UN Champions of the Earth Award, saying, “[Our] use of animals as a food-production technology has brought us to the verge of catastrophe. The destructive impact of animal agriculture on our environment far exceeds that of any other technology on Earth.”

The state faces these political attacks despite the fact that Montana CO2 emissions contribute very little to national and global emissions.

“Only eight states emit fewer total CO2 emission than Montana.”

Montana produces less than 2 percent of total US CO2 emissions. According to calculations included in the US National Center for Atmospheric Research climate models, immediately eliminating all of Montana CO2 emissions would lower expected global temperature by only approximately 0.003 degree C by the year 2100, “an amount too small to be measured or noticed.”

Montana gets most of its electricity generation from emissions-free hydroelectric power.

“While attempts by Montana policymakers to restrict or eliminate CO2 emissions will in no measurable way reduce global temperature, such efforts would inflict much economic suffering on the citizens of the state.”

“…even if Montana were showing signs of substantial climate change or negative climate change impacts, Montana has already dramatically curtailed its carbon dioxide emissions, which means state government action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions or otherwise address climate change would have extremely minimal climate impact. However, these actions to restrict greenhouse gas emissions would unquestionably limit Montana natural resource production, thereby reducing government revenues, raise energy prices for Montana consumers and businesses, and deal a crippling blow to Montana’s livestock and crop production.”

Restricting or discouraging oil or coal production would harm the economy and kill jobs. “In 2017, more than 1,100 workers, many with high salaries, were directly employed in coal production in Montana. Total annual coal-related payrolls in Montana amounted to nearly $100 million and there are many other jobs dependent on the coal industry…”

“Eliminating Montana’s fossil fuel sector would also put a strain on state and local government income. In 2018, the state collected $60 million from its Coal Severance Tax. Additionally the coal Gross Proceeds Tax collected $17.3 million, of which $9.1 million went to local governments.

“Other coal-production-related taxes lifted state revenues from that sector to greater than $110 million. The state also collects another $65.5 million from the Oil and Gas Production Tax.”

The report takes direct issue with the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment (MCA), which Gov. Bullock said was the basis for his climate change initiatives to restrict CO2 emission.

The MCA is “deeply flawed,” state the authors. “…the assessment was biased from its inception,” they state, pointing out that its participants – the Nature Conservancy and the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) – had previously declared biases prior to becoming participants in the assessment, and any contributions from “credible and credentialed voices in the scientific and scholarly community offering solid data calling alarmist narratives into question” were not invited to participate.

“MCA’s authors cherry-picked data outside of their proper context and misleadingly presented such data to display an alarmist picture of climate change and its effects in Montana.”

They called a “glaring error” the MCA’s conclusion that between 1950 and 2015 Montana temperatures have increased 2- 3 degrees F. Comparisons were made using extreme data in ways for which there was no reason to present it, “unless the presenter is seeking the most alarmist storyline possible to mislead readers about the long-term temperature trend,” they said. “Any temperature history beginning in 1930, 1940 or 1960 would show a 1-2 degree temperature increase, which is in keeping with the Montana temperature history reported by NOAA. A temperature history beginning in 2005 would show no warming at all.”

In a review of earth’s history of climate change, the authors stated “Modest recent changes in global climate is well within natural variability”…. in fact during the current period between “ice age epochs,” which have occurred every 100,000 years or so, the temperatures have been cooler than in previous “interglacial warm periods.”

“During the past 150 years, Earth has slowly emerged from the Little Ice Age. This warming, which began before the invention of coal-fired power plants and automobiles, has brought immeasurable benefits. Crop production sets new records almost every year. Satellite instruments have measured a dramatic greening of the Earth. Deserts are receding and plant life is increasingly taking root in arid regions of the globe. Extreme weather events are becoming less frequent. Lower temperatures, which kill far more people than moderate or even high temperatures, are becoming less frequent.”

All of the 52 six-pane windows at Sperry’s Chalet at Lake McDonald Lodge at Glacier National Park are installed. The  interior walls and doors are stained a rich chocolate brow and it looks like the construction crews will meet their goal of wrapping up the rebuilding of the historic dormitory before the snow sets in.

Results from a water-quality sampling project on the Kootenai River indicate there are elevated levels of selenium in water and fish tissue and elevated nitrates in the water. Findings the United States Environmental Protection Agency says are caused by upstream mining sources in Canada’s Elk Valley and at Lake Koocanusa. The study  is based on water chemistry and fish tissue samples taken on the river in Montana and Idaho. Aside from looking at chemical levels in the water, the study evaluated 142 fish for selenium and mercury as well.

Sarah Davis has been named the first female chief ranger in Yellowstone National Park’s history and the 18th chief ranger to manage the Park for the National Park Service. Davis will start in her new job in December.  Davis, whose official title is Chief of Resource and Visitor Protection, is a 20-year NPS veteran. She currently is the chief ranger at Natchez Trace Parkway. In her new job Davis  will manage more than 275 employees.  

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall will headline the 100th Montana Farm Bureau Convention. Duvall plans to attend the entire convention, allowing him time to network with members and provide updates on national ag issues. The Convention will be held November 11-14 at the DoubleTree

Reports released by Montana State University’s Montana Manufacturing Extension Center highlight the strength of Montana’s manufacturing sector.  According to the report, manufacturing was equal to tourism and ahead of mining and farming in statewide earnings in 2018. The petroleum and coal sector accounted for the largest share of these earnings, followed by wood products. The fastest-growing sector, meanwhile, was “beverages and tobacco.”

406 Brewing Company is moving to a larger facility on East Main Street in Manhattan. The business will move into a 7,000 plus -square-foot space. 406 Brewing Company is best known for a few specialty mainstays, including Hop Punch IPA, Putin’s Revenge Imperial Stout, Big Blonde Ale, and Jamber Ale. 406 might be able to offer barrel-aged beer. The larger building also will enable the business to purchase more tanks, a canning line and the keg line.

Owner Robin Chopus has sold the Emerson Grill in Bozeman. It will close at the end of October. The fine-dining, Italian food restaurant and catering business opened in 2005 and sources food from local producers.

Town Pump Charitable Foundation is matching $750,000 in contributions during its 18th annual fundraising campaign for food banks across Montana. A record-setting 85 food banks are participating in the statewide “Be A Friend in Deed, Helping Those in Need” campaign this year. The campaign has raised about $33 million for Montana food banks in 17 years, including about $6.25 million in matching grants from the Town Pump Charitable Foundation. Donations are being collected at local Town Pumps, Lucky Lil’s, Montana Lil’s and Magic Diamond casinos.

On behalf of the state of Montana, Attorney General Tim Fox is petitioning federal district court in Great Falls to intervene on behalf of the defendant in a lawsuit that seeks to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline, which will begin in Alberta and connect to an existing pipeline in Nebraska, will run through Phillips, Valley, McCone, Dawson, Prairie, and Fallon Counties in Montana.

The Montana Department of Transportation announced that it is seeking public comment on a proposal to mill and overlay 8.5 miles of US-191, west of Roy, Montana. The proposed project begins 8.5 miles west of Roy, and extends east for 8.4 miles. The project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2021, depending on completion of all project development activities and availability of funding.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. has acquired the assets of Pride Electric, Inc., an electrical construction company in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1993, Pride Electric provides high-end commercial, industrial and tenant improvement electrical construction, along with tele-data and security system installation. “Pride Electric will provide complementary electrical services in Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond,” said David L. Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources. Pride Electric will be operated as a division of OEG, Inc., which is a subsidiary of MDU Construction Services Group.

Next March Lewis and Clark County is planning to separate from PureView Health Center. PureView will become the employer of 63 former county employees because of the disassociation, which means they will no longer be members of the Montana Public Employees union. Since any organization that separates from the union must pay the total of the unfunded liability that would have been paid in the future to cover the organization’s commitments, Lewis and County will face a payment of up to $5 million.

The Missoula County Airport Authority is now seeking proposals from concessionaires that are interested and capable of providing service  in its new terminal. Proposals are due in mid-December and the board is expected to reach a recommendation in February. The airport currently holds a beer and wine license that also comes with a gaming license. The airport will likely lease the beer and wine license to the winning bidder. The board hasn’t decided whether the gaming license will be included

Kaiser Health News reported that Medicare has cut payments to nine Montana hospitals as part of a federal program aimed at incentivizing hospitals to reduce how many patients return for a second stay. That’s the most Montana hospitals that have been penalized in one year. 14 Montana hospitals were evaluated by the feds.

A Belgrade-based company says they are set to become the leading company in water-scooping aircraft in America.. Bridger Aerospace will receive their first two CL-415 Enhanced Aerial Firefighter (EAF) airframes, which are used to gather water to dump on and suppress wildfires, in time for next year’s 2020 fire season. Four more scooper planes will join the company’s fleet over the following two years. The company is already a leader in aerial firefighting nationwide and a major force for aerial tracking and suppression of wildfires. Bridger Aerospace Chief Operating Officer Darren Wilkins says the acquisition of the airframes is an important move not only for the company, but for firefighting nationwide. Wilkins pointed out that Bridger Aerospace’s six new scooper planes will help build the American fleet size for aircrafts that drop water, since there aren’t many water scoopers in use in the U.S.

The first flight landed at the new $275 million Williston Basin International Airport at its opening on Oct. 10. It replaces Sloulin Field, which served as Williston’s airport for nearly 60 years. 

North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the second quarter of 2019 are up nearly 8.4%. Second quarter taxable sales and purchases were up 6.34% in Williston and 6.09% in Williams County. Williams County’s taxable sales and purchases rose from $423,659,194 in 2018 to $449,451,615 in 2019 while Williston’s increased from $402,042,984 to $427,535,297.

The First National Bank and Trust Co. of Williston  will be converting to a state chartered financial institution.  The bank currently operates branches in Williston, Crosby and Ray. As part of the conversion process, the bank will be rebranded as First State Bank & Trust, pending regulatory approval.