BELLE FOURCHE-There were harsh words said at the recent Butte County Commission meeting held June 3. Remarks stemmed from exchanges made between three people sitting in the commission room while commissioners were in executive session during the May 20 meeting. But first the comments centered around road conditions.
The first comments made during Public Comments centered around condition of Butte County roads. Sue Broadhurst had driven Sourdough Road almost to the Wyoming line and found that it almost impassable in parts. She noted that emergency vehicles would have trouble traveling some of the road. “Get gravel on the road!” she said.
Calvin Fickbohm noted that the ditch along Riley Road is in better shape than the road itself. There are about four miles that are “hardly passable” when it rains.
He encouraged all the commissioners to drive the gravel roads.
As an answer to the remarks said during the May 20 meeting, Lori Johnston, Highway Department Administrative Assistant, spoke clearly that she had heard the three people trash employees, the administrative building, and the commissioners. That morning she had received a “vile” e-mail from a Butte County resident.
“We are your frontline,” she told the commissioners.
She asked the commissioners to defend “your employees.”
Deputy Treasurer Kelly Keegan read a statement pointed toward the remarks of May 20 also. She pointed out that the people from May 20 knew they were on camera and essentially spoke to the residents of the county.
She said that 100% of office employees take pride in their office. They understand that they are the face of the county.
Travis Ismay had a few remarks to say surrounding the road conditions. He had a list of suggestion that he shared with the commissioners. Some of his ideas include encouraging the commissioners to assess the roads in the county personally, asking the highway department for a comprehensive plan for managing the road conditions, require the blade operators to work at the time the road conditions are right, and research and use resources that they have and educating the blade operators.
Commission Chair James Ager had a prepared statement that he read into the record. He encouraged everyone to listen to the meeting from May 20, 2025 on the Butte County website.
He said that the behavior of the three individuals was reprehensible and offensive. The many derogatory remarks “directed at Butte County elected officials and employees” was inappropriate.
As a whole, the commissioners affirm their support of all employees of the county. The remarks of May 20 do not echo the commissioners or the majority of people in Butte County.
A matter that has been growing near Rick Richards’ place on Old Twilight Road was brought to the attention of the commissioners.
Richards’ neighbor has allowed Hoary Crest to grow on his land which is spreading throughout the area. The sheriff has checked into the matter and the landowner has gotten the proper chemical to spray, but there is no evidence of the task being done. Richards is asking the commissioners to do something about it.
Highway Superintendent Dwayne Heidrich said that it may be time to start the legal process, starting with letters. A special assessment process can be done.
Richards also brought up the condition of Old Twilight Road.
He said that the “windmill guys” drive down the center of the road at high rates of speed.
“I feel they are putting my family in jeopardy,” he said.
Sheriff Lamphere said that he would have law enforcement follow up.
Richards also wanted to know about the auto-gates and what the process is to get them cleaned out. The landowner must let the Highway Department know that they need cleaned.
As far as keeping the road graded, the windmill company has signed a road agreement to maintain the road on a regular basis.
Heidrich addressed the “gravel issue” stating that 40,000 T of gravel had been purchased and crushing will start soon.
He spoke to the problem of grading off the gravel as stated by a resident. He said they didn’t blade off the gravel, it’s mud at this time. They will be putting a crown on the road now and then will gravel the road.
Heidrich said that he had a list of the roads that needed attention in order of condition. If anyone wants to see the list, it is available at his office.
“There is so much traffic [on many roads],” he said. His crew is trying to keep up with what there is to do.
“It’s a thankless job,” he said. “We are constantly being yelled at.”
“Nobody wants our job, but everybody wants to do our job,” he said.
Chair Ager wanted residents to know that Heidrich and Johnston are very responsive to phone calls. Ager once again stated that he does not appreciate name calling. “There’s a better way,” he said.
“We are aware that roads need attention,” he said. And added that operators will be getting more training. He urged the commissioners to attend training.
Heidrich once again said that roads cannot be bladed when wet.
Commissioner Tom Brunner also encouraged the commissioners to drive the roads.
In other business:
*Several provisional budgets were discussed, with further discussion on personnel being tabled to July.
*Dispatch still has one position to fill.
*Sheriff’s Department is now fully staffed.
The next regular commission meeting will be June 17.
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