Because of the passage of House Bill 35, in the recently concluded State Legislature, the City of Billings has appointed two representatives to the Heights County Water Board District, and Bozeman Attorney, Susan Swimley, representing the board, has asked the court to dismiss the case the Water District filed against Yellowstone County and Pam Ellis. It asks that each party cover their own legal costs.
House Bill 35 was introduced by Rep. Larry Brewster, (R), HD44, Billings, who for a while served as interim manager for the Water District, following the retirement of its former manager. Its passage changed state law which renders the District’s case against the County moot, according to Swimley.
The legislation established that the City, as a sole provider of water for the District, would have a voting member on the board and a non-voting member. It also established as optional to the board whether it would accept the appointment of a county representative.
At a recent meeting the District Board adopted a policy not to accept any representative from the County.
Last Monday evening, the Billings City Council voted unanimously to appoint former state legislator, Jeff Essmann, as a voting member of the board and Jennifer Duray, with the City Water Department, as a non-voting representative.
There was no discussion at any public Water District Board meeting by board members about the pending case against the county and Ellis. The only public notice about the case was the filing of Swimley’s court document asking for dismissal.
Swimley informed the court that the Water District’s ... Read Full Story here.
