Memories

While going through some old files recently, I came upon the following information. As you read it, remember the date and the amount.

How many years ago? It doesn’t seem possible that the high school is that old; and what a bargain!

I believe Jim Anderson was superintendent at the time and I was chairman of the board. The debt was to be paid in twenty years and each payment was for sixty-five thousand dollars.

The following minutes are from the January 11, 1979 Carter County High School board meeting.

“(THIRD MEETING)

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF Carter County High School DISTRICT OF Carter County, MONTANA

RELATING TO THE SALE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT BONDS

A duly called special meeting of the Board of Trustees of Carter County High School District of Carter County, was held on the 11th day of January, 1979, being the time fixed for considering the bids on the proposed bond issue. The following trustees were present throughout the entire meeting:

Loyd Townsend, Ekalaka, MT 59324

Janice Markuson, Ekalaka, MT 59324

Harriet Speelmon, Mill Iron, MT 59342

Owen Stieg, Ekalaka, MT 59324

Helen Stevens, Ekalaka, MT 59324

Vernalea Kittelmann, Ekalaka, MT 59324

The clerk of the school district, Susan Carter, was also in attendance through the entire proceeding. The purpose of the meeting was to consider bids on the bonds authorized to be issued by the district in the amount of one million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000.00).

The following bids were received and considered:

First National Bank of St. Paul, 332 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, Serial Bonds, 6.15% Interest; First National Bank of Minneapolis & Assoc., 120 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55480, Serial Bonds, 6.03% Interest; Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood, Inc. & Associates, 800 Multi Foods Building, 730 Marquette, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Serial Bonds, 6.02% Interest.

After all of the said bids had been examined and considered by the board, Vernalea Kittelmann introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption:

“WHEREAS the bid of Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood, Incorporated & Associates on the issue of bonds of this school district in the amount of one million three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000.00), offering to purchase the entire issue at par together with accrued interest, the same to be issued as two hundred sixty serial bonds to draw interest at the rate of six and two hundredths percent (6.02%) per annum, with interest payable semi-annually, is the best bid received, and most advantageous to this school district,

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the bid by Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood, Incorporated & Associates on serial bonds be and the same is hereby accepted; …”

The resolution goes on to state that: “such bonds to be dated as of the first day of February, 1979, to be payable on the serial plan through a period of twenty years from the date of issue, to be redeemable in full ten years from the date of issue and on any interest due date thereafter, the said serial bonds to be paid as follows: sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000.00) on the first day of February, 1980 and the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000.00) on the first day of February each year thereafter until said bonds have been paid in full…”

Owen Stieg seconded the motion for adoption of the resolution. All of the trustees voted “Aye” and none voted “No”. The resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

The high school was built in 1980. Some people went off the board that year and the following became newly elected: Tom McCamish, John Kerr and Larry Tauck.