County commission candidates answer questions ahead of June 4 primary

Carter County voters will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the upcoming primary election on June 4th. With the election looming, the Eagle asked both republican candidates for Carter County Commissioner from District No. 3 the same four questions. Following are their answers.

Challenger Dan Dinstel

What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county?

I've spent time during this campaign speaking with taxpayers about their desires for county government in the future and they tell me that high on their lists are good roads and bridges. I see no pressing needs for NEW infrastructure or capital projects at the current time. During the last couple of months, I've driven all county roads and feel that maintaining existing roads and bridges is paramount. As an engineer on large public projects, I found that spending tax dollars on maintenance is much wiser than rebuilding or rehabilitating rundown infrastructure. We need to spend dollars to maintain the current roads and bridges.

What one part of county government should receive more attention?

Analyzing the county budget is my first step if I should be elected. From the surface, I do not see any part of county government that should receive more attention than another. The current inflation rate is of concern and will drive up the cost of doing business. All parts of county government should focus on retaining the current services to county residents. We also should look at retaining our future workforce. Let's do all we can to keep the younger generation in Carter County.

Are county taxes too high, about right or pleasantly low?

It's easy to say that taxes are too high, but the flip side is-what do we eliminate to lower taxes? Let's not get ourselves in a position that our kids and grandkids will have to pay for all the "nice" things that we are enjoying today. We need to consider what does our tax bill buy? We have good schools, the roads are better than I can remember, we have our own extension agent, and high functioning county employees. We need to protect that situation. That requires paying for it with our tax dollars.

What is your experience with preparing or authorizing budgets?

My work experience is as a professional engineer involved in preparing and authorizing budgets for multi-million dollar capital projects for the state of Alaska. Designing, permitting, and contracting large capital projects involves huge budgets and hundreds of employees. It takes time and careful management to complete these projects. I am accustomed to working in this situation and feel that I can comprehend and understand the implications of the county budget. My experience also tells me that current expenditures have an implication on future fiscal needs. We need to be aware of how today's decisions will affect tomorrow's budget.

Incumbent Mike Watkins

What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county?

As to most pressing needs for infrastructure or capitol improvement in the county, a short list would be:

1. To continue to maintain our roads and county bridges that we currently have. Our roads have improved greatly in the last 20 years and to this end we as commissioners, will continue to explore all avenues to fight and stop the Snowy River Carbon Sequestration project in western Carter County. I feel that this project will be devastating to roads and bridges, both due to the volume of construction traffic, length of time the project is slated to run, and because of the length of time on site, monitoring what is construction traffic and what is normal wear and tear.

2. Along with the possible road damages, we have to consider, surface water and drinking water damages that pipeline ruptures or escaping CO2 from the wells will cause and clean up costs this project is sure to entail.

3. Carter County recently purchased a replacement ambulance and currently the two ambulances are being housed in an old cramped garage with no space for routine maintenance or clean up. Since these vehicles cost upwards of $275,000.00, it only seems logical that they should be cared for. The county owns the lots next to the current facility and with the demolition of the old house and garage there would be adequate room to construct a new shop to house the ambulances and office space for county maintenance and or EMTs. The county currently has funds set aside for capitol improvement and I certainly feel this should be done.

4. Lastly, even though it is not a county project per se, we as commissioners continue to push for Highway 7 north of Ekalaka to the county line and Highway 212 throughout the southern part of the county to be placed on MDOT's list for new construction for the safety of our residents and all that travel these roads.

5. Just to be clear, the project I have outlined, except for the highway 7 and 212 work over and the Snowy River Project, are either funded currently in the pertinent departments budget or money has been set aside in capitol improvement accounts so no new taxes or mill levies would be required.

6. To determine what to do with the old hospital building and move on. To this end I believe we have set up a public meeting to put forth the findings of the Adapta group and their subsequent suggestions. If it is not firmed up it will be shortly in the early part of June.

What one part of county government should receive more attention?

As for this question, it seems to be like picking one parent over the other or one child over their sibling. I believe all departments are important. That being said, if forced to choose I would take a look at public safety and the dept. of emergency services. For so long we have lived the good life, isolated from or at least we thought so, the problems of the world. But with the outset of the internet, Covid and high costs of living on both coasts, we can no longer assume so. To this end we must look for better enforcement from our law enforcement and be prepared for unfortunately some unseen disaster in the future. With new residents moving in constantly, The Snowy River Project if we are forced to live with it, and the numbers of pipelines running through the county, it only seems prudent to prepare for and get out ahead of these potential issues. These are the agencies of the county that will deal with them. So yes, I believe they need more attention.

Are county taxes too high, about right or pleasantly low?

To me, this question is the most straightforward. I feel we have lows taxes due to our pipelines and the Bentonite industry account for approximately 94% of tax monies. Most counties would love to have that problem.

What is your experience with preparing or authorizing budgets?

Finally, all of my adult life I have worked either in state government, private Business, or County government including 11 years with the state of Oklahoma, 30 plus years running a private business, and the last 6 as commissioner of Carter County. In all 3 ventures I have both prepared and authorized budgets and been responsible for their complying with either state or county requirements, or in private business making sure the bills are paid and you get paid too.

In Oklahoma I was running a 125 employee facility with a budget in the millions. My personal business has operated continuously since 1990 and as commissioners we oversee and authorize all department budgets presented to us. Our county goes through very rigorous audits with an outside auditor and I am proud to say we have worked very hard to bring our audits up to the point that we have had no major issues this last audit.

Also on the ballot

Locally, republican incumbent Tracey D. Walker was the only individual who filed for Clerk of District Court/Superintendent of Schools.

Registered voters within the county will also be voting on a Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association operating mill levy.

Voters residing in Ekalaka will be voting whether or not to renew three other mill levies that support Emswiler Pool, Ekalaka town parks and Ekalaka Public Library.

Lastly, on this year's ballot for the first time in 10 years, voters will decide whether or not to review their local government. This is a right given by the Montana Constitution. Voters will be asked if they want to elect a commission to study possible changes to their local government and spend their tax dollars to pay for it. Voters residing in Ekalaka will see two government review questions on the June 4 primary election ballot, one for Carter County and another for Ekalaka.