Candidates Vying for County Commissioner Respond to Questions and Meet the Public at Elks Lodge Forum Thursday
The Beartooth Elks Lodge Forum will be held in Red Lodge on Thursday, October 17, at 6:00 p.m.
By Denise Rivette
In addition to the Beartooth Elks Lodge Candidate Forum being held this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Red Lodge, located at 114 North Broadway Avenue, Montana Independent News (MIN) submitted questions to the two candidates for Carbon County Commissioner for the Red Lodge District. Norma Shultz is challenging incumbent commissioner Bill Bullock for the position.
There are three Carbon County Commission districts: Bridger, Joliet and Red Lodge. While each commissioner is responsible for certain activities within their own district (e.g. roads and bridges) and must live in the district they are elected to represent, they represent the entire county when conducting County business; therefore, the entire county votes for each commissioner.
MIN: What makes you the better Candidate for County Commissioner?
Bill Bullock
I stand on a record of sacrifice and service. I have served in this position since 2017. My approach to performing the functions of the Commissioner really sets with service above self. We have had a devastating few years, the last 4 or 5 years. Fellow commissioners passing away, a pandemic, catastrophic fires, and most recently, a flood event like no one has ever seen. I have hit the ground running and have led the charge in getting our infrastructure back in order and insuring that our community continues to thrive. It is a high energy, time consuming endeavor, but a task I look forward to every day, striving to make our home and County the best it can be. I have strong connections with local leaders and our congressional delegation which allows for efficient contact and resolve of unforeseen issues.
Norma Shultz
My experience and education serving the public for 50 years, working in government and non-profit\profit organizations has prepared me to serve the people of our county. My working background experience started in a family- owned facility nursing home. This allowed me to work in other nursing homes as well as a hospital in Kansas. A lot of my work experience also allowed me to become a truck loader, welder, forklift operator and sheet metal worker. I became a journeyman baker. This also gave me the opportunity to become a Vice President/Executive Chairman, and also become the first woman president of the Cascade County Trades and Labor Assembly with an affiliation of 18 unions. I then was recruited from the Montana AFL-CIO to become a coordinator of a program assisting laid off workers. These positions also helped prepare me to further my experience to be a coordinator for a welfare assistant program that was to transition those off the welfare rolls into becoming working tax payers. Moving from Montana to Oklahoma to care for my mother with Alzheimer’s disease, I worked for Phillips 66 in consolidating educational programs and in accounts conciliations of missing funds and unpaid patrons. Each and everyone of these positions, consisted of a strong and knowledgeable experience in working with multiple organizations that fit the needs of who I represented. Negotiations that would benefit everyone and acknowledge the needs of each individual is important. If I had to present an unfavorable answer to an individual, that I represented, at least they knew why and what other avenues that could be available to seek their needs.
MIN: What are your top priorities for the County for the next six years?
Bill Bullock
The continued pursuit of infrastructure improvements and enhancements. Our road, bridge, and maintenance functions need to be top of the list. Only by having intact and functioning infrastructure, can we continue to grow. With that, looking ahead to exploring every opportunity to address the other issues the county is facing, whether it be building facilities, staffing and really, preparing our County for the next 100 years.
Norma Shultz
Better communications, transparency of the workings and dealings of the commissioners’ actions. Mostly making the community not only aware of what needs to be done, but as a community what can others other than our government take the responsibility of our issues. Since money appears to be part of the answers to fit the needs, possibly getting more grant writers, community projects, being done actually by the community itself and using unused materials, to supply such projects with volunteers. Promoting more businesses in every community. Such as: Roscoe could definitely use a gas station and convenient store. We have many campers, hunters, fishermen and hikers, as well as traveling tourists. We absolutely need to address the needs of long-term eldercare. Many are having to be relocated to Billings and further, when they would be better off at home or in a more local care facility. Safety is also a big issue. This would require more town meetings to have an action plan for each community to address emergency disasters, and a better warning system. Our law enforcement needs a more reliable way to house those arrested other than the tax payers being charged daily for the care of an incarcerated inmates. Housing is also a big issue that needs to be addressed. We need to be more aware of the upcoming programs that can help those to become homeowners.
MIN: What impacts do you foresee the mine layoffs will have on the County?
Bill Bullock
The Stillwater mine layoffs are very hard to predict, and what impact that will have on our entire region in South Central Montana, will remain to be seen. The volume of folks that work at Stillwater mine, and reside within our county, numbers in the hundreds. With the layoffs and scaling back on its way, the impact to tax base and our community are yet to be seen. Make no mistake, this is a monumental event, regionally, affecting a lot of folks, and how they make their living. I have visited with our congressional delegation in support of the bills drafted to remove the cause of this; Russian market flooding with inexpensive palladium and rhodium, and insuring there is some reliance on our own palladium and rhodium. There is no reason we should be importing this from out of the Country. I will be following this event daily, until we get some sort of resolve, and taking every opportunity to voice our concerns and frustrations. We will get through this, but make no mistake, things could get rocky.
Norma Shultz
This is a situation that is also near and dear to my heart. I would have to say this [coordinator of a program assisting laid off workers] was one of the most rewarding positions, I had the privilege to serve. One of the requirements for this position was that you had to have been a laid off worker, to understand the needs of those who lost their jobs. To be suddenly unemployed does not just affect the worker, but effects the spouse, their children, their creditors, the rent/mortgage, health care, schools and community as a whole. The community needs to be supportive, programs for assistance (that many have never used before or even knew they existed) need to know that there are alternatives to help them for a short period until they gain new employment. How they handle this temporary situation may have an effect on and impact the rest of their lives. For some, the idea of coping with this situation may lead not only to depression, drugs, alcohol and even marriage problems. Some may even find or stray away from their religion. I would be more than happy to help anyone facing these issues, at any given time. Reminding an individual that this maybe only a temporary situation and not to give up is one of the most important. For some, this can be a relief to do something completely different or even return to school and receive a degree in a completely unrelated field of trade.
MIN: How will you address those impacts?
Bill Bullock
See response to previous question
Norma Shultz
This needs to be a group effort. I would strongly suggest that you have such supporting agencies meet with all of them as a group and then be willing to talk to them individually of the services that may need to seek. Such as a financial advisor or even Credit Consumer Counseling. Job service representative, representative for job assistance programs, mental/health representatives. Put together an on-going support group. Ask them, what they feel are the most important things to them and address those needs. Phony speakers need to stay home, because they serve as no use. An unemployed victim will stop listening and turn away from this opportunity that could have been a beneficial opportunity to learn.
MIN: What do you see as the three biggest issues the commission will be dealing with in the coming term?
Bill Bullock
1) Development. We have been getting developed gradually over the last several decades. With the events of the last 4-5 years, we are now facing a tidal wave of development, unlike we have ever seen. For lack of a better word, we have been found. Development has set a new record each year, every year for the last four. Things like availability of ground water, impacts to existing residences, and impacts to infrastructure, are just some of the things to consider when looking at this. We as a Commission have been contemplating some alternatives for some time. We as a County have to contemplate and act on some tough decisions on how we continue to move forward. I am optimistic that we can preserve what we have and accommodate what can change. We are going to find out.
2) Taxes. We are all still reeling from this last year’s tax bill. Something that needs to be kept in mind, only about 10-15% of your tax bill stays here in the county to provide all of the necessary functions for us to live our lives. The rest goes to the state, with the majority going to education. I am hoping for some significant changes at the state legislative level to correct this. I have spoken frequently with our state representative and senator. We as a Commission have also been heavily engaged with Montana Association of Counties in lobbying for a change. Since the Department of Revenue is the assessor and provides counties with taxable assessments, working cooperatively with them to find an alternative is necessary for us to move forward and continue to afford to live here.
3) Infrastructure. We need to continue to focus on how we can improve our infrastructure to the best standard we can. That being said, we have to do it efficiently. I will continue to focus on road and bridge enhancements and replacements. We also have to look to our county building alterations and improvements. With this, the continuing issue of incarceration and jail facilities that are necessary for our law enforcement to do their job, and for our communities to be safe. I have been focused on this constantly, sitting on the Law and Justice Committee with MACO, and the constant reminder of the $15-35,000 we shell out per month for incarceration, this issue is not going away.
Also, with the closure of just about all of the assisted living facilities, outside of population centers, in Montana and surrounding states, has left our county in a terrible situation. One of our most vulnerable populations, our elderly and seniors, have very few, if any options for assisted living. I have been involved with the Area II Agency on Aging and its County representative for the last 7 years. We as a county have to support the services necessary to insure that our senior population has the necessary resources to live and thrive in their homes and our county. I have made this a primary focus since I took office in 2017. Carbon County has stood up infrastructure at all of our senior centers and have insured they will be functional and viable for years to come. HVAC, pavement, access improvements, freezers, building improvements, and most recently, a farm to table food supply, provided by the County, through a local, in-county producer, has insured reliable commodities, to the senior centers, for years to come.
The issues this county faces are numerous. That being said, we are so fortunate to call this place home. I have led from the front in every disaster we have faced. My assertiveness and perseverance have enabled us to get back on our feet and back to our homes. I look forward to continue to serve as your County Commissioner.
Norma Shultz
A. Change! We have many changes that are coming that will have a definite impact on everyone. There will be changes due to who we elect and the legislature that comes with it. Changes in funding may also be an impact and how we budget the differences in the rulings may work more or against us all. Changes in our housing and development. New ideas of businesses, and being able to work with them to succeed, other than discouraging them. How this impacts our county, one has to be flexible and effective on the differences. The good old boy or the way we use to do this idea, maybe one of the passing of time. Be prepared.
B. Education and training. Educate the public in a positive manner. We serve everyone no matter what their party or beliefs are, a commissioner has to represent everyone and not just a few. As much as I would like to promote rainbows and unicorns, joy and happiness with harmony for everyone, WE have some serious concerns, that will need everyone’s input, everyone’s efforts as a whole. My philosophy is a symbol of the old wagon wheel. The wheel in itself has lasted through the decades of time. If you look at the old wheel, the hub represents our elected officials. The spokes represent all of the agencies, and businesses. The rim represents all of our people of our county. The steel band that holds it all together is our representative of our faith, trust and hope. Together it fits as a working unit. Any part of that wheel can be fixed, but requires the efforts of all the others, to each being supportive of the other. There is a need to know, what agencies, facilities and functions, to address alternatives to our communities.
C. Safety. Everyone needs and deserves to feel they are safe within their homes and communities. We need a better disaster alert or warning system. We need to know that our Rescue, Emergency Responders, Law Enforcement, EMT, Ambulance providers, and Fire Fighters have the necessary equipment, training, and staff to cover this county. We also need better and more effective volunteers to help in emergency situations.