News
Counties, resort tax, MDT pitch in funds to launch TIGER grant work
Published
2 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Bella Butler MANAGING EDITOR
GALLATIN COUNTY – Several local entities put dollars on the table when another hurdle in the yearslong process to get TIGER grant roadwork off the ground in Big Sky when the latest construction bids left a multi-million-dollar shortfall between costs and available funds.
Of the recent construction bids received by Gallatin County, the lower of the two still left a more than $3.1 million gap between the $6.1 million in available funding for construction and the bid. Within two weeks from when Gallatin County opened the bids, both Madison and Gallatin counties, the Big Sky Resort Area District and the Montana Department of Transportation had each committed additional funds to close the gap so the long-awaited construction can begin this summer.
After some back and forth with Gallatin County, which is the official recipient of the grant, MDT agreed to pitch in more than $2 million, leaving a remaining deficit of $1 million. The two counties and the resort tax board each committed roughly $333,333, or a third of that remaining $1 million.
The resort tax board approved the use of funds on March 30. Gallatin County followed with a commitment on April 4 and Madison County committed to the remainder on April 5.
“The decision to commit was not a difficult one,” Heckler said on April 6. Everyone recognizes the importance of improving Montana Highway 64, he added, regardless of which county it’s in.
At their March 28 meeting, Gallatin County commissioners acknowledged that only 11 percent of the planned work is in Madison County. The commissioners, as well as Heckler, also noted that the entire MT 64, along which most of the work is planned, is used to access the Big Sky portion of Madison County, regardless of where the construction is taking place.
In Madison County’s commitment, it agreed to provide the $333,333 over two years.
“There’s a difference between commitment and cash flow,” Heckler said. In the commission’s upcoming fiscal year budgeting, Heckler said they’ll locate where the money will come from.
Similarly, when the resort tax board unanimously approved additional funding at its meeting, it did not identify from where it would draw the money. Sarah Blechta, chair of the resort tax board, said the board will evaluate its options when their funding is needed.
Gallatin County applied for the $10.2 million TIGER grant in 2017 and received funds in 2019.
The project includes seven new turn lanes, a new traffic signal, pedestrian infrastructure and new buses, and other components. In Gallatin County’s first round of bids, it received a single bid more than $3 million over budget.
The second round of bids, opened in February 2021, yielded no offers. Since the first bid round, developer Lone Mountain Land Company as well as the Montana Department of Transportation undertook some of the projects originally within the TIGER grant work scope. Collectively, those projects cost approximately $1.5 million.
The most recent bids, one submitted by Riverside Contracting, Inc., the other from Treasure State, Inc., came in at approximately $8.8 million and $11.2 million respectively.
Next, Gallatin County will award a bid before moving forward with summer construction. The project is expected to take two years.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Event Details
Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Waypoint
50 Ousel Falls Rd