05/08/2024
As we mentioned in our Spring 2024 Newsletter, the Local Government Review election cycle has begun. The broad purpose of this review is to determine whether the residents of Richey want to establish--and pay for--a local government study commission to examine the power, form, and plan of the Town’s government and to submit recommendations on the government. More detailed information, including the different forms of recognized government in the State of Montana, can be found at this link: Scope of Montana’s Local Government Review. Richey is a Commission-Executive (Council-Mayor) form of government, which is by far the most commonly adopted form of municipal government in Montana.
The first major milestone in this process is the June 4 primary election, at which all Town of Richey residents will have the option to vote for or against establishing a study commission (some of you will be receiving absentee ballots by mail early next week). If the majority vote is "against," then that will be the end of this cycle for Richey. If the majority vote is "for," then interested study commission candidates can file for the three commission positions, and all Town of Richey residents can vote for their candidate of choice at the November 5 general election. You can find a bit more detail about this process in a recent Ranger-Review article.
Should the Town’s residents vote to establish a study commission, the Town will be required to pay for the costs of the study, including election costs and the cost of training commission members. At its January 9, 2024 meeting, the Town Council established a budget of $12,000 to fund a three-person commission, and this funding would be in the form of a special additional mill levy authorized by law for the 2024 tax year. As a point of comparison, the Town of Richey’s total assessed mill levy for the current year was around $35,500.
Please keep in mind that, pursuant to state law, certain topics are NOT within the scope of the study commission:
- A performance review of, or removal of, elected officials, local government staff, or members of appointed boards
- A review of local government policies, ordinances, programs, or services
- A review of local government taxes, fees, or assessments
- A review of laws regulating the election of local officials
- A review of laws that require or regulate planning or zoning
The Town will continue to provide updates as the review process progresses. If you have any questions about the Local Government Review process, please visit the MSU Local Government Center website or contact the Town Office. Paper copies of any documents linked above or otherwise associated with the review process are available upon request from the Town Office. Thank you in advance for participating in this very important civic activity!
05/07/2024
The Town of Richey is applying for grant funding for Phase III of the water main replacement project. We need your help in signing petitions and in writing letters of support for the continuation of the project. Every signature and letter counts and helps to strengthen the Town's application for these funds!
The document linked below contains some pointers for writing a support letter.
The letter does not have to be very long, but it should be written on a separate piece of paper.
Personalized, handwritten letters carry much more weight for awarding grants than typed-up form letters.
Remember to sign your name/and or spouse’s or living partner’s as well.
Include your physical address at the bottom of the letter.
Letters can be dropped off at the Town Office or in the mail slot in the door. Letters can also be e-mailed to clerk@richeymt.org.
We need the letters by Friday, May 10.
Please remember to sign, and encourage other people to sign, the petitions around Town at the Post Office, hardware, bank, Senior Center, and Cenex station. Thanks for your continued support, and please contact the Town Office if you have any questions!
2024 Support Letter Example
05/03/2024
The Richey Town Office will be closed May 6 through May 10 for the annual Clerk's Conference. It will reopen on Monday, May 13, at 8:30 a.m.
If you need anything in the meantime, please call (406) 773-5634. Thanks!
05/03/2024
The Town of Richey is now in the process of applying for grant funding for Phase III of the water main replacement project. We need your help in signing petitions and in writing letters of support for the continuation of the project. The Community Development Block Grant program (which provides up to $750,000 in funding) is especially competitive, and one of the key factors in awarding these grants is documented public support for a project. In fact, a nearby town missed out on receiving this grant because it did not provide sufficient evidence of general public support. So every signature and letter counts and helps to strengthen the Town's application for these funds!
The document linked below contains some pointers for writing a support letter.
- The letter does not have to be very long, but it should be written on a separate piece of paper.
- Handwritten letters carry much more weight for awarding grants than typed-up form letters.
- Remember to sign your name/and or spouse’s or living partner’s as well.
- Include your physical address at the bottom of the letter.
- Letters can be dropped off at the Town Office or in the mail slot in the door. Letters can also be e-mailed to clerk@richeymt.org.
- We need the letters by Friday, May 10.
Please remember to sign, and encourage other people to sign, the petitions around Town at the Post Office, hardware, bank, Senior Center, and Cenex station. Thanks for your continued support, and please contact the Town Office if you have any questions!
2024 Support Letter Example
04/25/2024
The Town of Richey will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Town Office/Fire Hall located at 112 Antelope Ave. East in Richey. The Town has scheduled the hearing to obtain comments from the public regarding proposed Phase III improvements to Town’s water system. The full notice is linked below.
Phase III Public Hearing Notice - May 2024
