January 19 - January 26, 2023
Players in the last weekend’s Brewer’s Cup compete in a Saturday evening play-off as the annual event that takes over Philipsburg for a weekend each winter drew a crowd to the Winninghoff Park Ice Rink from Friday to Sunday. For a story and more photos of the event, see next week’s Philipsburg Mail. Photo by Hallie Zolynski.
County addresses discount policy
By Gwyneth Hyndman
An agenda item that was closed to the public at last Tuesday’s Granite County Commissioner meeting is connected to a memo circulated on Jan. 17, instructing staff not to use special discounting from vendors used by the county for personal use, Granite County Attorney Blaine Bradshaw confirmed last week.
The agenda item, scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on Jan. 10, stated that the item was a personnel matter and was a closed session. Bradshaw later stated the commission “has been diligent and is taking care of it.” Because it was a personnel matter, he could not discuss it further, but stated that a memorandum had been sent out to all employees.
The memo, dated Jan. 17, states that the issue of purchases by employees with Granite County vendors, under a county account that benefits the employee through discounted pricing - even though the county is then reimbursed - had come to the commission’s attention.
“This practice does not align with Granite County policies and procedures and will no longer be tolerated,” the memo states. “As noted in the Employee Policy & Procedure Manual (Employee Conduct – Prohibited Conduct and Guidelines for Appropriate Behavior (A) Prohibited Conduct (5) Violating the Montana Code of Ethics Statute (MCA 2-2-101) which prohibits using public time, facilities, or resources for private business or political purposes.) Granite County will no longer allow any county employee to utilize county vendors for personal or private business transactions under any circumstances. Failure to comply with this policy will result in further disciplinary action, up to and including termination.”
The memo also states that department purchases must be signed off on by the department head in order to be deemed an authorized purchase.
“Not following this protocol will result in further disciplinary action up to and including termination,” the memo states. “Granite County’s current credit card policy remains in effect, and such credit card usage of County credit cards shall only be for County business consistent with the current policy.”
When contacted, Granite County Sheriff Scott Dunkerson said that while he was aware of the memo being sent to all employees, there was currently no investigation into the matter.
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GCMC welcomes Cross as new medical director
By Gwyneth Hyndman
Granite County Hospital District has a new medical director - and for the first time in a number of years, the position is filled by a Pburg resident.
Dr. Hunter Crose has been a familiar face in Philipsburg, since he and his wife Tiffany, moved to Montana in 2013 from the southeast, and gradually made the move into Philipsburg, as Crose continued his commute to Community Hospital of Anaconda. Crose - who is also the medical director at hospitals in Forsyth and Ekalaka - started his role as medical director for GCMC on Jan. 1.
A South Carolina native, Crose said he has always loved small towns and his entire career has been - for the most part - in the critical access realm. “I have a lot of experience specifically in this.”
As a keen angler and outdoors lover, being in Philipsburg was like they had “won the lottery,” Crose said, and he was one of many in the medical profession who had gravitated back to GCMC in the last few months.
“I think they’ve changed dramatically,” Crose said of the facility, and was supportive of the decisions made by new chief executive officer Chad Green, who came on board as administrator in August, following a Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) audit report, which led to an overturn in management and the firing of three staff.
In the last three months there had been “a movement in the right direction” with “very talented new hires,” Crose said.
“My goal is to continue to help build a pool of accomplished medical providers that we can draw from.”
Input on rec center asked for
By Gwyneth Hyndman
A survey will be going out to Granite County residents this week, asking for input and ideas on a community recreation center and swimming pool, now spearheaded by the newly formed Granite Recreation Project committee.
A recreation center had been discussed through 2021 and 2022 as part of a sub committee under Healthy Granite County.
However, Lisa Stavrakas, the chair of Granite Recreation Project committee says that after the first committee disbanded in 2022, she still felt passionate about a community recreation center on its own.
“This is more simplified,” Stavrakas said, referring to the 3-phase project that has now been set aside. “We want to keep it very focused - our eyes are just on the rec center now.”
As a massage therapist based in Philipsburg, Stavrakas said she has seen the need for a place where all ages could come and work out, take health and wellness classes, and use a swimming pool for lessons and water aerobics.
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
County addresses discount policy
By Gwyneth Hyndman
An agenda item that was closed to the public at last Tuesday’s Granite County Commissioner meeting is connected to a memo circulated on Jan. 17, instructing staff not to use special discounting from vendors used by the county for personal use, Granite County Attorney Blaine Bradshaw confirmed last week.
The agenda item, scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on Jan. 10, stated that the item was a personnel matter and was a closed session. Bradshaw later stated the commission “has been diligent and is taking care of it.” Because it was a personnel matter, he could not discuss it further, but stated that a memorandum had been sent out to all employees.
The memo, dated Jan. 17, states that the issue of purchases by employees with Granite County vendors, under a county account that benefits the employee through discounted pricing - even though the county is then reimbursed - had come to the commission’s attention.
“This practice does not align with Granite County policies and procedures and will no longer be tolerated,” the memo states. “As noted in the Employee Policy & Procedure Manual (Employee Conduct – Prohibited Conduct and Guidelines for Appropriate Behavior (A) Prohibited Conduct (5) Violating the Montana Code of Ethics Statute (MCA 2-2-101) which prohibits using public time, facilities, or resources for private business or political purposes.) Granite County will no longer allow any county employee to utilize county vendors for personal or private business transactions under any circumstances. Failure to comply with this policy will result in further disciplinary action, up to and including termination.”
The memo also states that department purchases must be signed off on by the department head in order to be deemed an authorized purchase.
“Not following this protocol will result in further disciplinary action up to and including termination,” the memo states. “Granite County’s current credit card policy remains in effect, and such credit card usage of County credit cards shall only be for County business consistent with the current policy.”
When contacted, Granite County Sheriff Scott Dunkerson said that while he was aware of the memo being sent to all employees, there was currently no investigation into the matter.
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
GCMC welcomes Cross as new medical director
By Gwyneth Hyndman
Granite County Hospital District has a new medical director - and for the first time in a number of years, the position is filled by a Pburg resident.
Dr. Hunter Crose has been a familiar face in Philipsburg, since he and his wife Tiffany, moved to Montana in 2013 from the southeast, and gradually made the move into Philipsburg, as Crose continued his commute to Community Hospital of Anaconda. Crose - who is also the medical director at hospitals in Forsyth and Ekalaka - started his role as medical director for GCMC on Jan. 1.
A South Carolina native, Crose said he has always loved small towns and his entire career has been - for the most part - in the critical access realm. “I have a lot of experience specifically in this.”
As a keen angler and outdoors lover, being in Philipsburg was like they had “won the lottery,” Crose said, and he was one of many in the medical profession who had gravitated back to GCMC in the last few months.
“I think they’ve changed dramatically,” Crose said of the facility, and was supportive of the decisions made by new chief executive officer Chad Green, who came on board as administrator in August, following a Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) audit report, which led to an overturn in management and the firing of three staff.
In the last three months there had been “a movement in the right direction” with “very talented new hires,” Crose said.
“My goal is to continue to help build a pool of accomplished medical providers that we can draw from.”
Input on rec center asked for
By Gwyneth Hyndman
A survey will be going out to Granite County residents this week, asking for input and ideas on a community recreation center and swimming pool, now spearheaded by the newly formed Granite Recreation Project committee.
A recreation center had been discussed through 2021 and 2022 as part of a sub committee under Healthy Granite County.
However, Lisa Stavrakas, the chair of Granite Recreation Project committee says that after the first committee disbanded in 2022, she still felt passionate about a community recreation center on its own.
“This is more simplified,” Stavrakas said, referring to the 3-phase project that has now been set aside. “We want to keep it very focused - our eyes are just on the rec center now.”
As a massage therapist based in Philipsburg, Stavrakas said she has seen the need for a place where all ages could come and work out, take health and wellness classes, and use a swimming pool for lessons and water aerobics.
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
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