The St. Ignatius town clerk, Amberly Walker, submitted her resignation and will serve her last day on Thursday, May 28, leaving the town to find a quick solution.  

Walker had previously notified the town council during their first meeting in May that she would be moving back to Billings, noting it may be short notice. At that meeting, Brianna Arnott from Arnott & Cote Accounting Services offered the town her services at $29 an hour, with Jennifer Cote possibly assisting as well.  

The town attorney looked over this contract and made amendments. This would be a part-time position to assist the town in the transition, with a 30-day notice to terminate the contract. Walker added that both Arnott and Cote are familiar with the town's current payroll and accounting system and have been involved in the town’s accounting for many years.  

However, the initial wage raised questions with the council and Police Chief Jason Acheson, who expressed that $29 an hour is “well more than any full-time” town employee and five more dollars an hour than he is paid. St. Ignatius Mayor Daren Incashola explained that his hourly wage doesn’t reflect the additional benefits Acheson receives.  

However, Acheson said he doesn’t believe he is getting much extra in his medical coverage. But Incashola pointed out that he is receiving retirement, health reimbursements, workers comp and unemployment benefits. 

It was discussed at the previous meeting on May 5 that Arnott would serve as a contract employee without any employee benefits. The council noted that when all the benefits are accounted for, the total adds up quickly. They also asked Walker to provide her wage plus fringe, which, during this meeting, Walker said was $20 an hour.  

Councilwoman Janis Heffern said this is saving them for the time being, and they don’t have much of a choice. She told Acheson that she understood where he was coming from and that this would burn her, too. Heffern said she can only justify this wage because they are paying for the experience.  

“If she produces, that's one thing. If she doesn't produce, I promise you, I can get very vocal,” Acheson said.  

Incashola added that this is just a solution until they find another clerk and helps them navigate budget season without any mistakes. He said he also thought the wage was “very exorbitant,” but the other financial service options ranged from $96 to $100 or more an hour.  

The council unanimously passed the temporary contract with councilman Steve McCollum absent.  

Students get a car  

In other agenda items, Acheson and officer Korey Green proposed that the council donate an old town police car to the mechanic shop at Pinehaven Christian Ranch — a Christian-based ministry that serves young people ages 18 to 24 with hard work and discipleship near St. Ignatius.  

The old police car has been sitting for about three years. Acheson said they have dumped a lot of money into it, and the last estimate they received to fix it was not worth it.  

Green is currently the automotive instructor at Pinehaven, which led him and Acheson to come up with the idea of donating the car.  

Acheson added that this may give students a positive outlook on police officers. He also doesn’t believe the money they would receive from auctioning the car would be worth it. With the town receiving police car donations from other local agencies and, most recently, a donation from the City of Bozeman, he said this would be a good way to give back.  

Incashola agreed, noting that the town has been very fortunate to receive car donations from Missoula County, Bozeman and Lake County in the past, and he believes this is a good way to pay it forward. He said that removing the radio, light bars, and police-related equipment should be the first thing to be done to the car. 

Green said if the students can get the vehicle running, they could sell it and donate half the profits to the town police department. Green also explained that the mechanic shop has equipment similar to that at Stuart’s Hometown Auto and only lacks a wheel alignment machine. 

Currently, Pinehaven operates an eight-week program and a two-year apprenticeship in mechanics.  

Councilwoman Rikki Merchant said she has visited Pinehaven and was “super impressed” with their program.  

The council unanimously agreed to donate the police car to the program at no cost.