Dear Editor: Seeing the inner workings

Dear Editor

For the last two years, I have been following our County Commissioner (Leonard Wortman) around, getting an idea of how the system works and what is being done to Improve our little heaven in the United States. In doing this, I had the pleasure of meeting Lindsey Graham. Not the politician, but a gal working with the Jefferson Local Development Corporation (JLDC). When I visited with her, she told me that they were working to improve the daycare problem in Whitehall and Boulder. Daycare has become a problem nationwide since both parents must work to keep their heads above water.

In Boulder, the city bought a building in Helena. Working with JLDC and probably other agencies, they moved the building to a foundation on the west end of the Boulder elementary school. It was quite a move since the building on a trailer was too tall to fit under the I-15 overpasses. The movers wound up taking the old road to Clancy and then onto the interstate to Boulder. As of last Thursday (May 5th), the electrician was finishing up the new electrical and the plumber was gearing up to get started. The plumber is donating his labor to the project to help keep the cost down. The city of Boulder is foregoing any rent for 2 years.

For Whitehall, they are going to put the daycare on the property next to the old gym. I remember it as the old horseshoe pits. Lindsey Graham (still not the politician) is looking into prefab buildings from a company called Zero to Five. They specialize in this sort of building. She is also helping in the development of a course for high school seniors where they can come over and learn a little something about childcare.

The bucks for this are coming from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA). I believe that JLDC, the county commissioners, and both cities are using this ARPA money wisely.

Needless to say, childcare is a much-needed commodity in Whitehall and Boulder. It is good to see that there are those who are working to solve this problem and I wish to be part of the process.

Jim Buterbaugh

Candidate, Jefferson County Commissioner