Montana Success Stories
Managerial and financial training leads town to solid decision making
Where: Fromberg is a rural community located in south central Montana.
Problem: Compliance and capacity building issues related to drinking water regulations, technical, managerial and financial operation and maintenance of the community’s water system.
Solution: MAP provided financial, managerial and operational training and technical assistance to the board and the system operator.
Fromberg, Mont., was once home to coal mines, a brick factory, pickle factory, flax mill and numerous orchards. It recently celebrated its 109th year of ranching, farming and industry.
MAP staff was contacted by the community to assist the town with board and clerk training because they recently installed a new mayor, council members and clerk and had a $32,000 shortfall in their water system. The council also was having problems with customers refusing to pay their bills.
MAP staff provided council training, ordinances, updated policies and procedures regarding late fees, delinquent accounts, shut offs and reconnection charges, assisted with a budget and a rate study.
In addition, MAP staff provided the town with clerk training on filing, taking minutes, managing customer and employee files, payroll, monthly, quarterly and annual tax reporting as well as revenues received from taxes, applying correct fund numbers to bills and working with different computer programs and annual reports due to the state and funding agencies.
MAP’s involvement with Fromberg resulted in a council that runs more efficiently and also has financial stability.
For more information, contact:
Phone: 952-758-4334
Fax: 952-758-4336
E-mail: map@map-inc.org
MAP is a member of the RCAP network and an equal-opportunity lender, provider and employer.