Big Sky Business Journal

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Talkin' About the Bakken... "It's Headed Our Way"

When it comes to The Bakken — someone has "to put a rope around the chaos...We need someone to put a saddle on this chaos and ride it for all it's worth." Such were the words of one observer of the hectic activity in the area of Sidney, Montana and Williston ND, according to Kendall McCrae, an entrepreneur who is trying to help put a rope on it.…

Montana Energy 2012’ Set for April

News about co- hosting a two-day conference on energy development in Montana topped the agenda, of the joint meeting of the executive committees of Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Big Sky Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Big Sky Economic Development will join with the Montana Contractors’ Association (MCA), the Montana Petroleum Association, and Kadrmas, Lee &a&ackson (KL&a& to jointly host Montana Energy 2012, on April 3-4, 2012 at the Expo Center at MetraPark in Billings.…

Jobs, Top Concern in Chamber Survey

The results of the Montana Chamber’s annual poll of Montana voters are in and they reveal some interesting new political and economic trends that may affect your business. The Power Base (P-base) is an annual scientific survey of 600 Montana likely voters on a variety of business and political issues with a margin of error of 4.1%. The poll is done to find out what regular Montanans think about important economic issues facing our state. It was conducted during the week of November 14-18, 2011. Here are some of the results…

Despite Union Opposition, Commissioners Proceed with Street Abandonment

Yellowstone County Commissioners proceeded with an action to abandon a portion of South 32nd Street West, despite the opposition of unions. Representatives of a number of unions from throughout the state were present at the meeting on Tuesday to urge the county commissioners to sell – not abandon – an easement back to the property owner, since the property owner, Bay Limited (formerly Berry Y&&is not a union shop -- and they claim the company is not hiring locally.…

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Business

Montana Goes To Brazil Group Tour Offered

The Montana Chamber of Commerce continues its offering of exotic trips at reasonable prices with its group travel to Brazil March 21-30, 2012. This exciting vacation is open to anyone, not just members of the state chamber, and is for the pure tourist, as well as offering business networking options. Participants will visit Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo on the trip.

Temporary Servers Exempted From Bartending Law

Exceptions are being included in the rules being written for the enforcement of a new Montana law that mandates that bartenders must be certified. During the public hearing in Helena, Jon Bennion of the Montana Chamber of Commerce voiced concerns about how the new restrictions will impact one-time events such as wine tastings, microbrew festivals or charitable events where alcohol is served.

Stockman Hires Commercial Loan Officers

David Baker...
David Baker has joined Stockman Bank as vice president, commercial loan officer for the King Avenue office. His responsibilities include providing financial advice and determining the best financial solutions for business and professional clients in the areas of Business and Private Banking Lending, Commercial Real Estate Lending and Cash Management Services.
Baker brings more than 33 years of banking experience to this position which includes commercial, commercial...

Construction Slid More in 2011

Total value of new construction in Billings was about a fourth less in 2011 than in 2010, according to numbers from the City of Billings Building Department. With 354 building permits issued in 2011, compared to 420 in 2010, total value of residential and commercial building permits was $76,670,563 in 2011, compared to $101,040,535 in 2010, continuing a five-year downward trend. Commercial construction declined $30,696,199 to $28,966,076; single family dwelling declined from $46,354,074 to $38,378,917....

Rail Infrastructure Rapidly Developed to Serve Bakken Oil Fields

Other than pipelines, another way of getting crude oil to market is by rail, and the infrastructure for that means of transportation is rapidly being built. As more crude oil loading terminals move into various stages of completion in North Dakota, the expansion of one of the two destination terminals at St. James LA is coming on line this month, according to "Oil Patch Hotline." St. James has quickly become the destination of choice for Williston Basin producers because of the attractive...

Honduras -- Haven for Freedom?

With the declaration that "there are no truly free places left in our world," there are a number of people – some with substantial resources – who are trying to establish some kind of haven where freedom will rein. The latest, in a long series of efforts, is in Honduras. Mostly the founders of such efforts are libertarians, who are trying to create their own version of "Galt's Gulch," a fiction of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, a place to where entrepreneurs could escape, to create and produce beyond...

Construction Job Losses Continue in US

Construction employment declined in 146 out of 337 metropolitan areas between November 2010 and November 2011, increased in 131 and stayed level in 60, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction employment is likely to continue declining in many areas because of a planned 6.2 percent cut in federal investments in construction and infrastructure for the 2012 fiscal year. "There is...

Government & Politics

Record Number of Candidates

Election season got under way last Thursday with 155 candidates – a record number – filing on opening day. Rep. Denny Rehberg was at the state Capitol to register and held a news conference and rally in which he was immersed in the middle of a sea of Republican supporters and protesters who stood by quietly clutching signs.

Program Incentivizes Montana Producers to Retire Cropland

A program designed to incentivize farmers and ranchers to retire productive lands into conservation reserves has been finalized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Montana. The Missouri and Madison River Corridor Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), whose Deputy Administrator Juan Garcia said, "This amendment provides flexibility for Montana farmers and ranchers to establish additional cover and increase land stewardship...

Kennedy Files for Re-election

Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy, Democrat, announced his candidacy for re-election. The run is for his fourth full-six year term. Kennedy said that the primary reason he is running for re-election is because he loves the job and the people of Yellowstone County. Kennedy was first elected as County Commissioner in 1992 when he successfully ran to complete two years of a term being vacated by Dwight McKay.

Economic Outlook Seminar - February 1

The 2012 Economic Outlook Seminars, presented annually by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Montana, will largely focus, this year, on what is happening in The Bakken and the oil boom of Eastern Montana. Entitled, "What are the Prospects?" the program will be presented in nine Montana communities. It will be held in Billings on Tuesday, January 31 at the Crowne Plaza.

Agenda 21

A resolution opposing United Nations Agenda 21 was recently unanimously passed by the Republican National Committee. Agenda 21 is considered by some to be “a comprehensive plan of extreme environmentalism, social engineering and global political control.” It was initiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Its tenants are incorporated in the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), through local...

Therein lies all the difference...

Frequently, it’s been said that Montana regulators need an improved attitude, when it comes to dealing with business and industry. What might that look like? A commentary by Dennis Blank, editor of the Oil Patch Hotline, lauds the attitude of one of North Dakota’s bureaucrats. Discussing the proposed rules on open reserve pits in North Dakota, Blank wrote: “What was nice about the discussion over the last six months was the fact that it was a sharp contrast to the dogmatic, authoritarian regulations...

Property Valuation Schedules

The Department of Revenue is proposing to update depreciation schedules for valuing property. The proposed rule changes will impact businesses involved with Leased and Rental Equipment, Farm Machinery and Equipment, Heavy Equipment, Seismograph Units and Allied Equipment, Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment, Work-over and Service Rigs, Television Cable Systems, Ski Lift Equipment, Industrial Machinery and Equipment.

Community

New Program Looks at Successes of Young People in Lockwood

Eight young people – all from Lockwood – have been identified as "Legends" and will be featured throughout 2012 on billboards, posters, post cards, Facebook, etc., as examples of what is possible without the use of drugs. Featured right along side each of the Lockwood Legends will be their parents,...

Program on Ethical Influence of Capitalism

"The Morality of Capitalism: The Ethical Influence on Economic Systems" is the title of a two-day seminar that is coming to Billings. The "Occupy Wall Street" movement is in the news every day. In fact, over the past few years, Americans have watched the economies of our world wracked by many financial...

Who’s Saddest?

When it comes to people being “sad,” Billings ranks about average, earning a C+ for happiness in a survey done by “Men’s Health.” The saddest of places, despite having so much sunshine, is St. Petersberg, Florida. The grades were based upon suicide rates, unemployment rates and the number...

Billings Good Place for Families

Billings was ranked 55th in the nation by parenting.com as a good place in which to raise a family. The website listed the top-ranked American cities as the best places in which to live and raise a family based on schools, affordable homes, low crime rates, jobs, and parkland. The top ten cities ranked...

Editorials

A Lesson No Longer Taught

You do not take risks with taxpayer money. That is one of the earliest things I remember learning in civics class. It is not a lesson taught anymore. Since government is taking money that belongs to others it is obligated to use it prudently and for only the most essential of purposes—purposes of...

Celebrate On!

"There's too much materialism associated with Christmas" is a popular refrain. Another is that Christmas has become too commercial. Usually no one speaks to disagree with these views, although the actions of most people are a loud statement that demonstrates, better than words that, they do not agree...

No Time for Hat Tricks

Billings City government would be much improved if staff and council members held more respect for the citizens they ostensibly serve. That’s all that the recent park improvement district controversy is about. For the most part, it seems — once they have paid their taxes — the citizens of Billings...

Occupy Your Noggin

Is it just me or do people in the "Occupy" movement seem mostly interested in occupying their time? They'd be better off trying to occupy that vast empty space between their ears; but why bother when someone will give you a slogan and armband for free. The whole thing is starting to look like...