Wildlife Museum Reports on Progress

Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the 400 block of Indiana Street during the first week in February likely saw the construction activity taking place on the roof of the Blaine County Wildlife Museum. A Billings based company, Perfect 10 Roofing completed the roof covering phase of the job on February 7, and Clausen Construction is due to begin erecting the 45' x 100' addition in coming weeks.

According to Commissioner Frank DePriest, the roof repairs were being completed as an insurance claim resulting from windstorms last summer. "The tear and damage from the high winds has all been repaired, and we'll get a twenty-year warranty on that rubberized membrane, but the job isn't complete yet," DePriest explained.

The Perfect 10 crew installed a leak proof, water proof rubberized roofing material, and all of the tin roof caps were removed and resealed. Laborers will return to mount rain gutters as well as to install fascia to conceal all exposed screws.

"Durward Sobek, an architect with Space Planning for People, handled the entire bid selection process for us. There were five bids, ranging from $188,563-$93,000. That's quite a difference," DePriest stated. "We're pleased with the work that Durward has done for us; we've used him on other county projects, as well."

Perfect 10 workers were likely grateful for their safety harnesses as they relied on the physical strength and balance required of a circus aerialist on some of those windier days. When the crew returns to perform the trim and finishing phase of the roofing job, as well as to install the rain gutters, they will work cooperatively with the Clausen crew.

A Board Member with the museum, Roger Jergeson explained that the concrete foundation that had been previously poured is finished and ready for crews to come in and set the building. The addition will provide space for any number of community events-including meetings, the museum's annual banquet, or travelling displays. "If the weather cooperates, we hope to have that space completed by early summer," Jergeson reported.

The addition was made possible by grant funds. Bear Paw Development wrote a grant to the State of Montana's tourism program on behalf of the Blaine County Wildlife Museum (BCWM). Other monies were provided from John Monson, an attorney based out of New Hampshire who owns a ranch south of Chinook.

The BCWM board is still doing research on the feasibility of hosting travelling displays like those held at facilities like the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. They plan to have moveable walls in that area, making it possible to reconfigure the floor space to accommodate changing exhibits or events.

"Most museums change exhibits frequently, aiming to attract new visitors and recall existing ones. Bringing in these travelling exhibits might be cost prohibitive, however, with the insurance required to host what is often rare and valuable property," Jergeson stated.

Because the BCWM wishes to keep up with current trends and discoveries as well as to introduce educational concepts not covered by the museum's permanent exhibits, they will continue to explore their options to keep interest in the museum high.

"With the cost of utilities, hired help, and operation overhead, the museum is not a big money maker," Jergeson explained. "And with covid and highway construction each playing a role in impeding traffic, we've had a couple of slow years, revenue-wise. We're hoping that will change, but that's an unknown at this point. We're grateful for the volunteer work that we've had with John Pike supplying gravel, Dave Taylor doing much of the dirt work, and Ken Schubert surveying for the cement work."

Currently, the BCWM Board is exploring options for their Annual Banquet, which Jeregeson called the organization's "main money maker." Although they had selected April 23 as a possible date, it conflicts with an event planned by the Montana Actor's Theater.

"It might be that we'll host a barbecue and open house when the building is completed, hopefully in June," Jeregeson said.