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Boards in Billings get guidance on economic development conflicts

November 28, 2007 /

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The MDT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program encourages and supports the participation of companies owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in transportation contracts.

A Billings-area business leader who belongs to the Big Sky Economic Development Authority board or its sister board can bid on building projects if he or she carefully follows state law on potential conflicts of interest.

That ruling was issued Tuesday by Dan Schwarz, the chief deputy Yellowstone County attorney. He was asked for his legal opinion two weeks ago pertaining to the pending GE Commercial Finance building.

Earlier this month, two local businessmen resigned from the Big Sky EDA and the Big Sky Economic Development Corp. to avoid an appearance of conflict of interest on the proposed GE project. Greg Hardy, president of Hardy Construction Co., and Jim Wertman, managing partner of CTA Architects Engineers, resigned their board memberships.

By JAN FALSTAD
Of The Gazette Staff

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/11/28/news/local/22-conflicts.txt