Bozeman Build Report #26

Howdy builders of Montana

Welcome back to the Bozeman Build Report covering trade related activities happening in Montana and around the Northern Rockies. Today were talking about a local IRS arrest, Best Buy still surviving in Bozeman, Hyalite dam graffiti cover up controversy, converting a party house to a plex, tripping over traffic count devices, Big Timber water advisory, record Chinook Salmon in Fort Peck, Town Pump, and more. Enjoy the next 5 minutes covering what Montana is made of.

Keep the saw sharp and tell us what your working on,

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When, what, and who is the Bozeman Build? The BB is a 1x/week free email newsletter delivered every Monday morning focused on mountain West trades with an emphasis on Montana. We are not a financial or building advisors.

Bozeman and Montana Trade Pulse

Bozeman trade pulse

Aug 12th 2024 - Northeast Bozeman Development - Cloverleaf. The 2.1-acre site is located at the corner of Plum and Peach, previously the Bronken's Distribution site. The project, Cloverleaf, is in the initial review stage with the city of Bozeman. Recently, Outlaw released information on their plans for the development. - Bozeman Real Estate Group

August 12, 2024 - Montana State plans opening celebration Aug. 19 for new Student Wellness Center

August 14, 2024 - Bozeman construction company owner sentenced to prison, fined $75,000 for failing to pay taxes to IRS. The owner of a Bozeman construction company who admitted not paying to the IRS employee-related taxes of more than $800,000 was sentenced today to federal prison and fined $75,000, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. - Justice.gov

Aug 15th 2024 - Best Buy to open at the old Bed Bath and Beyond location around November.

Aug 17th 2024 - The Bozeman Fire Department (BFD) is excited to host our inaugural Citizens Fire Academy! The fire academy is a 5-week course instructed by the City of Bozeman's own firefighters. Participants are invited to see the inner workings of the Department, will get to don the gear, pull hose, ride in a fire engine, and meet the men and women of Bozeman Fire.  

Bozeman project modifications August 12th - 19th

  • 24140 - TO CONSTRUCT A SINGLE OFFICE BUILDING WITH A LOWER LEVEL ON A SITE WITH AN EXISTING PARKING LOT. FERGUSON FARM SUB.

  • 22385 - New Fast Food Restaurant Lot immediately to the north of the existing Taco Bell near Costco. Looks like its a Dairy Queen!

24148 - New four-story hotel with 102 guest rooms. Project includes new parking lot and site improvements.

  • 24257 - Demo of existing accessory structure. Construction of new garage with ADU above

  • 24308 - Demo existing house and replace it with a two family residential structure and a detached garage with ADU above. Subdivide lot into two parcels.

Hyalite Damn spillway graffiti coverup

Friends of Hyalite is attempting to round up volunteers to cover up the graffiti lining the Hyalite dam spill way, it started receiving some backlash via Instagram and it seems they are torn on the issue. Regardless of the outcome (in the case it gets painted) this is what the wall looked like as of August 2024.

Monolithic slab pour near Livingston

Crazy Mountain Concrete needed a hand tearing down forms last week.

Party house gets thrashed

There was a house off the corner of Harrison and 8th across the street from campus where the yard looked like the aftermath of a 200 person Cat Griz tailgate yardy all the time. It appears the owners said no more, demo’d the place, and got the utilities tied in this week.

Bozeman Traffic Counts

Appears its that time of year to perform traffic counts. Over the last couple of weeks these traffic tally units were distributed around town for a better understanding of 2024 traffic volume (probably a record). Learn more about Montana traffic counts here researched and plotted by the MDOT.

Bozeman Costco

In amazement of the scale of these buildings. Bozeman Costco originally opened August 28th 1997.

Montana trade pulse

August 2024 Montana Manufacturing News released by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center

Aug 12, 2024 - The U.S. Postal Service said it shifted the majority of mail in Montana that was going through the air to ground transport several months ago, but the chief executive of the air transport company said the federal agency relied on bad data to do so. Alpine Air CEO Michael Dancy said this week he doesn’t believe the Postal Service will be able to meet its own standards for one- or two-day mail either despite its pledges to do so, the Daily Montanan reports.

Aug 12, 2024 - FAIRFIELD — A community is mourning the death of 28-year old Lucas Fowler, a lineman for the Sun River Electric Electric Cooperative who died on Friday, August 9, 2024. Condolences to the friends and family of Lucas.

August 13, 2024 - Missoula County Commissioners have approved a major subdivision near Frenchtown that is projected to bring over 400 housing units to the area over the next two decades. The land sits on 187-acres of unused agricultural land just west of Missoula. Developers describe the project as a complete town center built around a 45-acre permaculture farm, featuring over 6 miles of trails. The subdivision will eventually include housing and businesses, including restaurants.

Aug 14, 2024 - HELENA — Montana leaders have announced 11 bridges, mostly around Lewistown, will be replaced in conjunction with a major project to upgrade the nuclear missiles scattered across the state.

August 14, 2024 - New Apprenticeship Offers Promising Benefits for Montana Manufacturers, there is a new apprenticeship available tailored to the skills and training needed for manufacturing jobs. The Certified Manufacturing Associate Apprenticeship starts with on-line classes..

Aug 15, 2024 - Big Timber residents are under a boil water advisory after flooding at the water treatment plant on Monday.

Aug 15, 2024 - FORT PECK — A new state record has been made for the largest Chinook salmon caught in the state at Fort Peck Lake, weighing 32.62 pounds.

Aug 16, 2024 - Montana poll finds support for new BLM oil and gas rules

August 16 2024 - Section 8 housing voucher program paused in Montana. Section 8, also known as Housing Choice Voucher Program, provides rental subsidies for low-income families, elderly and persons with disabilities. Mitch Staley, the Chief Marketing Officer with the Montana Department of Commerce said they had no choice to put that program on hold because of decreased funding disbursements from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

August 17 2024 - How this Montana gas station chain is using traffic data to build a mini empire of local hotels. Montana is a particularly popular destination for road trips. Last year, the state welcomed 12.5 million nonresidents who spent some $1.25 billion on gasoline and diesel, according to a study by the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research. During the 1990s, Town Pump began diversifying beyond gas stations to include truck stops, car washes, laundromats, quick-serve delis, and gaming operations—all part of a “whole package” concept that’s core to the company’s long-term strategy.

MDT News

20240816-161807 | Construction Update For Forsyth Area - released Aug-16-2024
20240812-160953 | German Gulch Rd Bridge On Schedule; Enforcement Increasing - released Aug-12-2024
20240812-093658 | Shoulder Widening Proposed For I-15 South Of Bernice - released Aug-12-2024

Commodities

Covering volatility, building materials, and commodities of the Northern Rockies prices as of Sunday August 18th 2024 gathered from tradingeconomics.com

Volatility

  • Gasoline futures in the US fell to $2.35 per gallon, approaching the over-six-month low of $2.3 touched on August 6th

  • Orange Juice increased 134.02 USd/Lbs or 41.49% since the beginning of 2024,

  • Corn futures plunged below $3.80 per bushel in August, marking the lowest level in over four years due to weak demand and robust supply.

Building Materials

Hard

Price

Weekly

Monthly

YoY

Copper

$4.15

2.08%

-1.06%

11.09%

Crude

$76.66

-4.24%

-2.21%

-3.88%

Lumber

$529.09

0.75%

10.21%

1.26%

Steel

$2,880

-4.00%

-11.47%

-22.25%

Northern Rockies Ag

Ag

Price

Weekly

Monthly

YoY

Live Cattle

$182.35

-0.96%

-0.98%

2.26%

Wheat

$527.18

-1.78%

-3.80%

-15.72%

Potatoes

$28.90

2.85%

-22.31%

-3.67%

Weather

6-10 Day Outlooks

Cooler and more moisture than average forecasted for the Northern Rockies based on the 6-10 day Outlooks issued by the National Weather Service.

History of the week

Map showing the location of the Indian tribes within the United States, 1852. - Montana State Library History Portal

Have a beautiful week and let us know what you’re working on,

Daniel