Dozens of Hardin officials and residents packed the boardroom Monday afternoon as TRA board members discussed their contract with APF. But there was one person who was noticeably missing: company leader Michael Hilton.

"He's got 14 felonies 10 counts of theft. It just seems like it's one thing after another," said Treasurer Robert Crane. "There's too many red flags coming up here."

APF Spokeswoman Becky Shay said she wasn't aware Hilton told the board he would attend Monday's meeting. "Apparently he said he would be here before I went to work for him," Shay said.

Many board members, including Chairman Gary Arneson, expressed concern over a lack of information coming from the company. "There's a lot of questions that have to be answered before I'll put my name on it," Arneson said.

"We want to know where the funding is coming from," said Board Member Tim Murphy.

TRA spokesman Al Peterson, who once touted APT and their parent company, is expressing concerns. He sent an e-mail to fellow board members and APF officials on Monday asking for more information. Shay said she wishes she could answer them.

"I make a request almost daily to provide more information," Shay said.

In the end TRA officials decided they needed more legal counsel and voted to seek an attorney to help the with language on the contract. Board members are hoping with the right legal counsel they can make this contract work.

In another development Monday, Shay said she did receive a request for more information from Montana's Attorney General. She said APF officials are dealing with the request.