CARTER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS

01-13-2022

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, January 13, 2022, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Vice Chair and Mike Watkins, Member; were present. Steve Rosencranz, Chairman; was absent.

The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m.

There was no public comment

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the January 10, 2022 meeting minutes with corrections. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.

Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

Invenenergy representatives Laird Sheer and Chase Marston joined the meeting where Chase presented a slide show outlining the Wind Energy project that will take place in Fallon and Carter County. The Project named “Jane Wind.” The companies plan for Jane Wind would be on a large scale, at 1000MW capacity. It would be one of the larger wind farms in the region.

Invenenergy is currently in the process of acquiring property and some materials, and conducting environmental studies, to begin the project.

The Jane Wind project is expected to have a life span of 25-30 years and provide approx. 450 temporary construction jobs and 30-35 permanent operations and maintenance positions.

The Commissioners asked how the taxable value would be assessed on the wind farm as well as road use protocols. They will look into each of these as the project progresses.

Invenenergy plans to provide the board with regular updates on the project. Laird and Chase left the meeting.

Carter County Road and Bridge Department Supervisor Carl Knapp joined the meeting. He provided details on the culverts and rock installed on the East side of the New Hospital building and the drainage system installed in the retention pond on the North side of the building. Carl left the meeting.

Carter County Treasurer Jesi Pierson joined the meeting where she presented the Board the Treasurer’s report. She also reported that she will be requesting quote from Tylor Technologies for tech support to allow the Treasurer’s office access to Carter Counties archived records.

Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting.

Jesi and the Commissioners discussed the proper accounting allocation of the hospital project building funds. She requested a Resolution to transfer the funds to the debit service fund. The Commission would like to speak to the bond council for clarification on the proper accounting fund and procedure to transfer the monies. There are currently payments to Scull Construction and Slate Architect being held that would come from this fund. Jesi left the meeting.

The commission work session included reading and responding to emails and studying Board by-laws.

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12 p.m. and reconvened at 1 p.m. for the Carter County Public Health Meeting. Please see the CCPHB meeting minutes.

Clerk and Recorder Pam Castleberry joined the meeting. Pam will reach out to Bridget Ekstrom of D.A. Davidson and let Jesi and the Commission know the required accounting procedure for the Hospital building funds.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Steve Rosencranz, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Pamela J Castleberry, Clerk of the Board