CARTER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS

06-05-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met on Wednesday, May 31 2023, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Chairman; Mike Watkins, Vice Chairman and Pamela Castleberry, member were present.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the proceedings for May 22, 2023. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Amanda Williams Carter/Fallon Extension program budget review. She elected to make no changes to her budget. Upcoming plans in Extension / 4-H All Events day, Master Gardener program, and craft programs. 4-H program. Amanda left the meeting.

Pat Kalstrom, Ekalaka Public Librarian and Denice Strickland, Library Board member joined the meeting for the budget review. The Library programs are doing well. Pat and Denice left the meeting.

Attorney Harrington joined the meeting.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the Public Health Task Order# 24-071-01-106 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Stefan Livingston Weed Supervisor and Taylor Kuntz Weed Department Administrative Assistant joined the meeting to present The Weed Department Budget.

Stefan and Taylor requested permission to sell surplus Weed Department property by sealed bid. The Commission requested a list of the items that would be up for bid before granting permission.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12:15 and reconvened at 1:05 p.m.

Justice of the Peace, Kathy Rosencranz joined the meeting to discuss the ad for the Part-time Justice Clerk Position review. Kathy has advertised the position as Permanent part-time, 24 to 40 hours a week 5 days a week.

Attorney Harrington joined the meeting.

The Commission received a call from Lizzy Robertson, Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation to inform the Commission about the CTAP grant available for local governments.

There was discussion regarding the Hospital lease agreement and the concrete pad on the Southside of the building.

The Commission received and approved the list of surplus property that the Weed Department would like to sell by sealed bids.

Carter County Maintenance Bob Jacobs joined the meeting to let the commission know that he received permission to use the Camp Needmore mower trailer from the Camp Needmore Board. There was also a discussion pertaining to the Otis elevator bill. The bill was given to Attorney Harrington who suggested that the Deputy Clerk and Recorder pen a letter for the Commission to email to Otis regarding the charge.

The Commission discussed Minutes Clerk Melissa Schwede’s hours worked for the Commission and the Road and Bridge Department. They agreed to table the discussion and decision to change her hours to full time and Change her title to Administrative assistant to the Thursday, May 11, 2023 meeting.

Dale Butori Fallon County DES (Disaster and Emergency Services) Coordinator and Georgia Bruski Carter County DES Coordinator joined the meeting. Dale presented an updated copy of the DES (Memorandum of Understanding) MOU between Carter, Fallon and Wibaux Counties.

Due to the changes in Federal 911 Dispatch funding Fallon County DES is requesting that Carter and Wibaux Counties make a yearly payment of $33,333.00 to the 911 Dispatch fund to be used for equipment, maintenance and salaries.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the yearly payment to the 911 Dispatch fund to Fallon Co. DES in the amount of $33,333.00 for fiscal year 2023- 2024. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve to sign the MOU agreement between Fallon, Carter and Wibaux Counties. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Dale sees the next steps with the 911 on Dispatch and cooperation with the DES departments is to form an advisory group that may consist of members from each of the 3 counties. He will be in touch as the plans for the advisory committee is formed.

They are in the process of switching the carrier for the text to page system. They will go out for bid on the new dispatch equipment, with the project completion date set as June 1, 2024.

Georgia and Dale left the meeting.

Deputy Clerk and Recorder Dana Eshelman joined the meeting as the Commission requested that she draft an email to be sent to Otis elevator services with regard to the emergency call charge of $4,600.00.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Judy Wright, Clerk of the Board

06-08-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met on Thursday, June 08 2023, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Chairman; Mike Watkins, Vice Chairman and Pamela Castleberry, member were present.

There was no public comment

Commissioners Castleberry and Tauck attended the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) meeting in Wolf Point June 06, 2023. They gave a brief update on topics discussed including audits for all leases.

Attorney Harrington and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting.

Deputy Treasurer Cecile Kuehn stepped into the meeting with questions pertaining to FMLA leave and Health Insurance coverage based on time employed. The Commission stated that they granted leave without pay and as such will provide a letter of documentation. Cecile left the meeting.

Old Airport-Cement Plant pasture lease bid opening. There was one bid received. It was from Dell Dague in the amount of $660.00. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept the bid from Dell in the amount of $660.00 for the agricultural lease of the Old airport-cement plant pasture. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright left the meeting.

Corbit has discussed the possibility of a Jet A fuel Contract with Plus Flying service with the Airport Board members. The regulations for testing, storage and use are limiting the possibilities that Jet A fuel system at the airport will be a possibility.

Attorney Harrington presented budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the drug and alcohol testing contract with Lane and Associates for July 1, 2023-2024. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright commented that there is still equipment left at the rodeo grounds from the community auction held May 06, 2023.

Arnold Rychner, maintenance for Carter County Public schools joined the meeting where he has plans to replace the fence around the school housing located adjacent to County property. He requested permission to attach new chain link fence to the corner of the County fence. The commission agreed to allow Carter County Public Schools to connect to the Corner of the fence. Arnold left the meeting.

County Public Health manager Stefanie Harrington requested via email, signatures on a Community Public Health Assessment Task order. The documents would have been sent by email to be docu-signed this week. If the commission does not receive them she will have them re-sent.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the Commission proceedings from May 05, 2023. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

The meeting broke for lunch at 11:50 a.m. and was called to order at 1 p.m.

Attorney Harrington, Treasurer Jesi Pierson and Deputy Treasurer Cecile Kuehn joined the meeting were Jesi presented Resolution 06082023-01 to set up the Carter County longevity pay scale. Commissioner Watkins asked if this will be based on years served. Cecile stated that it is and that it should have varying start dates. Commissioner Castleberry request that a vote on the Resolution be set for the next meeting so that the Resolution may be posted on the agenda. Commissioner Watkins thanked Jesi and Cecile for the work put into research and figures for the Longevity program.

The group discussed the option to increase salaries for part time and seasonal employees as they would not be eligible for longevity pay. There was no motion made to increase salaries for seasonal or part-time employees.

Jesi presented the Treasurers budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.

The Commission signed the agricultural lease agreement for the Old Airport-Cement plant pasture with Dell Dague.

The Commission considered the hours of work for minutes clerk Melissa Schwede. She currently works 4 to 8 hours a month for the Road Department with the remainder of the weekly 27 hours used for Commissioners duties.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve Melissa Schwede for 40 hours a week with 10 hours for the Road Department and 30 for the Commission as an Administrative Assistant. starting July 1, 2023. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Judy Wright, Clerk of the Board