CARTER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS

09-05-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on September 05, 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.

The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. by Chairman Rod Tauck.

Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright stepped into to request bids for a new ambulance. She will present to EMT Board next week and come back with advertisement.

County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

The Road Department requested and was granted permission to advertise for sale the Hackberry Creek Bridge and a 1992 Midland triple axel belly dump trailer.

Ryan Tooke, Dahl Memorial CEO and Ryan Kochak I.T. consultant for Dahl joined the meeting with an update on the electrical outlet installation and light switch replacement in the building and Stefanie Harrington’s request for 24/7 access to the I.T. room at the new hospital building. The Public Health office is housed in the new hospital building. Public Health Office manager Stefanie Harrington called into the meeting. Clerk and Recorder/ Human Resources officer joined.

Outlets that have the capability to run on the generator has been installed in the dayroom but not in the Public Health offices or upstairs.

Ryan Tooke has agreed to allow Stefanie into the I.T. room anytime she requests access. I.T. room access is a security issue; Ryan Kochak suggests that Dahl install Locked cages around the equipment Dahl’s and Public Health as well as cameras in the room to control and monitor access.

Commissioner Castleberry suggested moving Public Health IT equipment to their offices. The discussion on this option included the expense and lack of space for the equipment, but may still be considered.

Stefanie stated that the hours of the public Health Department are different then Dahl; these options will not work.

Judy stated that computer or internet issues that require access to the I.T. room should go through DIS Technologies; the company that the County has contracted for tech support. The internet bill for Public Health included movie streaming services that are not allowed on County internet.

Both entities are required to have cyber security insurance and will look into the possibility of coverage on one another’s policies.

Commissioner Watkins requested that Dahl Memorial and Public Health get together and come up with a workable solution in writing and send the signed solution to the commission in the next two weeks.

There will be request for quotes to install additional outlets and replace the light switches in the Health office.

The Commission joined an online Teams meeting with Kate Lucas and Muhamad Morris of ADAAPTA, Terra Branch and Lizzy Roberts of Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation. This is part of the Brownfield grant process for revitalization and reuse of the old hospital building. It included an over view of draft documents from the site visit that was conducted in May 2023 as well as the public meetings held in Ekalaka and Alzada.

The Clinic side of the building is set to be removed, the commission will research costs of demolition of that section of the building.

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

Commissioners Tauck and Castleberry were present. Commissioner Watkins was absent.

The Commission placed a call to Don Hotter of Don’s Electric to let Don know about the additional outlets needed in the Public Health Offices as this may affect the scope of work when installing the second generator. Don is willing to give the County a quote to install the outlets before the generator install.

The Commission called Public Health manager Stefanie Harrington to let her know to go ahead with the quote from Direct Electric to replace the light switches; the outlets will be through Don’s Electric.

Jade Boggs of the Insurance store joined the meeting with yearly insurance plan review and premium. There was a 12% increase in the premium with no deductible increase this year. Jade agreed to check on the possibility of cyber security insurance coverage as an additional insurer on Dahl and Carter County.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

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