CARTER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS

09-11-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on September 11, 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 9:00 AM by Chairman Rod Tauck.

There was no public comment

Bid opening for Kerr Pit and Loken Pit gravel crushing. Guest include Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp and Rick Fike of Fike Crushing Inc.

Bid from Wyrick Construction: Loken Pit 50,000 yards at $3.99/ yard. Kerr Pit 25,000 yards at $4.40 / yard.

Bid from Fike Crushing: Loken Pit 50,000 yards at$ 4.25/ yard. Kerr Pit 25,000 yards at $3.45/ yard.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to award the bid to Fike Crushing for the Loken pit and the Kerr Pit. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Fike and Knapp left the meeting.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to sign the agreement with the County and the Town of Ekalaka for law enforcement services. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to sign the livestock predator control agreement with the Department of Livestock from which the County will receive $21,169.00 in annual funding. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

The Commission placed a call to Muggli Construction in a quest to acquire a quote for tear down of the clinic portion of the old hospital building, the Stenseth house and old garage. They left a message.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the meeting minutes for August 31, 2023. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to accept the 2023-2023 Liability insurance through Travelers and The Insurance Store. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to sign a letter to Department of Revenue requesting clarification of the calculations of property taxes regarding the 95 mills for school equalization. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. there was no public comment and the motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:45 pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

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

09-14-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on September 14, 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 9:00 AM by Chairman Rod Tauck.

There was no public comment

Commissioner Tauck and Watkins will be onsite with Don’s Electric for the generator and electrical work at the hospital. He will not attend MACO convention this year.

Carter County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve an early warrant for 2023 Fair Premiums. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Carter County Conservation District Board members: Wayne Yost, and Doug Bonsell. Conservation District Clerk Karen Kreitel, Jesi Pierson County Treasurer joined for a call in from auditor Bob Denning of Denning, Downey and Associates.

The meeting was called to clarify the accounting and protocol for receipt of funds and control of funds as well as payroll for the District. Bob explained accounting for the District from the stand point that District Is its own entity with its own Board, checking account and funds, that does not require over sight by the County.

Bob Denning independent auditor for Carter County stated that the District is set up as a special revenue fund so the County collects the taxes, processes payroll and claims but can’t disburse money back to the district. The District Board will meet September 19, 2023 to decide the next steps. The guests left the meeting.

The commission signed the 2023-2024 Budget Correction.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:10 am.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

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

09-18-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on September 18, 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 9:00 AM by Chairman Rod Tauck.

Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State of Montana for bid process on Equipment, including an ambulance.

Durm Road plan was discussed, including route and survey.

Road Department bid opening for Hackberry Creek bridge and 1992 Midland Trailer.

Hackberry Creek Bridge bids: $775.00 Ernie Mel um. $13,000.00 Matt Borchgrevink.

Midland Trailer bids: $2,700.00 Ernie Melum, $4,110.00 Carl Laughery, $6,500 Dolton Gebhart.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to award the bid for the Hackberry Creek Bridge to Matt Borchgrevink and the 1992 Midland trailer to Dolton Gebhart. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Weed Board members J.O. Tooke, Lee Labree and Gabe Carroll as well as Stefan Livingston Weed Department Manager joined the meeting with a request to increase Stefen’s hours to full time. This would be on a trial basis. Stefans’s employment probation ends May 09, 2024. The Weed Board will review the full-time status at that time if it is approved.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve Stefan Livingston as a full time Weed Department manager with a review of the need for the extra hours at the conclusion of his probationary period. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. There will be a letter outlining the changes in employment sent to the Treasurer’s office and Stefan.

The Weed Department is looking to fill summer spray crew vacancies, public information programs and weed control grant programs. The guests left the meeting.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the MOU for purchases with the state. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the early warrant in the amount of $500.00 for fair premiums. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

There was a call in with Fallon County Public Health Mindi Murnion and Carter County Public Health Officer / nurse Patricia Laughlin, manager Stefanie Harrington, and Health Officer/ nurse Kirstie Nelson. Mindi outlined the steps to set up Insurance health billing including Medicare billing. She offered to come to Ekalaka to help set up the billing and coding. Patricia will get the information to the Commissioners from Rocky Mountain Health Network.

The Fair premium warrant for $500.00 was replaced with $5000.00 warrant. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to amend the previous motion to void the $500.00 warrant and approve the $5,000.00 Warrant. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12:00 pm and was called to order at 1:00 pm.

BLM Field Manager Eric Lepisto, Assistant Field Mangers Beth Klempel and Irma Nansel joined the commissioners with the future steps in the Snowy River Carbon Capture project. The surveys and plan of development are complete. The next steps are the NEPA review and 30-Day public comment period followed by a public meeting scheduled in Ekalaka October 12, 2023.

Commissioner Tauck has been in contact with Don’s Electric, who will be on-site to set up and help move the old generator to the new hospital on Tuesday September 19, 2023.

Commissioners placed a call to Muggli Construction to request a quote for demolition at the old hospital. There as not been a final decision made at this time for the building. The commission must acquire the information needed to make an informed decision on the best way to proceed with the old hospital project.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the meeting minutes from September 05, 2023. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried unanimously.

The commission signed the2023-2024 Budget Certification form.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:45 pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

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

09-29-2023

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on September 29, 2023, in the Carter County Commission Board Meeting Room of the Carter County Courthouse at 214 Park Street in Ekalaka, Montana. Rod Tauck, Chairman and Pamela Castleberry, member were present. Mike Watkins, Vice Chairman was absent.

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM by Chairman Rod Tauck.

Public Comment Airport Board President Troy Fruit joined the meeting to invite the commission to the Fly-in at the Ekalaka Airport this weekend September 29, 2023.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve payroll in the amount of $282,388.02 and Claims in the amount of $667,634.92. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Castleberry gave an update on Montana Association of Counties {MACo) meetings that she attended last week. Notably the state tax mill that a have been assessed at 95 mills vs 77.89 mills.

Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting and Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp.

Durm Road plan discussion. Carl met with Brice and Dawn Padden to discuss the course of the Durm road that travels through Padden’s house and shop area. The was discussion regarding conducting a survey before construction begins on the Tie Creek end of the road. Currently the Road Department plans to start work at the Sheep Mountain end of the road and work toward Tie Creek. Fencing, car gates and culverts were discussed.

Attorney Harrington suggested that there should be agreements in place for all altered roads such as the Durm Rd.

The road department has installed 14 double car gates on the Cottonwood RD.

Dahl Memorial CEO Ryan Tooke and Hospital Board member Georgia Bruski joined the meeting to discuss the I.T. room agreement between Carter County Public Health and Dahl Memorial. Ryan has requested that Dahl’s attorney draw up an MOU between the Health Department and Dahl. There will be locked cages installed on both entities hardware equipment and a camera installed. The commission will pay for the cage for the Public Health equipment. Ryan will provide the MOU for signature when it has been received from the attorney. He also stated that he will be available when ever there is a need for access to the IT room.

The commission updated Ryan and Georgia on the relocation of the old generator at the new building this underway as of last week. Don’s Electric will install the light switches and the outlets in the Public Health offices. The Commission will inform Ryan when Don’s Electric returns to work on the wiring portion of the generator project.

Discussed 95 mills vs 77.89 mills State equalization, county equalization and elementary school mill levy.

The meeting broke for lunch at 11:45 and reconvened at 1:10.

Clerk and Recorder/ Ambulance Director Judy Wright joined the quotes for a new ambulance. State vendor with power load is $290,000.00 with a January 2024 delivery date. Sawtooth Emergency Vehicles $347,698.07, with a delivery date in 2025. Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the purchase of the new ambulance from the State vendor for $290,000.00 using the LATCF funds. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Superintendent of Schools Tracey Walker, Treasurer Jesi Pierson, Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright and County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined to call Jason Rittal Deputy Director of MACo. He clarified the 95 mills levied by the Counties for state funding required by state statue for school funding even though the school programs are funded from the state general fund. The authority of the levy comes from Montana Code Annotated 15-10-420. The state has asked the Counties to levy 95 mills. With figures coming from the Department of Revenue at 77.89 there has been questions on the states ability to retain mills.

Commissioner Castleberry made a motion to approve school budget reports for Carter County school budget levies. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to adopt Resolution 09292023-01. This would fix County school, high school and grade school 2023-2024 mills from 95 to 77.9. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:32 pm.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

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