CARTER COUNTY COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS

02-29-2024

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 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 by Chairman Rod Tauck at 9 a.m.

The commission scheduled a call with Larry Brence, Montana State University Extension Regional Manager, for 11 a.m. today.

The Commission approved Payroll in the amount of $287,070.23 and Claims in the amount of $211,328.04.

DES Coordinator Georgia Bruski stepped into the office for a signature of the MOU with Eastern Montana Drug Task Force.

Predator Board President David Wolff called into the meeting with questions and information regarding setting up a coyote denning program. The Predator Board will meet in the next 2 weeks to continue the process of setting up the program.

Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.

The Commission placed a call to Larry Brence, Montana State University Eastern Regional Manager to discuss the next steps in hiring a full time County Extension Agent in Carter County.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12 p.m. and was called to order at 1 p.m.

Guests to the meeting: Camp Needmore Board members Helen Stevens, and Jeff Venhaus. Amanda Williams Fallon/ Carter Extension service. Amanda has applied for a grant from Grasslands Federal Credit Union to be used for the repairs at Camp Needmore. She will know if the grant has been received by the end of March, 2024. Helen and Jeff outlined the plans for the rehab of Cabin 6 as well as the Pavilions and replacement of the gutters on the main hall. Helen, Jeff and Amanda left the meeting.

County Treasurer Jesi Pierson joined the meeting. Department of Motor Vehicles sent a letter to County Treasurers to inform them that the state will no longer provide equipment and support for motor vehicle licensing. Jesi will contact DIS Technologies to see how to proceed with the changeover. Jesi left the meeting.

Attorney Harrington, Road Supervisor Carl Knapp, and Dahl CEO Ryan Tooke joined the meeting to review the hospital employee parking improvement proposal from Stahly Engineering. There was discussion regarding the proposed survey, gravel parking area and additional sidewalk from parking to the building.

Ryan requested permission to have a street light in parking lot area. Ryan will Contact Southeast Electric and Dahl Memorial will pay the cost incurred for new light.

Brittani Brence, Carter County School District Clerk joined the meeting with information about the 0-5 Child Care Connect Program. It is a child care advocacy program that helps businesses start, maintain, and improve Montana child care programs. The school currently has daycare available with limited space. There is need for a much larger area and program. Brittani asked for support or ideas on how child care needs could be met in the future.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to sign the Interagency MOU with Eastern Montana Drug Task Force for 2025. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to adopt resolution 02292024-01 calling for the election of the question of conducting a local government review and establishing a study commission to do so. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commission Tauck would like to schedule a call with Todd Devlin, Prairie County Commissioner, for more information regarding the Natural Resource Coalition membership.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the Commission proceedings from February 22, 2024. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board

03-12-2024

The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 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 by chairman Rod Tauck.

Deputy Clerk and Recorder Dana Eshelman joined the meeting with an early warrant to pay Moore Mulching. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the early warrant to Moore Mulching for fire mitigation in the amount of $21,250.00. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Commissioner Tauck spoke to Don Hotter of Don’s Electric. Don and his crew as well as TWE are on site at the hospital to complete the generator project.

Discussed Account funds to use for the gravel and fuel used in preparation for the Hospital parking lot project. The commissioners agreed that the Hospital building fund 4101 should be used from the parking lot construction project.

“Fritz” Charlene Redding from Senator Daines office called into the meeting requesting support for the Bison Pipeline.

Dahl Memorial CEO Ryan Tooke and Georgia Bruski Dahl Memorial Board President joined the meeting where Ryan presented the audit report. Dahl Memorial was given a Clean Audit for the year.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to sign the EMPG grant forms for the DIS office. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Carl Knapp, Road and Bridge Department and Deputy Treasurer/ Payroll Clerk Cecile Kuehn joined the meeting to take part in the discussion regarding overtime hours. Commissioner Castleberry questioned overtime hours for trip Carl took to get V Plows and if the crew is working more overtime since longevity pay was approved for the County. She is concerned that there will not be enough payroll funds set aside if a Road and Bridge Employee quits or retires if there is too much overtime. Carl defended his overtime with the cost comparison if the County had paid freight on V plows rather than Carl picking them up. He also presented a comparison of the Road and Bridge Department budget form 8 years ago showing the budget is less now than in 2015.

Treasurer Jesi Pierson presented the Commission with Resolution 03122024-02 ordering the Creation of Supplemental 2023 tax bills to collect additional Mills without administrative fees. She requested that the County cover the administrative fees. The Commissioners agreed to pay the administrative fees out of the Commissioners line item. Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve Resolution 03122024-02 ordering the creation of Supplemental 2023 tax bills to collect additional Mill without administrative fees. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. The tax bills will be to cover the difference between the 95 Mills set by the Montana Department of Revenue and 77 mills levied by the County.

The meeting broke for lunch at 12:05 p.m. and was called to order at 1 p.m.

Guests included Sharon Carroll, Land Planning Board, Llane Carroll, Land Resource Committee inductee, and Amanda Williams Fallon / Carter Extension Agent.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the appointment of the following Land Resource Committee Members: Adam Courtney, Sabre Moore, Amanda Williams, J.O. Tooke, Robin Diede, Lee LaBree, Megan Phillipi, and Wayne Yost. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

There was discussion regarding information on setting up a special revenue fund for damages in relation to the land use. Commissioner Castleberry and Sharon will look into a Mitigation fund. Llane and Sharon left the meeting.

Extension Agent Amanda Williams and the commission discussed sick leave and vacation, office equipment, supplies, and software. They also discussed plans for the Homemakers and 4-H programs going forward with Amanda as the full-time Carter County Extension Agent.

The Commission called Montana Association of Counties (MACo) Deputy Director Jason Rittal to request information. There was no answer.

The Commissioners approved Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright’s leave of absence as needed for family medical leave.

Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve Resolution 03122024-01 Terminating the Fallon/Carter Memorandum of Agreement and the Fiscal Budget for Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics Dated December 06, 1933. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

Deputy Clerk and Recorder Dana Eshelman joined the meeting to present the request for a permanent increase in the credit card limit for the Justice of The Peace office. The Commission approved a temporary increase in the limit to cover the cost of rooms for the conferences that the Justice of the Peace and Clerk will attend. Their meals shall be reimbursed by claim and the mileage through the WEX card. The increase in card limits will be made by a request to the Commission as needed.

Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve and sign the Congregate Meals form and the Council on Aging agreement. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:19 p.m.

Board of County Commissioners

Carter County, Montana

/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman

Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board