Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
07-08-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, July 08, 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.
Commissioner Tauck called meeting to order at 9:00 am.
There was no public comment.
Fire Department mutual aid agreement between the County and The Ekalaka Volunteer Fire Department (EVFD) document review and update. Guests include Carter County Fire Warden Neil Kittlemann, Fire Department member Andy Wright and Acting Fire chief Mike Ashbrook. The Town of Ekalaka will be removed from the document and Neil Kittlemann will continue to call out the EVFD as needed unless dispatch calls them out. The guests left the meeting.
Senior Coordinator Tricia Lovec presented one Congregate meal bid from Eileen Treadway of $15.00 a plate with a start date of July 22, 2024, and serving meals Mon. Tues. and Wed. Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to accept Eileen Treadway's bid for contract to provide Congregate meals for $15.00/ plate. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Commissioner Tauck made the motion to approve the appointment for Carole Carey to the Council on Aging for a 3-year term. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The Commission signed the 2024-2025 Contract with Dahl Memorial Healthcare to provide the meals for Meals on Wheels Program and the contract for respite care.
Meals on Wheels delivery driver Terry Stieg joined the meeting to discuss the substitute drivers for the Meals on Wheels Program. Kristy Bruce is the designated substitute driver if she is not available Terry should check with Tricia to help find a substitute driver. Tricia and Terry left the meeting.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the early warrant in the amount of $1,600.00 to The Wagon Wheel Cafe for meals provided for the fire refresher held in June 2024. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The Commission accepted a letter of resignation from Dana Eshelman from the Carter County Board of Health effective July 02, 2024.
Kurt Hansen, Sioux Ranger District Ranger and Sheriff Neil Kittlemann joined the meeting. Kurt stated that the Forest Service has declared stage I fire restrictions in the Long Pines. Neil and Kurt discussed the possibility of Stage I fire restrictions for Carter County. They will continue to keep in touch and Neil will make the call if needed as the summer progresses. Kurt left the meeting.
County Treasurer Jesi _Pierson joined the meeting to discuss the year end budget including LATCF funds and grant funds transfers to Public Health.
The meeting broke for lunch at 12:00 and reconvened at 1:00.
Commissioners Rod Tauck and Pamela Castleberry Were present.
Commissioner Tau ck made a motion to request an independent fee Estimate {IFE) for Engineering fees from Armstrong Engineering for the AWOS Ill project at the Ekalaka Airport. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The Commission work session included a call to Fallon County Commissioner to answer questions regarding museum budget and funding.
There was a call-in with Garrett of DIS Technologies, the County IT support to help with setting up dot Gov email addresses and website.
There was review of the Old hospital reuse report and a discussion regarding planning a final public meeting to present ADAAPTA's report.
The Commission placed a call to Terra Burman of The Eastern Plains Economic Development Cooperation with questions regarding Brownfield funding grants for underground fuel tank removal.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:05.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board
07-15-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, July 15, 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.
There was no public comment.
Commissioner Castleberry gave an update on storm damage at Camp Need more and the hospital building from the June 13, 2024 storm.
Craig Canfield and Justin Zindell of KU Engineering called in to speak about the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS Ill) project for the Ekalaka Airport. There may be a need to have an appraisal and an appraisal review of the property easements for the land and airspace.
Bob and Sally Young and Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting where Craig explained the AWOS Ill project. The project will require a right of away and easement for approximately 46 acres of land from the Youngs for the project and 1000 ft radius of protected air space for the AWOS Ill. Bob and Sally left the meeting.
Jennifer Waterland stepped into the meeting to request permission to use the bump and run track at the airport. Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the use of the bump and run track for the August 10, 2024 bump and run. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Jennifer left the meeting.
The commission discussed the removal of the old hospital fuel tank and contacted Latisha Pankratz from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for guidance on the removal process.
Dahl Memorial Healthcare representatives and guests joined the meeting including Dahl Board members John Marks and Georgia Bruski, healthcare provider Carla Dowdy, interim CEO Shelia Sherman and guests Darrell Messersmith, Karl Rude, and Melody Loken.
Sheila and Karl reviewed the current financials of Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association and requested that Carter County provide collateral with the hospital building for a $500,000.00 line of credit with Bank of Baker. This would cover operating expenses.
Cater County used a tax levied bond to procure funds for the construction of the hospital facility and as such the Commission may not be in a position to use the building a collateral for a loan. The guests left the meeting.
There was discussion regarding ways the County could assist Dahl Memorial financially by using the hospital building as collateral.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 and was called to order at 1:10 pm.
Carter County Treasurer Jesi Pierson joined the meeting with the 2023-2024 end of the year financial reports.
There was a Teams meeting with Garrett Johnson of DIS Technologies and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright. The County has contacted Garrett to assist with the change to .gov email addresses and website link. Judy agreed to proceed with the application process. The call ended with Garrett and Jesi left the meeting.
The Commission placed a call to Nancy Everson, Financial Officer with Montana Association of Counties (MACo) with questions regarding Carter County using the hospital building for collateral for an operation loan for Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association. The Commission left a message.
Maintenance Bob Jacobs joined the meeting with information regarding the inspection and removal of the underground fuel tank. Bob as a call into Tank Management systems to perform the inspection that would allow the tank to placed on inactive status with The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The tank would then have to be removed by a licensed tank remover with oversight by an Environmental Engineer. There was a call placed to Robyn Sargent of Pioneer Technical Services who will send a quote for services.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board
07-22-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in Special Session on Monday, July 22, 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 at 9:00 am.
Chairman Rod Tauck. There was no public comment.
The Commission signed CDBG grant contracts for Stahly Engineering.
County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.
Commissioner Castelberry made the motion to accept the proposal from Pioneer Technical Services for oversight of the old hospital / Courthouse underground fuel storage tank. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 am.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board
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