Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
07-25-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, July, 25, 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 at 9:00 AM
County Maintenance Bob Jacobs stepped into the meeting to let the Commission know that the underground fuel storage tank inspector will be on site to do the inspection tomorrow and that the County has received an inactive/ non-operating permit for the tank (# 06-00863).
Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting.
There was a call placed to Nancy Everson, with the MACo finance office, where there was discussion regarding county museum expansion funding including how the county may back the museum loan for the new building. The County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting. Call with Nancy ended.
The was also discussion regarding the request for the County to allow Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association to use the County owned building as collateral for an operation loan. Nancy agreed to reach out to Bond Council for the bond levy that was set for funding to finance the hospital building. The call ended with Nancy.
Commissioner Tauck signed Congregate meals contract with Eileen Treadway.
2023-2024 fiscal budget amendment hearing:
Fund 2440 $6,805.00 Growth policy update
Fund 2998 $29,516.71 Hazardous fuels
Fund 2971 $1,137.35 Public Health WIC Program start-up
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the 2023-2024 Budget amendment. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve proceedings for June 28, 2024 and July 01, 2024. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Sheriff / Fire Warden Neil Kittelmann stepped into the meeting to request that the County enter Stage 1 fire restrictions. Commissioner Castleberry moved to go into Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective July 31, 2024. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The meeting moved to the TSO Cantina Restaurant from 11:00 – 1:00 for the Carter County Museum Lunch and Learn.
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 pm with Commissioners Tauck, Watkins and Castleberry present.
Guests included Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright, Attorney Corbit Harrington and Treasurer Jesi Pierson.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve Resolution 07252024-01 to adopt Stage 1 fire restrictions in Carter County. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Treasurer Jesi Pierson presented the 2024 Fiscal Year financial reports. Jesi left the meeting.
Tarra Burman of Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation and Karly Lacock Brownfield Program Coordinator from Great Northern Development Corporation joined the meeting via a Teams meet video call.
Karly discussed Carter County's previous underground storage tank (UST) replacement use of Brownfields fund and Petro funds. The Commission believes that Brownfields fund money was used when the tank was removed at the old grade school property. The call ended with Tarra and Karly.
Karly will reach out to DEQ with regard to the qualifications for Brownfields or Petro funds for the removal of the Hospital / Courthouse UST.
Bob Jacobs County Maintenance stepped into the meeting to let the Commission know that the inspection took place this afternoon and was performed by Tank Management Systems Services Inc. They will forward the inspection forms to DEQ today. Bob left the meeting.
The Commission discussed scheduling the final public meeting for the reuse of demolition of the old hospital building.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board
07-31-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Wednesday, July 31, 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.
Commissioner Castleberry made a motion to approve the consent Items, Independent Fee Estimate (IFE) and request quotes for storm damage repair on the hospital building.
The Commission approve Payroll in the amount of $340,440.54 and claims in the amount of $418,197.99 plus additional claims for airport fuel $13,763.50 and Public Safety / dispatch services $33,333.00 for a final total of $465.294.49.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve quote for the independent fee estimate from RPA Engineering. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The Commission received call from Dan Semmens, Bond Counsel with Dorsey Whitney to answer questions regarding Carter County as a guarantor for an operating loan, with the hospital building being used as collateral. Dan stated that MCA 77-21-03 statute prohibits the lending of government funds to businesses as a mortgage. A general obligation bond is paid with tax levied dollars and therefor can not be used for capital for a non-governmental entity.
Treasurer Jesi Pierson stepped into the meeting for the discussion regarding the bond funds for the hospital building project. There is a three-year limit on use of tax-exempt bond funds before they must be put in to debt service. The call ended with Dan and Jesi left the meeting.
Airport Board President Troy Fruit joined the meeting for an update on the Independent Fee Estimate (IFE). The quote from Engineering company RPA in the amount of $3,000.00 was accepted to complete the Fee Estimate for the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS III) project. Troy left the meeting.
Attorney Harrington joined the meeting.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the Commissioners proceedings for July 8th, 15th and 22nd 2024. Commissioner Tauck seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Commissioner Castleberry requested that there be a claim filed for the July 13, 2024 storm damage to the hospital building.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Dana Eshelman, Deputy Clerk of the Board
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