Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
09-09-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, September 09, 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 at 9:00 AM by Chairman Rod Tauck. There was no public comment.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting. The bids for the 2005 Chevy 1500 Pick-up: Ernie Melum $570.00, Sizemore Motors $1,054.00, Aspen Kuehn $2,168.00 and Justin Stieg $1,501.00.
Bids for the 1992 Kenworth W900 truck: Ernie Melum $770.00, Sizemore Motors $7,527.00, Riley Triggs $7,651.00, Justin Stieg $5,001.00, Shay Beyer $6381.00.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept the bid from Riley Triggs for the 1992 Kenworth W900 for $7,651.00 and the bid from Aspen Kuehn for the 2005 Chevy 1500 Chevy Pickup for $2168.00. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There was discussion regarding the sale of an old wooden bridge and beams as well as new culverts. The Commission agreed that the bridge and beams may be sold as surplus property but the county will not sell new culverts.
There was a discrepancy in the measurements of the gravel crushed at the Loken Pit under contract with Fike Crushing Inc. Fike requested an independent company measure the gravel as there was difference of approximately 4,300 yards between Fikes conveyor scale and the measurements taken by Brosz Engineering. The independent measurements match the amounts measured by Fikes Conveyor scale. Carter County will pay Fike Crushing Inc with a properly provided invoice $18,300.00 and the land owner additional gravel royalties for 4,306 yards.
The County Road Department wishes to advertise for bids to crush 30,000 yards at Schultz/Heggen Creek Pit, 10,000 yards at the Shepard pit and 60,000 yards at the Kennedy Pit. The Commission had no concerns and agreed to advertise for bids to crush gravel at the above listed bids in 2024-2025.
Brosz Engineering has completed the survey of the Durm Rd and found that there are survey markers in place from the 1930's in the original section of the road from Ryersons to the Padden property. The Commission requested more research on the survey completed when the markers where placed.
The Road crew has found that the replacement Sany grader isn't working any better than the original grader and as per the letter of agreement between Sany and the County, the Commission and the Road Department agree that the grader should be returned to DSR Inc.
Road Supervisor Carl Knapp has Contacted Butler Cat for leads on a replacement grader. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to turn back the Sany road grader and purchase the two used Cat road graders from Butler Cat lease returns. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Carl requested permission for his friend Woody to ride along at work during the next week or two. Carl stated that Woody would not be driving County equipment or vehicles. Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright will provide a volunteer form for Woody and Carl to complete and turn in to the office. Carl left the meeting after providing a list of the current and upcoming Road projects.
Jade Boggs of the Insurance Store joined the meeting with a quote for the 2024-2025 County liability Insurance policy. This will not include cyber security insurance. Jade has provided a separate insurance coverage for cyber security policy in the amount of $14,449.04 that Commissioner Tauck signed.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept the 2024-2025 liability Insurance quote in the amount of $263,395.00. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12:00 pm and reconvened at 1:00 pm.
The 2024-2025 Budget hearing and Resolution 09092024-01 was presented by Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright and Commissioner Castleberry. Guests included County Attorney Corbit Harrington.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to adopt Resolution 09092024-01 approving the 2024-2025 Carter County budget.
The Carter County Commission also approved the ad for the temporary part-time custodial that Judy will put in the Ekalaka Eagle this week.
Weed Department Coordinator Stefan Livingston and Administrative Assistant Taylor Kuntz joined the meeting with information on the Spotted knapweed in the Town of Ekalaka. Carter County Weed Department set up a program through Evergreen Landscaping of Miles City for the Town of Ekalaka residents to have the knapweed on their property sprayed at a cost to the landowner. The Carter County Weed Department doesn't hold a Turf and Ornamental license and therefore could not provide the service.
The Weed Department and Town will work together to update the MOU in the future. Stefan and Taylor left the meeting.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the Commissioner proceedings for August 19, 2024. Commissioner Watkins Seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Judy Wright, Clerk of the Board
09-12-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, September 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 at 9:00 AM by Chairman Rod Tauck. "Fritz" Charlene Redding of Senator Daines office called into the meeting requesting information on the Snowy River Project and schedule a meeting with the Commissioners, BLM and the energy advisor from Senator Daines office for the end of October. Call ended with Fritz.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the Commission Proceedings for August 30, 2024. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright and County Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting. Judy provided information on the switch to dot gov email address.
Southeast Electric Manager Tye Williams joined the meeting to discuss the transfer of ownership of the radio communication tower known as The North repeater, or Tower Hill at Camp Needmore. DES Coordinator Georgia Bruski joined the meeting.
The tower is currently owned by Southeast Electric on land that they lease from The United States Forest Service. Southeast has changed communication systems and no longer uses the tower. Currently the lot, building and generator maintenance is managed and paid for through the County DES office. The electrical bill is split between Bridger, Mid-Rivers Communication and Carter County. Documents necessary to transfer the lease of the land and the ownership of the towner will be forth coming. Tye and Georgia left the meeting.
There was continued discussion regarding the .gov email change over for all County employees that are required to have an email account that will be set up through DIS Technologies. All email accounts will need to be closed and a new dot gov account sept up for each employee. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the letter to be sent to all departments regarding the change of the emails. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to sign the letter to Sany to return the road grader. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Garrett Johnson of DIS Technologies called into the meeting to answer the commissioner's questions regarding the changing of the email.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Judy Wright, Clerk of the Board
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