Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
12-09-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, December 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.
Guests included Commissioner elect Dan Dinstel, Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright and Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp.
Public Comment: Judy requested that the commission ask Maintenance personnel Bob Jacobs to clear the snow from the parking area where she parks in front of the courthouse nearest to the new hospital building.
Carl presented a letter from DSR Inc. stating that Sany America is taking back the SMG200AWD grader S/N: PY1120CD0665 $369,848.00 and replacing it with SY335 excavator S/N SY033CDM7063 $232,865. Carter County will keep the Craig snow equipment $38,000. The difference between the price of the grader+ snow equipment was $98983.00. DSR Inc. issued a check for that amount to Carter County. Carl left the meeting.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to approve the consent agenda including the ratified 911 interlocal agreement between Fallon County, Carter County, Wibaux County and the City of Baker as well as the Commissioners Proceedings for November 12th, 18th and 2911• 2024. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Airport Board president Troy Fruit stepped into the meeting to update the commission on the FAA flight check inspection, which must be completed before the installation of runway marker lights and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). The flight check must be paid for in full by the county. The FAA will not complete the flight check inspection before the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS 111) is installed. Troy will continue to stay on touch with KU Engineering to expedite the appraisals needed to start the AWOS Ill project. Troy left the meeting.
Predator Board Secretary Stacey Ashbrook joined the meeting and presented the Predator Board's request to approve 2 members rather than one to fill the term that will open at the end of the David Wolff's term. The applicants included Bill Kennedy, Rodney Walker, and Jerry Keith. Stacey stated that there was a tie vote for Bill and Rodney. There was a recommendation from the Stockgrowers to appoint Bill Kennedy.
Attorney Corbit Harrington joined the meeting.
Commissioner Castleberry made the motion to appoint Bill Kennedy to replace David Wolff, whose term ends in January 2025. Commissioner Watkins seconded the motion. There was no public comment. Commissioners Watkins and Castleberry voted in favor and Commissioner Tauck abstained from voting as Billy is his brother-in-law. The motion carried. Stacey left the meeting.
Commissioner Castleberry and Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright presented the completed survey for the Standard and Poors (S & P). The completed survey was also sent to Li Yang, Director, US Public Finance and Bridget Ekstrom, DA Davidson. There will be a phone in meeting with Director, U.S. Pubic Finance Li Yang to follow up on the survey January 13, 2025.
Call in with Greg Benjamin Stahly Engineering for the road use and damage documentation on Mill Iron and Prairie Dale Roads. Guests included: Jessie and Anna La Bree, LeRoy Shallenberger, Tom Jardee, Charlie Brence, Road and Bridge Supervisor Carl Knapp.
Carl presented a letter that was sent to Oneok outlining the cost to repair the road following the completion of the gas pipeline upgrade and electrical substation on the Mill Iron RD, 13 miles East of Ekalaka. The total cost of repair for Mill Iron and Prairie Dale Road is $184,614.00.
There was discussion regarding when the road was assessed previously for the 2019/2020 pipeline project and the fact that the road was not assessed before the current project started. It was the consensus of the commission, Greg Benjamin and Carl that the road repair and assessment take place before T.C. Energy project starts in the spring of 2025.
There was a public comment by LeRoy Shallenberger, who asked if Oneok has agreed to the quote for repair of the roads. Oneok as not responded to the letter at this time. Commissioner elect Dan Dinstel asked if there has been damage to the culverts and car gates. Carl responded that the has not been any significant damage to either the culverts or car gates. The call with Greg ended and the guests left the meeting.
Carl informed the commission that the transmission in the 163H grader has failed and will be replaced at a cost of approximately $50,000. Carl left the meeting.
The was a video conference call with Michelle Puiggari who presented her Human Resources services offerings to the Commissioners and guests. Guests included Justice of the Peace Kathy Rosencranz, Clerk
of Court Tracey Walker, Commissioner Elect Dan Dinstel and Clerk and ;:ecorder Judy Wright.
Michele doesn't offer a set contract for services. She can offer training and answer questions at $150. Per hour and $50 per hour plus travel expenses. All of the County personnel files would be housed onsite and there would be a County employee to manage the files.
The meeting broke for lunch at 12:00pm and reconvened at 1:00 pm.
Airport Board President Troy Fruit called into the meeting to inform the commission that the FAA inspection can take place after the AWOS Ill install with out paying the fee again do to the short deadline on the completion of the inspection.
Land Resource Use and Cooperative Agreements with Attorney Wally Congdon Guests included Wayne Yost, Tyler Wilson, Jack Owen, Amanda Williams, Steve Summers, JO Tooke, Dan Dinstel, Adam Courtney, Rodney Walker, Jessie and Anna LaBree.
Attorney Congdon spoke to the counties need to update the Land Resource plan; possibly including it has an addendum to the current Growth Policy. Carter County may enter into Cooperative agreements with other Local, State, and Federal agencies. Attorney Congdon gave examples of Montana counties using a Resource advisor that would be appointed by the Commissioners to meet with the Land Resource Committee and Government Agencies to facilitate the Cooperative agreements with Federal and State agencies. This agreement would be unique to Carter County Based on the industry, geology and natural resources with in the county. The meeting with Attorney Congdon ended and the guests left the meeting.
Montana Community reinvestment Plan- Resolution 13092024-01. Online meeting with Jamie Shanks with Eastern Plains Economic Development and Mark Taylor of the Billings Montana Housing Authority.
House Bill 819 - The Community Reinvestment Act will set up funding in which approximately $30,000 is allocated to Carter County. The program will be set up as a mortgage buy down with eligibility requirements. Two major Montana lending agencies are currently working on the project, but any lending agency may participate. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to participate in the Montana Community Reinvestment program with approval of Resolution 12092024-01. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. The call with Jamie and Mark ended.
Dahl Memorial CEO Darrell Messersmith joined the meeting to review the Travelers insurance claim for the repair of the hospital building. There was a call placed to the insurance agent regarding the itemized quote from Scull Construction.
The Commission called Barney of Barney's signs and Custom Fencing to review the estimate to replace the letter on the emergency sign and install signs marking the entrances to the ER as well as the front of the building. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the quote from Barny's Signs and Custom Fencing. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried. Darrel left the meeting.
Sheriff / Fire Warden Neil Kittlemann joined the meeting requesting a resolution to end Stage I Fire restrictions. The Resolution will be set for the December 12, 2024 Commissioners meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:05.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Judy Wright, Clerk of the Board
12-12-2024
The Board of Carter County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, December 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.
Commissioner Elect Dan Dinstel joined the meeting.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve the Consent agenda, including Secure Rural Schools Funding Title Ill Funds that were not used and will be returned. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to accept the only bid for the 1998 two-wheel drive ambulance in the amount of $1,000.00 from John Carlbom. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There was follow up discussion regarding the Secure Rural schools funding. It was set-up in 2008. It has 3 funding stages that have specific uses for each stage. Carter County did not use all of the allotted funds from 2008-2024 and therefore are required to return a portion of the funds.
County Attorney Corbit Harrington, Senior Coordinator Tricia Lovec, Clerk of Court Tracey Walker, Attorney secretary Stacy Ashbrook, Justice of the Peace Kathy Rosencranz, DES Coordinator Georgia Bruski an Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright joined the meeting.
There was a discussion regarding the use of compensatory (comp) time by Carter County employees. The Personnel Policy was reviewed
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to contract with Michelle Edmonds of Westaff. Commissioner Castleberry seconded the motion. There was public comment from Clerk and Recorder Judy Wright, Justice of the Peace Kathy Rosencranz and Clerk of Courts Tracey Walker. The comments included the lack of HR training offered to the current HR officer and one official complaint about HR as well as the request to keep HR in the Clerk and Recorders office. The motion to contract with Westaff for HR services carried unanimously.
Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve Resolution 12122024-01 to lift the county wide Stage I fire restrictions, effective at midnight December 12, 2024. Commissioner Castelberry seconded the motion. There was no public comment and the motion carried.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:05 am.
Board of County Commissioners
Carter County, Montana
/s/ Rod Tauck, Chairman
Attest:/s/ Judy Wright, Clerk of the Board
Reader Comments(0)