Planning Board Minutes – April 21, 2026

6:32 P.M. Call to Order

Public Comment:

Roll Call – Establish Quorum:

Members present: Vaughn Zenko, President; Michelle Gray, Vice President; Cindy Irgens; Jon Slagter; Steve Baldwin; Rich Menger; Shelley MacKay Dean

Members absent: Lisa Espeland

Staff present: Brenda Wood, Fallon County Clerk & Recorder; Megan Slagter, Executive Secretary; Desiree Thielen, DES/Planner

Members of the Public: Shawn Wiseman

Public Comment:

No one appeared for public comment.

Approval of Minutes:

Jon Slagter motioned to approve January 6^th, 2026 meeting minutes. Cindy Irgens seconded the motion. Vaughn Zenko asked for any further discussion; being none. 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Lisa Espeland) Motion carried.  

New/Old Business-

1. Adopt Planning Board By-Laws

Steve Baldwin motioned to adopt the 2026 Planning Board By-Laws. Michelle Gray seconded the motion. Vaughn Zenko asked for any further discussion; being none. 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Lisa Espeland) Motion carried.

• Discussion/Decision on Planning Fees

   Desiree presented draft Planning Fees. Cindy Irgens stated examining land surveyor fees per state code; Minor Subdivision Examining Land Surveyor fee is $450 and Major Subdivision Examining Land Surveyor fee is $425 + $15 per lot. Discussed notification of landowners leasing or renting buildings within Fallon County; an adjustment made by the State to the BLR during the latest legislative sessions. Discussed conservation easements that could be put on the property to protect the state and habitat of the environment; discussed difficulty of removing the conservation easement. Discussed definition of zoning text amendment which encompasses City zoning being as the County does not have zoning; will remove from the fee schedule.

Steve Baldwin motioned to approve the amended Planning Fees with the following changes; Minor Subdivision Examining Land Surveyor fee is $450 and Major Subdivision Examining Land Surveyor fee is $425 + $15 per lot, remove Zoning Text Amendment. Jon Slagter seconded the motion. Vaughn Zenko asked for any further discussion; being none. 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Lisa Espeland) Motion carried.

• Public Comment regarding survey – Shawn Wiseman thanked the board for all of their efforts. Requested permission to be a part of the initial discussion; board granted permission.
• Discussion/Decision to conduct a survey on potential county zoning

   Discussed scoping survey for potential zoning with alternative energy. Desiree presented draft survey to make available to the public. Desiree stated that County zoning will be a snowball effect that will eventually include several different types of zoning. Discussed how the survey will be made available to the public; there will be both hard copies and online surveys made available. Wibaux and Glendive are implementing zoning for wind towers. Discussed educating the community on the contracts and the impact it can have on the environment, landowners and their neighbors. Discussed impact of data centers in the surrounding area. Shawn stated for the record that wind tower contracts that have been signed already are implementing zoning restrictions on the landowners to protect the turbines; these contracts have already been signed as of eight to ten years ago so these contracts would be grandfathered into any zoning if implemented. Discussed conditional use permits; Desiree will research if a conditional use permit can be used for industrial and commercial industries and what restrictions could be included in the permit. Discussed potential impacts to include on the survey.

1. Review draft survey

Jon Slagter motioned to approve the survey with amendments. Steve Baldwin seconded the motion. Vaughn Zenko asked for any further discussion; being none. 7 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Lisa Espeland) Motion carried.

• Discussion/Decision on ways to disburse the survey

   Discussed ways to disburse hard copies and online surveys. Discussed including articles in the paper and radio advertisements; will have the survey released in June.

• Discussion/Decision on a deadline for the survey to be returned for compilation

   Discussed deadline; discussed having an additional meeting to make decisions on informative flyers and articles.

Upcoming Meeting-

1. Regular Meeting.

Tuesday, May 5^th at 6:30 PM

Mandatory Meeting

Tuesday, July 7^th at 6:30 PM

7:31 PM Vaughn Zenko asked for any further discussion; being none. Discussion ended.

s/ Vaughn Zenko, President

ATTEST:

s/ Megan Slagter, Executive Secretary