Commission Minutes – August 17-21, 2026
MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2026
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chairman; Roy Rost and Mandi Varner, Members; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week.
9:27 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
Brittany Renner, EMS Program Manager and Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk & Recorder joined the meeting. Brittany reported on recent ambulance run damaging an ambulance; minor paint touchup on the aluminum door. Repairs will be done through Property & Casualty Self-insurance Fund.
Bobby Thielen, member of the public joined the meeting. Requested status update on Bickle Access road maintenance; cattleguard and bridge need repairs and requested layer of scoria to be laid without building up the road. Discussed fair turnout.
9:33 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:43 AM COUNCIL ON AGING UPDATES/ Carla Brown, Council on Aging Director
Had requested for a new van and cutaway from the State; have not heard back as of yet. Returned Carter County senior bus to Ekalaka. Updated on vehicle maintenance and meals from Fallon Medical Complex. Will have to replace Publisher program for the Senior Newsletter. Reported on utilizing Click-Send for bus drivers and senior programs.
9:51 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:03 AM ROAD UPDATES/ Bryan Batchelor, Road Superintendent; Carl Overland, Road Shop Foreman
Reported on auto-gates, culvert and road maintenance; Buerkle Access, Coral Creek and South Ismay. Finishing chip sealing for Iron Horse and the golf course. Two blades will be up for rotation in December; will submit bid specifications. Discussed mowing the face of the Upper Dam and channel; will finish mowing after clearing last of the auto-gates. Carl updated on equipment maintenance. Discussed utilizing tire repair company for the slits in the blade tires. Bryan reported on a twenty-four foot auto-gate being installed on Calumet; discussed including gate installation on the cattleguard permit conditions going forward.
10:10 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:15 AM PERMISSION TO HIRE DISPATCHERS/ Brenda Hoeger, Emergency Communications Dispatch Supervisor & 911 Coordinator; Julie Straub, HRM
Commissioner Varner motioned to hire Kimberly Clark for the 40-hour Emergency Communications Dispatcher position and Beth Carrell for the 36-hour Emergency Communications Dispatcher position. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
10:17 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:35 AM PROJECT UPDATES/ Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering
Brosz Engineering is currently assisting several other counties with Grid-United road agreements. Updated on the Triangle Park COS. Discussed Cabin Creek Loop culverts.
10:43 Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:48 AM REVIEW DRAFT ROAD PLAT/ Cindy Irgens, Recording Clerk & Road/Land Researcher
Reviewed draft road plat. Discussed correcting road names by resolution to match the signs on the roads; will check with 911 to validate road names as well. Will finish corrections with Brosz Engineering.
11:17 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Recess until 1:15 PM
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chairman; Roy Rost and Mandi Varner, Members; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
1:15 PM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
Brenda Wood, Clerk and Recorder and Cindy Irgens, Recording Clerk & Road/Land Researcher joined the meeting; everyone sang Happy Birthday to Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary.
1:23 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
1:30 PM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Discussion on creating an ambulance billing policy/ Brenda Wood, Clerk & Recorder; Julie Post, Deputy Treasurer
Discussed Gold Cross billing process for ambulance runs. Reviewed Miles City ambulance billing policy and hardship program. Darcy will draft up a billing policy; will present to Gold Cross to see if they will facilitate.
2. Discussion on Fallon County Growth Policy/ Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator; Fallon County Planning Board Members
Cindy Irgens and Alissa Miller, Planning Board Members joined the meeting. Reviewed the Fallon County Growth Policy; discussed option of zoning already being included in the Growth Policy. Darcy will review the current Growth Policy to see if the wording allows the Commission to consider zoning; Desiree will discuss further with Forrest Sanderson, Contract Planner.
3. Old Business as needed
Discussed Port Authority (EMEDA) currently having only two board members; possibility of SMART and EMEDA sharing board members. EMEDA has not submitted minutes to the Clerk & Recorders Office; unsure if the board is conducting other business without a full board.
Discussed renaming roads through resolution to match road signs and 911 addressing. Signs would be changed if the resolution and 911 addressing match.
4. Closed Session – Thielen Litigation Update (IF NEEDED)
2:10 PM Chairman Braun closed the session.
2:14 PM Chairman Braun opened the session; no decisions were made.
2:14 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:30 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve August 10-14, 2026 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve August 10-14, 2026 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Abstained. (Commissioner Braun due to absence) Motion carried.
2. Approve August 3rd & 10th, 2026 Closed Commission Minutes
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve August 3rd & 10th, 2026 Closed Commission Minutes. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Abstained. (Commissioner Braun due to absence) Motion carried.
3. Executive Decisions
a. Discussion/Decision on Fallon Medical Complex’s Request for Qualifications biannual procurement draft
Discussed combining the County and Fallon Medical’s procurement process in the future.
Commissioner Rost motioned to go out for qualifications. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Old Business as needed
a. Discussion/Decision on Great West Engineering Task Order No. 2 for landfill staking
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve Great West Engineering Task Order No. 2 for landfill staking for the amount of $10,000.00. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Discussion/Decision on Request for communication with Jane Wind Energy in regards to their current projects in Fallon County
Commissioner Varner motioned to send the letter to Jane Wind Energy. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Appoint Advisory Board Member
Commissioner Rost motioned to appoint Shawn Wiseman to the Fallon County Planning Board. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachment and approach permits/zoning compliance (as needed)
6. Approve August 2026 Mid-Month Claims
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the August 2026 Mid-Month Claims for the amount of $278,338.49. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
3:23 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:30 PM Josh Lewis, IT Director joined the meeting.
3:30 PM LANDFILL UPDATES/ Jeff Frank, Manager of Landfill Operations
Updated on fair hours. Discussed staking task order for the landfill; Commission reported on approving it.
1. Discussion/Decision on security cameras for the landfill
Requesting cameras towards the front gate and the pits; occasional fires have started during off hours. Josh will do a walkthrough later this week; will present a plan/proposal.
3:36 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:45 PM INSURANCE COMMITTEE WORK SESSION/ Debbie Wyrick, Marjorie Losing & Troy Hess, Insurance Committee
Reviewed Alternate Tiers Option #2 per the Insurance Committee’s recommendation. Discussed Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for both single and family plans; could possibly add the option of another high-deductible account next year. Reported on Wellness Committee meeting on August 7th to discuss Wellness deductions; the Committee voted unanimously to eliminate the Wellness program but will still encourage employees to visit the doctor and complete labs. Discussed dissolving the Wellness Committee. Discussed offering life insurance to employees that are not on the County’s health insurance.
4:24 PM Pam Walling, MACo Representative joined the meeting via phone call.
Discussed additional paid-up employee life insurance; discussed employer rates.
4:31 PM Pam Walling left the meeting.
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Insurance Committee’s recommendation for four plans with HSA contributions. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussed additional paid-up life insurance for employees that are not on the County’s health insurance plan. Decided not to move forward with additional life insurance options due to lack of motion; could address next year if there are requests for options.
4:47 PM Being as there is no further business to come before the Commission, meeting adjourned.
ADJOURN
s/ Kevin J. Braun, Chairman
s/ Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/ Brenda J. Wood, Clerk & Recorder
