Commission Minutes
MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021
9:00 AM CONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Steve Baldwin, Kevin Braun, Members; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week. PUBLIC COMMENT –AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
9:26 AM Julie Straub, HRM joined the meeting.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to approve the minutes from July 5-9, 2021, as presented. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3
Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to approve the Public Hearing minutes from July 6, 2021, with corrections. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Hiring Decision for Golf Course Superintendent- After interviews, the Commission would like to hire Kevin
Hill for the Golf Course Superintendent position.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to hire Kevin Hill for the Golf Course Superintendent position. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3
Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
9:39 AM Julie left the meeting.
9:51 AM Ken Griffith, Member of the Public joined the meeting.
North Baker Water Sewer District Watermain to Bonnevale Cemetery- The North Baker Water Sewer District would like to try and apply for the ARPA funding for the watermain to Bonnievale Cemetery. The deadline to apply is by July 15th. They are working with Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering. The line going to the
cemetery provides only water to the cemetery, not any sewer services. There is also a few private properties involved. The City does not believe that it is their line. They have asked the District to put in a new meter to be able to track the water usage. Discussed putting the line into the district. The people that are using the line would have to pay that set rate, which is a little more than they are paying right now. They have their own drain fields and septic systems.
9:59 AM Rich Menger, Sanitarian joined the meeting.
10:00 AM Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering; Jon Brosz, Brosz Engineering joined the meeting.
Shannon is currently working on the details of the project. There are service lines to a few residents that are annexed into the City that are currently using that line. The boundaries have been changed as to what they originally started with, and Ken never received a map that clearly defines the boundaries. Shannon is working on the grant application. They are wanting to locate all the curb stops and the main water shut offs that are put on public property, as well as dig the watermain shutoffs out and put cement on them to be able to find them easier. The GPS locates the shutoffs that are within the private properties.
10:05 AM Mary Grube, Assistant Administrative Planner joined the meeting.
The manholes will be placed to protect the cement as well. The group briefly discussed the loop line that feeds North Baker. During the City water project, the loop line has been shut off for quite some time. Shannon explained that the project is estimated to cost $200,000 – $250,000. The District will have a minimum of 1:1 match, or 25% of amount of local government received funds. If the 4-inch line is replaced with a 6-inch instead,
it will be about a $500,000 project. Ken believes that the District has enough funds to be able to cover the entirety of the match.
10:25 AM Kelsey, Jon and Ken left the meeting.
10:25 AM Kimberly Jensen, Accounts Payable Clerk joined the meeting to take Commissioner minutes.
Baker Lake- Discussion on Baker Lake Wetland Mitigation. Shannon will be looking back on the Afrank property bank stabilization status and EPA’s status. The Afrank property is in need of bank stabilization because Rich helped remove trees and the bank is sluffing.
Millennium Sidewalk – Four of the bases and some of the lights are ready to be installed for the Millennium
Sidewalk project.
Bonneville Road Bridge – The Joint Application Permit for the Bonneville Road Bridge is from 2013. A new application will need to be sent to the Army Core of Engineers, Local Floodplain, DEQ, and Fish Wildlife and Parks. Discussion on prioritizing Ismay Bridge or Bonnevalle Road Bridge. Discussion on joining the two projects and bidding as one with two schedules. The Commission would prefer to do the cast and place option for Bonnevalle, as it has been done on the Ismay Bridge already.
10:40 AM Rich left the meeting.
Shannon will get updated Joint Application ready to be signed by Commission for next week.
Watermain Replacement Project – Discussion on completion and work done for the City Watermain Replacement Project. The project is basically completed other than striping. There are a few punch list items that they are working on getting taken care of. The project costs came in under the estimated costs.
Upper Dam – Mary reported that the Upper Dam is ready for the five-year inspection. A letter has been
received from the NRCS. The Upper Dam inspection was due July 1st. Discussion on Shannon attending the conference meeting scheduled with NRCS on July 20th and doing the inspection on the same day.
10:54 AM Mary left the meeting.
10:56 AM Shannon left the meeting.
COMMISSION WORK SESSION
The Commission reviewed, revenues received, reports, emails and other correspondence, board minutes and agendas.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to sign FY22 County Superintendent of Schools Contract. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to appoint Wanda Pinnow to the Fallon County Weed Board. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3
Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to sign the State of Montana Lease Contract. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to sign the Contract Agreement to complete Study Review of County Road Status Project. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
11:02 AM Commissioner Braun made the motion to take a noon recess. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Steve Baldwin, Kevin Braun, Members; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
PUBLIC COMMENT –AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No one appeared for public comment.
1:15 PM Matt Moberg, Member of the Public joined the meeting.
1:21 PM Mary Grube, Planner Administrative Assistant joined the meeting.
Gunderson/Moberg Exemption- The Gunderson/Moberg Exemption is the relocation of boundary lines. The old boundary line was reviewed, along with what was recently purchased. Moberg’s are adding on to the property. It is exempt from subdivision review. There is existing sewer on the lot that was owned previously. Moberg’s purchased from Gunderson’s.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to adopt the Relocation of Boundary lines for the amended plat of Lot
1 of O’Connor Addition – SE1/4. Section 23, NW1/4 & SW1/4. Section 24, T7N, R59E, P.M.M., Fallon County, Montana. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
1:28 PM Mary and Matt left the meeting.
2:00 PM Commissioner Baldwin left the meeting.
2:16 PM Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk and Recorder joined the meeting.
EBMS Wells Fargo Accounts- The EBMS Health Insurance account is with Wells Fargo. There are three accounts, including the trust savings, medical checking and flex checking account. The trust savings is the only one with interest. There is no negotiations that can be done with the interest rate. The County can use their own bank if chosen to, but EBMS will need some sort of access via the internet. After COVID, the deposits were done electronically. Debbie is unsure how it would work if Fallon County had their own account, as EBMS would still get the deposits and need access to the information. Fallon County could potentially be in charge of that if we used our own bank. There are no fees with any of these accounts currently. Debbie will continue to do more research on the topic.
2:42 PM Debbie left the meeting.
2:46 PM Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk and Recorder; Brenda Wood, Clerk and Recorder joined the meeting.
County Auction Discussion- Discussion on what items will be going to the County Auction that is planned for September of 2021.
2:58 PM Debbie and Brenda left the meeting.
3:30 PM Commissioner Braun made the motion to recess for the evening. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent
(Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.
EVENING RECESS
TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021
8:30 AM – WORKSAFE CHAMPIONS IN THE EOC
10:00 AM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Member; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Secretary
ABSENT: Steve Baldwin, Member
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
PUBLIC COMMENT – AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
10:00 AM Kimberly Jensen, AP Clerk joined the meeting.
Gazebo Questions- A member of the public has brought a few different questions to light for the Commission. There is no handicap bars in the bathroom at Iron Horse Park. The Commission will talk with Robbie Christiaens, Maintenance Supervisor, about installing them. It was also asked about parking near the Iron Horse
Park Gazebo, as there have been complaints that it is a long way to walk from the parking area to the Gazebo. The Commission is not going to make any changes to the parking area, as they do not want people driving that close to the beach with children running back and forth.
10:08 AM Kimberly left the meeting.
10:30 AM COMMISSIONER WORK SESSION – OLD BUSINESS/COUNTY BUDGET REVIEW
11:19 AM Aaron Skogen, Superintendent of Schools joined the meeting.
After School Program- Aaron reported that the community was great at paying fees for the After School Program. This next upcoming year, they are anticipating about $8,400 for revenue and the cost to hold the program will be about $22,000. Last year, they requested $15,000 and did not spend about $5,000 of that. They would like to request $5,000 this upcoming year. Aaron will submit an invoice to the County. The Commission agreed.
School Nurse Contract- The Commission would like to keep the School Nurse contract going with the
Schools. The County will keep invoicing them and the Schools will then submit the payments.
11:28 AM Aaron left the meeting.
11:50 AM Commissioner Braun made the motion to take a noon recess. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Member; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Secretary
ABSENT: Steve Baldwin, Member
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
PUBLIC COMMENT –AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No one appeared for public comment.
1:26 PM Julie Straub, HRM joined the meeting.
1:27 PM Mary Grube, Assistant Administrative Planner joined the meeting.
Job Description Review- The Commission asked to review Mary’s job description, as the Board meetings she is attending are not included into the description. The meetings attended are being written on timesheets as time served to the County, therefore it will need to be added to the job description if the Commission chooses to do so. Mary explained that attending the SMART Board meetings is beneficial to the Planning Department, as it is involved with economic development. She is also attending the City Council meetings, Town of Plevna Council, and the Plevna Zoning Commission meetings. Mary is working to keep track of the hours that have spent with both the Town of Plevna and City of Baker. There is interlocal agreements with both entities, however, only the Baker City Council meetings are included into the job description. The Commission reminded Mary that she is required to stick to the Fallon County policy, and if she is going to have over 40 hours worked in a week, that
those hours be flexed out. She is required to get permission from the Commission beforehand if overtime is going to be expected, as per County policy. Discussion on the process of flexing hours, as Mary feels the office needs to be open during the day but she is the only employee. The Commission would like to discuss the interlocal agreement with the Town of Plevna in order for it to be added to the job description. Discussion on what
meetings are appropriate to charge to the County. The monthly newsletters will be removed from the job
description. Mary would like to add to seek legal advice from the City and County attorneys regarding land use laws.
2:20 PM Mary left the meeting.
2:25 PM Julie left the meeting.
INTERVIEW FOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
4:30 PM Commissioner Braun made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion carried.
ADJOURN
s/Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Clerk
ATTEST:
s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder
s/Roy Rost, Presiding Officer
