Commission Minutes
MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022
9:30 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
No one appeared for public comment.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to approve the minutes from March 14-18, 2022, with corrections. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
10:00 AM Mitch Overn, Shop Mechanic; Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent joined the meeting.
Shop/Road Updates- The Road Department is still hauling gravel this week. RDO is coming to look
at the Landfill loader. Bobby’s pickup is in Billings and is ready to be picked up. There is a flagging training in Miles City on Thursday. MACRS is next week in Great Falls, and Mark Sieler, Kendall Sieler, and Bobby are attending. The Commission asked that the Road Crew does not blade the roads yet; they would like
to see if we get more moisture this spring. Some roads are in very rough shape due to the lack of moisture the last few years. Bobby explained that there is no room for the Little Beaver Conservation Equipment to be stored inside at the County Shop.
10:17 AM Mitch and Bobby left the meeting.
10:29 AM Rich Menger, Sanitarian joined the meeting.
Watershed Management Grant- Rich explained that there is an option to apply for the Watershed Management grant, which could be used for stormwater drainage. The Commission is working with Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering, on a different option for the stormwater drainage to be moved east and taken to the channel. Rich was thinking this grant could help with a filtration system by Triangle Park. It must be applied for by April 4th. The grant is for matching funds, and maximum available is $35,000.00. The Commission would like to put it into the budget for 2022-2023 and wait on the grant for this year, as final plans are not yet in place.
10:37 AM Rich left the meeting.
10:56 AM Sara Berger, Weed Control Coordinator joined the meeting.
Weed Department Updates- Sara gave the Commission the updated winter checklist for the Weed Department. 800 gallons of propane was used in a month at the shop because the weather stripping on the doors is worn. Sara would like to have them fixed before next fall. She will get a quote beforehand. The agreement with the Department of Transportation is ready to be signed by the Commission. Two new batteries were put in on a few of the side by sides. Sara passed the turf and ornamental license and will take the aquatics test this Wednesday. All bills have been paid from last year and the SDS sheets are completed.
11:05 AM Sara left the meeting.
COMMISSION WORK SESSION
The Commission reviewed revenues, reports, emails and other correspondence, board minutes and agendas. They also reviewed the bridge inspection reports.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to sign the Cancellation of Local Non-Partisan Portion of
Primary Election. 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 sign the Notice of Cancellation of Party Precinct Committee Representative Election. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
11:56 AM Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to take a lunch recess. Commissioner Braun 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
Clerk
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
PUBLIC COMMENT – AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No one appeared for public comment.
1:27 PM Julie Straub, HRM; Carla Brown, Council on Aging Coordinator joined the meeting.
Permission to Hire Homemaker- Carla asked permission to hire Staci Downing for the Homemaker position. She will start on April 1st.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to hire Staci Downing for the Homemaker position. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
1:31 PM Julie and Carla left the meeting.
1:56 PM Dale Butori, DES/911 Coordinator joined the meeting.
Request County Contribution Towards Firework Fund- Dale would like to request a donation from the County for the fireworks fund. There is $2,500 available in the budget. The Commission agreed.
Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to donate $2,500 to the Fireworks Fund. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Permission to Hold Controlled Burn by Softball Complex- The Baker Rural Fire Department would like to hold a controlled burn by the Softball Complex with the DNRC. They do have a burn permit. The Commission agreed.
2:02 PM Dale left the meeting.
CLAIMS APPROVAL
The Commission reviewed and approved claims from mid-March 2022 in the amount of $330,833.64. They are filed in the Clerk and Recorders office.
11:56 AM Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to take a lunch recess. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
EVENING RECESS
8:15 AM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Steve Baldwin, Kevin Braun, Members; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording
Clerk
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
PUBLIC COMMENT – AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS
No one appeared for public comment.
8:25 AM Lisa Mitchell, EMS Director joined the meeting.
8:27 AM Julie Straub, HRM joined the meeting.
Restructure of EMS Director Position- The EMS Director position will be restructured as of right now; it is a salaried position. The Commission stated that this will be made into a non-exempt position with an hourly wage. They would be interested in setting the hours at 30 hours per week. The Director can work up to 40 hours if needed, and anything over 40 hours would be overtime. The Director position and the volunteer EMT position will be separated. If Lisa chooses to be an EMT as well, that will be her decision. She cannot be on-call during working hours. If she takes a call during working hours, it will not be considered working time, as the duties will not be able to be performed if she is on call or on a run. Training will be separated from the county as well. No county resources are to be used for trainings. Any training that is taking place on county property will need pre-approval. Lisa explained the public services that are done for the community, such as trainings for Boy Scouts, mom and tots, etc. No trainings will be done on county time for profit. The Governor’s Board Advisory Council will be part of the restructured EMS Director job description. The county vehicle will be used like any other county vehicle. It can be used to do county errands, but it is to stay in the parking lot when not in use. Lisa explained that the vehicle is used for first response and is why she uses it so frequently. Lisa is concerned about the patient care and the time it will take to get the command vehicle. The Commission understands that the EMT side is most important, and the community is very appreciative of the service. As a Commission, they need to focus
on the business side of the position. This includes the patient care reports being completed and other administrative tasks. Not completing PCR’s has resulted in significant findings in three successive audits. This may result in a loss of financial assistance from the state. Discussion followed on the PCR and the process that is followed. The timeline for completing the PCR’s has been previously established in current job description and other documents. The Commission would also like to take a look at the number of people being paid to take on-call shifts. They would prefer to have two and no longer three. More people may attend the calls if need be. Training more EMTs is also needed. There are grants available for these trainings. Each month, the Commission and Lisa decided that she will bring in her meeting details and the on-call schedule and go over what was done at the EMS monthly meeting. Lisa stated that she has been keeping track of her on call hours but hasn’t been taking her scheduled hours out of the total. They will meet with her weekly to make sure the new re-structuring is working and can discuss any changes
weekly. The goal for each party is to make sure everything is set up for success. Lisa is fine with working
30 scheduled hours. It is unknown what the hourly rate will be, as the job details are not yet complete. It will now be a non-exempt position. The set hours will need to be discussed and put into place. People who have access to the building will need to be discussed about as well. The change from exempt to non- exempt will be made at the end of the April pay period. The Commission, Julie and Lisa will meet again next week to discuss further. Discussion on re-structuring the Medical Director position as well. The pickup will not have to be parked until the job change takes place.
10:31 AM Lisa and Julie left the meeting.
10:33 AM Commissioner Braun made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
TUESDAY, MARCH 22ND – MT DOT DISTRICT MEETING IN MILES CITY – ROOM #106 AT MILES COMMUNITY COLLEGE – 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD – JOB FAIR – 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD – ORAL ARGUMENT FOR MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT – THIELEN VS. FALLON COUNTY – 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
s/Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Clerk s/Roy Rost, Presiding Officer
ATTEST: s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder
