Commission Minutes
NO COMMISSIONER MEETINGS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022
9:30 AM CONVENE
PRESENT: Roy Rost, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Member; Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Secretary
ABSENT: Steve Baldwin, Member
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.
9:57 AM Mitch Overn, Shop Mechanic; Mark Sieler, Road Superintendent joined the meeting.
Shop Updates- The ambulance turbo boot failed on the pressure side. A new one will be coming tomorrow.
10:00 AM Kodie Olson, 4-H Administrative Assistant joined the meeting.
Mitch explained that it is difficult getting parts in right now because everything is on back order. Discussion on the Conex box that will be eventually moved to the Museum.
Road Updates- The Commission asked Mark about the trucks running together when the gravel is hauled. There is someone in the loader and blade at all times. They are not intentionally trying to run together. Mark will have a talk with the crew about trying to split up a bit more.
10:16 AM Mitch and Bobby left the meeting.
Conservation District Office- Conservation district- Kodie asked if it would be possible for the two employees for the Conservation District to temporarily move into the Courthouse. They are currently looking into other building options for their office space. They need to be moved out of their current office by April 1st. The Commission agreed that the Conservation District Office can be placed in the basement of the Courthouse temporarily. A new phone will need to be set up, as well as internet access.
10:25 AM Kodie left the meeting.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to accept the Grant of Easement for Liam and DeLayne Robbins. 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.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to approve the minutes from February 7-11, 2022, as presented. 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.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to approve the closed minutes from February 9, 2022, as presented. 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.
10:27 AM Dale Butori, DES/911 Coordinator joined the meeting.
DES/911 Updates- Dale submitted the second quarter for the EMPG grant. He is working with Georgia Bruski
– Carter County DES – regarding the 2021-2022 EMPG grant, which is due in March. The Code Red mass notification system is live on the County website. Dale will place an advertisement in the newspaper to promote the program, as well as Facebook and handouts. It is a mass notification system used to inform the public on tornados, missing/endangered people, fire, floods, etc. Discussion on the functions of the system. Dale attended a training last week in Helena, which went very well. The PDM has been sent off to the State after some corrections were made. Dale is planning on attending MACo. After attending the 911 meeting in Boulder, it was
in Fallon County’s favor.
10:56 AM Dustan Davis, IT TECH joined the meeting.
11:01 AM Dale left the meeting.
IT TECH Updates- Dustan gave the Commission the yearly website report. The views seem to be going up with the new weather cameras. He hasn’t had much time to work on the new website yet. Commissioner Braun would like it done before the start of summer. Dustan attended the DES training last week, which he felt was very informative. There will be fiber lines put into the south repeater site soon and possibly another location to install weather cameras. A new house bill was passed involving elections. This requires all government elected administrators to have an annual assessment of the IT TECH. Dustan would prefer that the assessment is done on the whole county, not just elections. He is waiting on the State to see what is required. The start date of requiring the assessments will be January of 2023. Dustan is still working on putting in new desktops for employees that are in need. Scheduling conflicts are prolonging the process. Discussion on a secondary IT contact for MACo purposes. The Commission would like to name someone who understands the technology and how to use it if Dustan were to be gone. He is working on updating the yearly information that describes all technology and systems.
11:38 AM Dustan left the meeting.
COMMISSION WORK SESSION
The Commission reviewed revenues, reports, emails and other correspondence, board minutes and agendas.
Commissioner Braun made the motion to appoint Mitch Overn to the Baker Lake Advisory Board. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 2
Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent (Commissioner Baldwin). The motion caried.
11:40 AM Commissioner Braun made the motion to take an evening recess. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
EVENING RECESS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022
10:15 AM CONVENE
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.
10:25 AM Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent joined the meeting.
10:30 AM Shane Mintz, Mike Skillestad, MT Dept. of Transportation joined the meeting.
Road Maintenance Exchange Agreement Regarding Secondary 494 South of Plevna and Shell Oil Road-
The MT Department of Transportation has submitted a Road Maintenance agreement regarding the Secondary
494 South of Plevna and Shell Oil Road. Commissioner Rost asked about the pulverization project that is included in the agreement. Shane explained that in the pulverization project, the pulverizing machine goes in and takes the road all the way to the gravel below the asphalt. It is then rolled, bladed and compacted, similar to a gravel road. In a report given to the Commission, there are three culverts that need to be replaced on the road. Shane
stated that they can add the three that need to be replaced to the proposed agreement. There are other culverts that are needing maintenance of repairs. Bobby has concerns that when the road is pulverized, there will not be enough sediment to hold the road together and it will washboard. Shane gave examples of other counties where the same process was done by the State. The MDOT would like to have this agreement signed before he meets with Daniels County in March. The front end will be overlayed, but the schedule is unknown. The Commission does not want to add that into the agreement, because it does not have a schedule and they don’t want to keep the landowners on their toes for a long period of time with so many unknowns. Discussion on funds that are
available and what primary highways are needing work. Highway 7 is in their long-term plan of projects, but there
are other areas that are just as pressing, if not more. Commissioner Braun asked that in the proposed agreement, it is added that the county does not take possession of the road until the repairs are fixed. The overlay cannot be added into the agreement because there is no timeline. It will be added into the agreement that the three culverts will be fixed, and the road will be pulverized. Bobby plans to take a look himself and make sure there are not other culverts that need to be added as well. Commissioner Braun explained that he is not willing to take the road until it is complete. Commissioner Rost stated that he would like to see everything that is in the project to
be added into the agreement, as the Commission is unaware of the details that are included in the project. The culverts can be listed into the agreement. Shane explained that it makes him nervous about the amount of gravel that will need to be added. Shane stated they will amend the agreement and include that the pulverization project will include the culverts that need to be fixed. Commissioner Rost would like to see the bid specs before the agreement is signed. A final walkthrough with the County Road Superintendent will be added to the agreement as well. Discussion followed on the issues that Fallon County has previously seen with these projects, which is the reason for this conversation in the first place.
12:19 PM Shane, Mike and Bobby left the meeting.
12:19 PM Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Rost asked for any other discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
s/Kelsey DuCharme, Recording Clerk
ATTEST:
s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder
s/Roy Rost, Presiding Officer
