Commission Minutes – August 18-22, 2025
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025
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.
9:00 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
Barney and Shelley Dean joined the meeting. Discussed graveling a county road on their property; could patch the road with scoria. Barney presented a video of the road showing potholes full of water.
9:09 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:14 AM Brenda Wood, Clerk & Recorder and Josh Lewis, IT Director joined the meeting.
9:15 AM DISCUSSION/DECISION ON PURCHASING TABULATORS FOR ELECTIONS/ Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk & Recorder; Kathy Newell, Elections Clerk
Debbie presented a quote for the tabulators along with an annual maintenance fee. Discussed procedure for hand counting the ballots. Kathy reported on other counties using tabulators; only eleven counties in Montana still do hand count. Discussed difficulty finding volunteers needed for ballot counting; between twenty-four and twenty-seven volunteers for hand count versus six volunteers for tabulators. Tabulators would only be utilized for State or Federal elections; would not be used for local or Municipal elections. Discussed the public’s concern with the tabulators; tabulators do not have the capability to connect to Wi-Fi or the internet. ES&S would maintain and update the firmware on the tabulators every year; the IT Director would not be allowed to do any maintenance on the software or tabulators. The HAVA grant would cover about $14,000.00. Will include the amount in the budget and have ES&S do a public demonstration on how the tabulator’s work.
9:33 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:33 AM PERMISSION TO HIRE DETENTION OFFICER/ Trenton Harbaugh, Sheriff
Commissioner Rost motioned to hire Korben Freese as a Detention Officer effective immediately. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; be none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
9:36 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:54 AM ROAD UPDATES/ Bryan Batchelor, Road Superintendent; Carl Overland and/or Mitch Overn, Shop Mechanic
Finished the 11-Mile road. Discussed maintenance for easements; will pull shoulders and gravel for Barney Dean. Discussed installing the new gate valve for the golf course. Reported on reclamation of the Buerkle and Gatske pits. Discussed replacing a culvert at Pennel Creek Road. Mitch and Carl updated on vehicle maintenance; Honda Odessey stopped running in Billings.
10:04 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:13 AM DISCUSS/DECISION TO COVER ELECTRICAL PANEL IN THE BASEMENT/ Lynda Herbst, Inside Custodian Supervisor
Inspector requested for the electrical panel to be locked; discussed installing a key or replacing the entire panel. Will ask Holmlund Lock & Key about installing a lock in the panel and in the crawl spaces.
10:18 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:42 AM PROJECT UPDATES/ Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering; Rich Menger, Sanitarian
Rich reported on total coliform testing for the golf course irrigation; will install the parts for the gate valve sometime this week. Reviewed 5-year inspection draft and discussed recommendations from Morrison-Maierle. Easement was mailed to the landowner at Ismay Road South. Updated on gravel pit by Ollie.
11:16 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:24 AM GOLF COURSE UPDATES/ Nathan Kalbach, Golf Course Superintendent; John Didier, Seasonal Golf Course Superintendent
Reported on equipment maintenance; discussed renewing the Toro NSN plan for the irrigation system. The course has been sprayed for weeds. John updated the on purchasing sod closer to April. The new mower and verticutters will be here this week. Discussed clearing piles of scrap around the golf course. Commissioner Rost asked for the bunkers to be checked and cleaned. Discussed replacing dresser sleeves for the irrigation line. Discussed golf course etiquette; the Commission recommended that the Superintendents attend the Golf Course Board meetings.
11:49 AM 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
No one appeared for Public Comment.
1:28 PM Cindy Irgens, Recording Clerk joined the meeting.
1:28 PM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Update on Thielen’s impending litigation
Updated on Thielen’s decision to file an independent lawsuit against the County and possibly the Commissioners if the Commission decides to follow through with the Declaratory Judgement Action (dec. action) for Thielen Access. The Thielen’s are requesting requisite compensation for the land that the road goes through; fair market value that three appraisers agree to, along with attorney fees for the settlement. Discussed if it would be in the County’s interest to settle with the Thielen’s or proceed with the dec. action; there are other roads in the County that are similar to Thielen Access. Discussed how the dec. action would clarify if Thielen Access is a County road or not; either answer would give the Commission a better direction on how to proceed with similar roads in the County. Discussed requesting an easement with conditions contingent on if the judge agrees that Thielen Access is a County road; the County does not want the easement if the judge declares the road to be private. Discussed insurance coverage on roads.
2. Discussion/decision on potential settlement for the Thielens
Darcy will reach out to Thielen’s attorney to discuss conditions for the settlement; will draft out a sample settlement for the next Commissioner meeting. No decision was made at this time.
3. Review Roddy M. Rost road easement
Discussed whether the Resolution needed to be included with the easement; Darcy recommended included Resolutions with easements going forward. The Commission does not want to proceed with the Resolution part of the easement.
4. Old business as needed
Updated on Miles City Airport agreement; will make the suggested changes before sending back to Miles City.
2:15 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:15 PM TV BOARD UPDATES/ Desiree Thielen, DES/911 Coordinator; Josh Lewis, IT Director; Wayne Mangold and Randy Morris, Board Members
Discussed agreement for the Miles City building. Wayne reported on equipment maintenance; will need to upgrade air conditioning in the Plevna Tower. Presented two quotes to upgrade the electrical in the building; permission to proceed with the Direct Electric quote. Will submit two quotes for upgrading the air conditioning. Wayne reported on a snake issue at the Plevna Tower; suspects there is a den under the building. Discussed process of notification if local channels go down. Desiree reported on adding a weather channel that broadcasts the North Dakota Water Resources – Bowman Radar. Discussed running Wi-Fi from Bracket Butte to Plevna.
2:38 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:30 PM DES/911 UPDATES/ Desiree Thielen, DES/911 Coordinator
Updated on Code Red, a free emergency notification system for the community. Will have a sign-up session at the senior center and Parkview Retirement Complex. Will go to Wibaux and Carter County for sign-ups. Sirens protocol will be presented at the next LEPC meeting. Updated on AT&T service issue; will research on how many 911 calls are from AT&T users. Rural addressing added three new addresses. Reported on an issue with a North Dakota fire call and GIS 911 mapping.
2:50 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:15 PM LANDFILL UPDATES/ Jeff Frank, Manager of Landfill Operations
Updated on traffic at the container site. Discussed complaint on being asked to take trees to the landfill; residents are being asked if they could take larger loads to the landfill but still have the option to say no. Discussed having a larger container just for tree branches. Presented a charge account application; Jeff will ask if the individual has proof of insurance.
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the landfill account application. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
3:22 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:30 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve August 11-15, 2025 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve August 11-15, 2025 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Executive Decisions
a. Decision on moving forward with combining Planning with DES and combining 911 with Dispatch
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve combining Planning with DES and combining 911 with Dispatch. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; effective date would be the next pay period. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Discussion/Decision on TKE quote for Parkview 1 elevator vandal buttons
The Commissioners were not in favor of approving the quote.
c. Discussion/Decision on Northwest Pipe Fittings quote for the golf course irrigation system
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Northwest Pipe Fittings quote for the amount of $2,575.96. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Permission to hire an Emergency Medical Technician for EMS
Commissioner Rost motioned to hire Megan McKeigham as an Emergency Medical Technician. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Old Business as needed
a. Discussion/Decision on Roddy M. Rost Easement
Easement was mailed to the landowner.
4. Final Budget Review
Reported on the Golf Course budget, Cemetery Budget, Clerk & Recorder Budget, EMS Budget, Planning/DES Budget, 911/Dispatch Budget.
5. Approve August 2025 Mid-Month Claims
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve August 2025 Mid-Month Claims for the amount of $279,663.09. Commissioner Varnerseconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
6. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachments/zoning compliance (as needed)
4:11 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Being as there is no further business; meeting adjourned.
ADJOURN
s/ Kevin J. Braun, Chairman
s/ Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/ Brenda J. Wood, Clerk & Recorder
