Commission Minutes – August 24-28
MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 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.
9:00 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
Bobby Thielen, member of the public joined the meeting. Reported on marestail infestation at the Keystone Market Link plant; requested the property owner to spray per their weed plan. Discussed maintenance of Straub Access; Commission will look into third party graveling a county road. Asked if gravel was coming from local pits or Glendive; Fallon County is pulling gravel from two local pits, sand for the golf course comes from Glendive.
Gary Thielen, Town of Plevna Mayor joined the meeting. Thanked the County for assisting with the road repairs for Plevna. Discussed rotation for chip sealing the Plevna roads.
9:06 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:15 AM PERMISSION TO HIRE A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DRIVER/ Carla Brown, Council on Aging Director; Julie Straub, HRM
Commissioner Varner motioned to hire Cheryl Goodman as a Public Transportation Driver. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
9:16 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:25 AM GOLF COURSE UPDATES/ Nathan Kalbach, Golf Course Superintendent
Updated on golf course greens. Stress spots are showing up in the greens either caused by overwatering or from the salt in the ground coming out. Will do a soil test for salt and alkali levels; POGO readings show the salinity levels are high and moisture is optimal and/or high. Cart paths are all chip sealed. Greens will be aerated in September. Will be seeding and leveling out fairways. Updated on trial runs of rough and greens mower. Discussed lagoon levels and tests.
1. Permission to purchase greens mower
Commissioner Varner motioned to purchase the Toro Greensmaster 3300 Hydraulic Greens Mower with additional cutting units and rollers for the amount of $58,520.00. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Permission to purchase roughs mower
Will purchase the rough mower next budget season.
9:46 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:55 AM WEED UPDATES/ Sara Berger, Weed Control Coordinator
Updated on crew and spray jobs; currently have 18 out of 26 landowner jobs done. Doing roads at least one day a week; weather has not been agreeable for spraying season. Discussed having the Road Department spray the roads as they disc so the Weed crew can focus on spraying for landowners.
9:59 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:00 AM ATTEND BRIDGER PIPELINE EXPANSION COOPERATORS MEETING – ZOOM MEETING/ BLM Representatives & Cooperators
The Commissioners attended the Cooperators meeting.
11:00 AM SANITARIAN UPDATES/ Janalee Ferrell, Sanitarian
Updated on fair inspections. Reported on new program through the state; will be purchasing a new ipad for the online program. Updated on junk vehicle program; will continue to run advertisement. Updated on trainings and certifications; researching having a speaker come to town for establishments. Discussed setting up policies for Sanitarian responsibilities and fee schedules.
11:06 Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:15 AM EMS UPDATES/ Brittany Renner, EMS Program Manager
Presented call logs and EMT hours for the month of August. Updated on an EMR passing their test. Currently do not have enough radios if other EMRs pass their tests; did not budget for radios this budget year. Will be on standby for children’s rodeo. Updated on ambulance garage rough sketch.
1. Discussion/Decision on assisting Wibaux County with teaching EMR Classes
Updated on Wibaux County’s request for assistance with EMR classes; Wibaux County is willing to pay for instructors. Discussed if Brittany should represent Fallon County as instructors or go as private instructors; will attend Wibaux County EMR classes as private instructors.
Discussed applying for grants to purchase radios. Will present a quote for three extra radios.
11:24 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
No one appeared for Public Comment.
1:33 PM Brenda Wood, Clerk & Recorder and Julie Post, Deputy Treasurer joined the meeting.
1:33 PM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Review draft ambulance billing policy
Presented a draft ambulance billing policy. Discussed process and communications of financial hardship program. Will ask Gold Cross if they will facilitate the hardship forms and confirmations. Discussed maximum value for an account that should go to court. Discussed proper time to present a discount as incentive to pay.
2. Discussion on Fallon County Growth Policy/ Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator
Discussed the current Fallon County Growth Policy; Darcy stated that the current Growth Policy encourages enacting of zoning within the County. Discussed extraterritorial zoning agreement with the City of Baker; discussed possible zoning that would be across Fallon County. The current Growth Policy does not need amended or updated to include the option of zoning within Fallon County. Discussed implementing extraterritorial zoning first and wait for the next Growth Policy update.
3. Discussion on Port Authority Board (EMEDA)
Currently waiting for SMART Board member to apply to be on the EMEDA Board.
4. Old Business as needed
Discussed spillway and channel easements for landowners; there are no legals for the channel.
5. Closed Session – Thielen Litigation Update (IF NEEDED)
2:05 PM Chairman Braun closed the session.
2:09 Chairman Braun opened the session; no decisions were made.
2:09 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:10 PM Stacey Moore, member of the public joined the meeting. Kady York, Brosz Engineering joined the meeting via phone call.
2:10 PM BONE PILE MINOR SUBDIVISION PRELIMINARY REVIEW/ Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator
Reviewed presented Bone Pile Minor Subdivision. Discussed road going through the subdivision. Discussed access to water through the North Baker Water Sewer District.
2:34 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:39 PM Desiree Thielen, Planner & DES Coordinator joined the meeting.
2:39 PM REVIEW DRAFT ROAD PLAT/ Cindy Irgens, Recording Clerk & Road/Land Researcher
Discussed updating resolutions for road names to match 911 Addressing and road signs. Updated on abandonment resolutions that were indexed incorrectly on DocuPro; Commission advised to index per resolution.
3:05 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:07 PM Bryan Batchelor, Road Superintendent and Carl Overland, Shop Foreman joined the meeting.
3:07 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve August 17-21, 2026 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve August 17-21, 2026 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
2. Approve August 17th, 2026 Closed Commission Minutes
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve August 17th, 2026 Closed Commission Minutes. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Executive Decisions
a. Discussion/Decision on renewal for January 2027 MACo Health Insurance rates/ Debbie Wyrick, Deputy Clerk & Recorder
Chairman Braun signed the plans that were approved during the Insurance Committee meeting last week.
b. Discussion/Decision on dissolving the Wellness Committee
Commissioner Varner motioned to dissolve the Wellness Committee effective immediately. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
c. Discussion/Decision on Fallon Medical Complex Health Insurance Funding
Presented Fallon Medical Complex Health’s employer contribution; Fallon Medical Complex was notified prior that their contribution is 40%.
Commissioner Varner motioned to calculate the total County funding portion based off the employer contribution for Fallon Medical Complex. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
d. Discussion/Decision on adopting Easement Resolutions #1185 & #1186
Currently waiting for Easement Resolution #1186.
Commissioner Rost motioned to adopt Resolution #1185 for the Bruha easement. Commissioner Varner seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
e. Discussion/Decision on Fireside Office Solutions Maintenance Service Agreements for several departments
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the Fireside Office Solutions Maintenance Service Agreements. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carried unanimously.
f. Discussion/Decision on Airport Improvement Program Grant Agreement
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Airport Improvement Program Grant Agreement. 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 Fallon Medical Complex’s Request for Qualifications biannual procurement draft
Discussed if Fallon Medical Complex is required to go out for procurement for a county building; currently procured the same engineers. The hospital will go out for procurement for this term but will be combined with the County’s procurement going forward.
b. Discussion/Decision on going out to bid for Road Department Motor Graders/ Bryan Batchelor, Road Superintendent and Carl Overland, Shop Foreman
Presented bid specifications for blades that are up for rotation. Discussed premium circles no longer being an additional cost; snow wings will be an additional cost.
Commissioner Rost motioned to go out to bid for Road Department Motor Graders. 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)
3:39 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
