Commission Minutes – December 30, 2024 – January 3, 2025
MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2024
9:30 AM CONVENE
PRESENT: Steve Baldwin, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Vice Chairman; Roy Rost, Member;
Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week.
9:30 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared for Public Comment.
9:42 AM WEED UPDATES/ Sara Berger, Weed Control Coordinator
Discussed updating road maps for the Weed crew. Updated on billing reminders. Asked for permission to take a personal vehicle to Annual Conference in Great Falls; permission granted. Updated on presentations and equipment maintenance. Discussed utilizing drones in the Weed Department; the Weed board has tabled the discussion for financial review. Commission Braun stated that drones would replace a side-by-side. Sara will set up a presentation for the Weed Board and the Commission.
9:56 AM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:00 AM ROAD UPDATES/ Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent; Mitch Overn and/or Carl Overland, Shop Mechanics
Due to the weather, Road department is doing shop work and keeping trucks off the road to due to ice. Updated on Silver Traverse maintenance; the Commission will see if the Council on Aging will take the Traverse. Updated on new signs and equipment maintenance. Discussed pipe on Johnny Creek; Bobby will check what size the pipe is. Discussed maintenance for the golf course equipment and snow plowing the Senior Center; will discuss further with Carla, Council on aging Director.
10:08 AM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:46 AM PROJECT UPDATES/ Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering; Rich Menger, Sanitarian
Discussed draft Operations and Maintenance Manual for the golf course; waiting for responses from DEQ and DNRC. Discussed the change order for Bergstrom Hill Road. Updated on scanning road mapping documents. Rich suggested the Commission pass all procedures from a draft perspective to implement the procedures going forward with new personnel. Updated on lagoon cell 3 level; discussed watering for the golf course. Updated on survey for grazing district fence.
10:58 AM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:09 AM IT UPDATES/ Josh Lewis, System Administrator
Reported on several departments’ equipment maintenance and GIS mapping system. Discussed Golf Course Superintendent email and cell phone. Updated on website maintenance and traffic.
11:21 AM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Recess until 1:15 PM.
11:45 AM SWEARING IN OF ELECTED OFFICIALS
The Commission attended the swearing in of Jennifer Fisher, Clerk of Court and Mandi Varner, Commissioner.
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM CONVENE
PRESENT: Steve Baldwin, Chairman; Kevin Braun, Vice Chairman; Roy Rost, Member;
Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
1:15 PM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared for Public Comment.
1:30 PM Randy Tunby, Landowner and Rich Menger, Sanitarian joined the meeting.
1:30 AM COUNTY ATTORNEY WORK SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann
1. Draft/Review Cattle Guard Policy
Reviewed Cattle Guard Policy. Discussed having public comment for approving the policy. Discussed having a public hearing for future cattle guards.
2. Review/Revise Road Petition
Discussed modifying the pages for easy organization; include page and permit numbers to be sure no pages are missing once filed.
3. Draft/Review Golf Course Etiquette MOU
Discussed verbiage for removing individuals from a public facility. Discussed the Golf Course Board code of conduct; sending updated code of conduct with membership renewals. Darcy will request a draft from the Country Club for the Commission.
4. Revise/Review Fallon County and Dawson County Sanitarian MOU
Reviewed draft MOU. Discussed adding billing Dawson County for hours and mileage and adding liability insurance to the MOU.
5. Randy Tunby Ag Easement
Reviewed draft easements. Discussed changing cattle to livestock. Darcy will send an updated draft.
6. Update on dec. action
There was no discussion at this time.
2:13 PM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:15 PM DES & 911 UPDATES/ Amanda Frickel, DES & 911 Coordinator
Amanda was unable to attend this meeting.
2:30 PM DECISION ON HOSTING A TRAINING/ Trenton Harbaugh, Sheriff
Trenton suggested providing a mental health course for emergency services and their spouses; would ask State association to help sponsor the course by Travis Gribble. The course would be held around April. Discussed including other counties and charging an admission fee to cover hosting the course. Commissioner Braun suggested adding the decision to the 911 meeting agenda for Carter County Commission input. Permission granted to move forward with planning the course.
2:41 PM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:00 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve December 23-27, 2024 Commission Minutes.
Commissioner Baldwin motioned to approve the December 23-27, 2024 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carries unanimously.
2. Executive/Action Items:
a. Decision on ice management for Parkview and Public Health parking lots.
Decided to have the Road Department sand the parking lots.
b. Decision on Tax Exempt Certificate
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Tax Exempt Certificate. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carries unanimously.
c. Decision on meal and milage rates.
Kimberly presented the updated MACo rates for the mileage rates. Reviewed set meal rates. Decided to leaves rates as is for the 2025 calendar year and readdress at next rate increase.
3. Old Business as needed
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve Randy Tunby’s Ag and Waterline Easement. Commissioner Baldwin seconded the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. Motion carries unanimously.
4. Review Board Minutes/Agendas (Boards other than Commission)
5. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachments (as needed)
3:08 PM Vice Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Being as there is no other business, meeting adjourned.
ADJOURN
4:00 PM ATTEND STEVE BALDWIN’S & JERRIE NEWELL’S RETIREMENT PARTY – COURTHOUSE LOBBY
s/ Kevin Braun, Vice Chairman
s/ Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/ Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder
