Commission Minutes – February 3 – February 7, 2025
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chaiman; Mandi Varner, Member; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ABSENT: Roy Rost, Member (Attending Legislation in Helena)
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.
9:45 AM CLICK SEND TEST TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES
Commissioner Varner sent out the Click Send Test to county employees.
10:00 AM Mark Sieler, Road Foreman attended the meeting.
10:00 AM ROAD UPDATES/ Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent; Mitch Overn and/or Carl Overland, Shop Mechanics
Bobby and Mitch were unable to attend the meeting. Updated on road conditions from recent snowfall. Discussed Jim Neary’s inquiry on graveling his road; the Road Department will go out to check. Discussed blading Division Road. Carl updated on tire repairs and replacements; experimenting with current tire machine to see if it can be utilized on smaller trucks. Discussed Silver Traverse for the Council on Aging; Dodge Van will be sold. Updated on county vehicle maintenance.
10:17 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:17 AM WEED UPDATES/ Sara Berger, Weed Control Coordinator
Updated on tire maintenance for the Weed pickups. Updated on on MCWA Conference. Hill County Representative will send over a breakdown for utilizing drones for Fallon County. Will present purchasing UTVs and recommending Absinthe Wormwood to be added to county’s noxious weed list to the board at tonight’s meeting. Updated on billing for spraying and hiring for seasonal help.
10:22 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:30 AM SMART & EMEDA UPDATES/ Vaughn Zenko, SMART Executive Director
Vaughn presented the SMART 2024 Yearly Impact Report. Updated on SMART transitioning to charging EMEDA a fee schedule instead of sharing administrative assistance. Updated on Fallon County Community Theater and other ongoing projects. Reported on attending Legislation in Helena. Updated on assisting businesses and the schools with marketing and workforce.
10:48 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:00 AM DISCUSS BAKER FURNITURE QUOTE FOR JUSTICE COURT CARPETING/ Lynda Herbst, Inside Custodian Supervisor
Reported on misquote for the carpeting, presented the correct quote. Discussed which quote should be approved. The Commission will go look at the Justice Court Office before making decision in their worksession.
11:12 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:15 AM COUNCIL ON AGING UPDATES/ Carla Brown, Council on Aging Director
Updated on Council on Aging fleet vehicles; discussed donating the Dodge van to a county that needs it for their Council on Aging. Will have the driver’s test out the Traverse to see if it would suit Council on Aging’s needs. Reported on a grant that could be used for a new bus next fiscal year. Updated on snow removal and sand for the Baker Senior Center.
11:20 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
11:30 AM PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATES/ Kim Bryan, Public Health Director
Updated on Influenza A positives in the county. Reported on a Helena Convention; Kim, Mindi and Kimberlee received a scholarship to cover half. Updated on Community Health Worker and grants available for the position. Reported on Sun Bus, a charitable mobile Dermatology clinic that provides free skin screenings. Updated on current COVID funds deadline being extended to June of 2027; additional funds will possibly be available.
11:33 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Recess until 1:15 PM
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENE
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chaiman; Mandi Varner, Member; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ABSENT: Roy Rost, Member (Attending Legislation in Helena)
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
1:15 PM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared for Public Comment.
1:30 PM EMS UPDATES/ Brittany Renner, EMS Program Manager
Brittany presented January on call hours and stats. Received new radio batteries and charges. Brittany is scheduled to go to the training in Sidney. Updated on ambulance maintenance and billing.
1:36 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
1:43 PM MUSEUM UPDATES/ Traci Bruha, Intermittent Museum Aide
Traci presented a lot of her progress in the last six weeks; presented a conference she would like to attend. Presented an updated sorted inventory list of all the donated items. Updated on classes visiting the museum.
1:47 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
1:50 PM Shane Bettenhausen, Match Manager joined the meeting.
1:54 PM SHOOTING RANGE UPDATES/ Jim Leischner, Shooting Range Supervisor
Shane updated on repairing the media in the indoor shooting range. Updated on upcoming annual meeting and matches. Jim reported on a faulty relay that was repaired in the furnace at the shooting range; discussed safety hazard with the furnace and lack of emergency exits. Discussed Trap group. Updated on replacing the gate keypad and some of the shooting range doors to key fobs; electrical boxes will need to be buried and capped off due to excess damage.
2:09 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:15 PM COUNTY AGENT UPDATES/ Dave Kirschten, County Agent; Kodie Olsen, 4-H Program Coordinator
Dave updated on Administrative Assistant returning March 24th; also updated on upcoming events, samples and workshops. Updated on 4-H livestock and possibly creating food products for the fair. Kodie updated on Cloverbuds, fair entries and 4-H groups. Updated on Citizenship Seminar and Legislative Breakfast in Helena; also the State Ambassadors events.
2:27 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:27 PM FAIRGROUNDS UPDATES/ Jennefer Wheeler, Fairgrounds Manager
Has not received an updated quote for the front gate yet. Dueling Pianos is on February. Jen will send an updated quote for the electric sign.
2:30 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
2:45 PM DES/911 UPDATES/ Amanda Frickel, DES & 911 Coordinator
Amanda updated on needing an MOU with Spartan Bus Line for evacuating elderly in case of a catastrophic emergency like a tornado. Discussed sick and vacation forms. Discussed the purchase of base layers and if they would be classified as part of the uniform.
2:49 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:00 PM FALLON MEDICAL COMPLEX UPDATES/ David Espeland, CEO; Marjorie Losing, CEO
Marjorie reported on December’s financial report. David updated on welcoming a new nurse practitioner. Marjorie updated on billing processes for patients; working to extend payments to twelve months and offering an additional program to assist in helping patients pay their bill. David updated on SDI project with the business office, doors and elevator. Also updated on replacing the glycol pumps; engineer inspected the pumps; currently waiting for two more bids. Discussed fire drills for the retirement complexes; will get the fire department involved in creating a fire plan.
3:34 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
3:37 PM Kathy Newell, Election Clerk joined the meeting.
3:37 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1. Approve January 27-31, 2025 Commission Minutes
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve January 27-31, 2025 Commission Minutes. Chairman Braun stepped down to second the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent. (Commissioner Rost) Motion carries.
2. Executive/Action Items:
a. Decision on candy machines in Courthouse lobby
Kathy reported on the candy machines in the Courthouse lobby; the individual will no longer be servicing them and asked if the County would like to purchase them. Discussed pricing for the candy machines and process of filling the machines. The Commission agreed to counter offering for the candy machines.
b. Adopt Resolution #1145 to adopt a Cattle Guard Policy
Commissioner Varner motioned to adopt Resolution #1145 to adopt a Cattle Guard Policy. Chairman Braun stepped down to second the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent. (Commissioner Rost) Motion carries.
c. Discussion/Decision on Resolution to support MACo Association.
Commissioner Varner motioned to support the draft Resolution to support MACo Association. Chairman Braun stepped down to second the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent. (Commissioner Rost) Motion carries.
3. Old Business as needed
a. Decision on Fairgrounds Display Board and front entrance sign/gate
No discussion at this time.
b. Decision on Road Petition
No discussion at this time.
c. Decision on Baker Furniture Flooring Quote for Justice Court.
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve the Baker Furniture quote for the amount of $7,039.00. Chairman Braun stepped down to second the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; Commissioner Varner recommended Lynda Herbst purchase additional tiles for replacements.
2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent. (Commissioner Rost) Motion carries.
4. Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers/encroachments (as needed)
5. Approve January 2025 End of Month Claims
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve January 2025 End of Month Claims for the amount of $331,327.36. Chairman Braun stepped down to second the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent. (Commissioner Rost) Motion carries.
6. Approve January 2025 Payroll & Withholdings
Commissioner Varner motioned to approve January 2025 Payroll & Withholdings for the amount of $681,144.25. Chairman Braun stepped down to second the motion. Commissioner Braun asked for any further discussion; being none. 2 Ayes. 0 Nays. 1 Absent. (Commissioner Rost) Motion carries.
3:08 PM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Being no further business, recess until 8:45 AM on Tuesday, February 4th.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
8:45 AM CONVENE
PRESENT: Kevin Braun, Chaiman; Mandi Varner, Member; Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ABSENT: Roy Rost, Member (Attending Legislation in Helena)
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
8:45 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
Jon Slagter joined the meeting. Jon expressed what he thought would help set the next Golf Course Superintendent up for success; two full-time employees for continuity and a larger budget for replacing the irrigation system. Discussed environmental constraints with DEQ; will affect the budget and the timeframe of replacing equipment. Jon recommended hiring an assistant Golf Course Superintendent so there isn’t a gap if the Head Golf Course Superintendent ends up quitting. Discussed the golf course equipment and the Superintendent job description.
8:56 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
9:00 AM PROJECT UPDATES/ Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering; Rich Menger, Sanitarian
1. DNRC PREAPPLICATION MEETING – ZOOM MEETING/ DNRC Representatives
Reviewed the preapplication form for the golf course irrigation pond water rights. Permit will be resubmitted. Discussed property surrounding the golf course.
10:02 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion.
10:22 AM DISPATCH UPDATES/ Brenda Hoeger, Emergency Communications Supervisor
Updated on the 988 program; presented a policy that Brenda would like to include in her SOPs. Updated on Third Signal and the Prairie County signal issue. Discussed dispatch calls to the EMTs; Brenda will discuss further with Brittany Renner, EMS Program Manager.
10:29 AM Chairman Braun ended the discussion. Being as there is no further business, meeting adjourned.
ADJOURN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025
ATTEND BAKER CHAMBER MEETING – CORNER BAR
s/Kevin Braun, Chairman
s/Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk & Recorder
