Commission Minutes – January 8 – January 12, 2024
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024
9:30 AM CONVENE
PRESENT: Steve Baldwin, Chairman; Roy Rost and Kevin Braun, Members;
Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Pledge of Allegiance was held in the Commissioner’s Office to start off the week.
9:30 AM AGENDA/NON-AGENDA ITEMS – PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared for Public Comment.
10:00 AM ROAD/SHOP UPDATES/ Bobby Wiedmer, Road Superintendent; Carl Overland, Shop Mechanic
Not pulling the shoulders on the South Plevna Road. Adding 4-5 inches of scoria and plan on going all the way to the Willard Road. Commissioner Braun asked Bobby if the “no littering” signs on Coral Creek Road were Road Departments’. Bobby said the landfill put them up. Commissioner Rost wants to ask Jeff if he would like the signs put back up. Should finish up clutch. Loader done and no complaints. Mitch is working on batwing mower for the Golf Course. Robbie Christiaens will take dock and handrail to Billings to be powder coated. Discussed options for transporting an ambulance from Kalispell. Commissioner Baldwin discussed loader’s warranty on new motor.
10:18 AM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
10:29 Rich Menger, Sanitarian joined the meeting.
10:38 AM PROJECT UPDATES/ Shannon Hewson, Brosz Engineering
Shannon presented Annual Inspection reports for the lower and upper lakes. Commissioner Braun asked Shannon about EPA response time. Shannon recommended asking Tom that question because he will have a better answer. Katie and Mike are continuing forward on GIS. Bergstrom Hill Road Preliminary was presented to the Commission. Shannon plans on meeting with landowners on right of way plats with Commissioner Rost joining possibly Monday the 15th or Wednesday the 17th.
Rich asked the Commission how long they plan on doing vegetation removal in the lower channel (out past fire hall and through town). Commissioner Baldwin said it was currently an ongoing discussion with the City. Shannon said that there is a joint permit that the City and the County applied for, for maintenance within the lower channel. Rich asked if the channel could be mowed. Shannon answered yes, that is part of maintenance.
Commissioner Braun asked about progress on front handicap door. Shannon reported that the survey has been completed out front.
The golf course irrigation pond survey has been completed and currently waiting for the pond to freeze to determine the bottom of pond. Commissioner Braun asked if DEQ responded about working on the pond in the fall. Shannon has not heard from DEQ yet but will proceed as planned.
Commissioner Rost informed Shannon about a member of the public requesting a posted 45mph speed limit on Coral Creek Road and asked if a survey on the approaches would have to be required. Shannon recommended that it would be best to do the survey to determine if the road is accommodating of that speed. Commissioner Rost asked if that included oilfield approaches. Shannon answered it included all approaches. Commissioner Rost asked Shannon what it would cost the County to get a proposal for a survey on Coral Creek Road (right out of Stanhope Addition to the Landfill gate). Shannon agreed it would not cost anything to make the proposal and that he could do it. Commissioner Braun asked if all the oilfield approaches would need to be signed with yields or stop signs. Shannon said if the approaches don’t have the sight distance, then they would need to be signed. Spur Road will be the only road that you should sign because it is a public road. The Commission will wait for the proposal and discuss with the County Attorney how to move forward.
10:58 AM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
11:00 AM COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT UPDATES/ Amanda Williams, County Extension Agent
Amanda reported on upcoming events for January and February.
11:10 AM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
11:43 AM PERMISSION TO RECRUIT SUBSTITUTE BUS DRIVER/ Carla Brown, Council of Aging Director; Julie Straub, HRM
Carla would like to hire a dependable out-of-town driver. Carla currently is short one driver and waiting for a resignation letter from a different driver. Julie added that the transportation program is robust so adding to the pool is critical.
Commissioner Rost made the motion to approve recruiting an additional substitute bus driver. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
11:47 AM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
11:59 AM Commissioner Braun made the motion to recess. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
NOON RECESS
1:15 PM RECONVENED
PRESENT: Steve Baldwin, Chairman; Roy Rost, Member; Kevin Braun, 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 COUNTY ATTORNEY BUSINESS SESSION/ Darcy Wassmann, County Attorney
1.Coral Creek Landfill Trust Account/Petition the Court
Commissioner Baldwin signed the Petition for Coral Creek Land Fill Trust as of today.
2.Indigent Burial Policy discussion/decisions
There was no further discussion at this time.
3.Gate Permit system policies/procedure discussion/decisions
The Commission decided to use current encroachment permits.
4.Discuss/Decision to approve Professional Services Agreement with Stahly Engineering for Planning
Services
Waiting for Stahly to come to an agreement on modifying some of the contract language.
5.Discuss meal rate changes to per diem policy.
The County is allowed to set its own meal rates.
6.Old or other county business (as needed)
The Commission asked Darcy for her recommendation about posting a speed limit on the Coral Creek Road. Darcy will look into the statute for posting a speed limit on county roads.
1:56 PM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
2:15 PM DISCUSS/DECISION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION # 1120 AMENDING EMPLOYEE PER DIEM POLICY
Commissioner Rost recommends per diem to be $35/day for three meals and remove receipts from existing document.
Commissioner Braun makes a motion to adopt Resolution #1120 for the current state room and mileage rates. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
The Commission will discuss with Julie Straub, HRM about changing the policy.
Commissioner Braun motioned to set the meal rate to $35 per day in Resolution #1120. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
2:24 PM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
3:00 PM AVCAPTUREALL UPDATE/ Josh Lewis, System Administrator
Discussed further on transition into using AVCapture All for recording future Commissioner meetings.
4:00 PM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
4:00 PM COMMISSION WORK SESSION
1.Old Business (as needed)
a.Decision to sign petition to terminate Coral Creek Landfill Trust Account
Commissioner Baldwin signed the Petition in County Attorney Business discussion.
b.Policies/procedures for gate permit system (discussion/decisions as needed)
There was no further discussion at this time.
c.Indigent Burial Policy (discussion/decisions as needed)
There was no further discussion at this time.
d.Hospital Basement project (discussion/decisions as needed)
There was no further discussion at this time.
e.Update EMS policy/procedures.
There was no further discussion at this time.
f.Other old business as needed.
2.E-mails/Correspondence
3.Review & Approve Encroachment/Approach Permits (as needed)
4.Review Board Minutes/Agendas (Boards other than Commission)
5.Review Department/office reports/sign journal vouchers (as needed)
6.Appointments to various boards (as needed)
Commissioner Braun motioned to appoint Cheyanne Dame to the Planning Board and to the Museum Board, and Bev Burghduff to the Weed Board. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
7.Executive/Action Items:
a.Approval of the Meadows Subdivision Plat per recommendation of contract planner.
b.Approval of the James Kirschten Residuary Trust Property COS per recommendation of contract planner.
Commissioner Rost motioned to approve the Meadows Subdivision Plat per contract planner and the James Kirschten Residuary Trust Property COS per contract planner. Commissioner Braun seconded. Commissioner Baldwin asked for further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
c.Discuss/Review Professional Services Agreement with Stahly Engineering for Planning
Discussed with County Attorney; waiting for response from Stahly Engineering.
d.Approve equipment/installation quote for a new pump for the Golf Course for the amount of $2,500.00
Commissioner Rost asked for clarification on whether travel expenses were included as part of the installation quote.
4:19 PM Commissioner Braun made the motion to recess until Wednesday, January 10th at 4:00 PM. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none.
3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
RECESS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024
1:15 PM RECONVENED
PRESENT: Steve Baldwin, Chairman; Roy Rost, Member; Kevin Braun, Member;
Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
FALLON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
4:00 PM WEED DEPARTMENT UPDATE/ Sara Berger, Weed Control Coordinator; Julie Straub, HRM
Sara gave an update on upcoming events and the recent Weed Board meeting. Weed Board meetings will be held monthly now instead of every other month. Discussed issue with one of the spray pickups. Sara asked the Commission if they would like to join her at the 2024 MWCA Annual Conference in Billings.
Commissioner Rost made the motion to go into Closed Session. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Rost made the motion to come out of Closed Session. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
No decision was made.
4:15 PM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
4:30 PM APPROVE JANUARY 1 – JANUARY 5, 2024 COMMISSION MINUTES
Commissioner Braun made the motion to approve the January 1-5, 2024 Commission Minutes. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
4:55 PM PREDISCIPLINARY MEETING/ Jessica Scott, Emergency Communications Dispatcher;
Brenda Hoeger, Emergency Communications Dispatcher Supervisor; Julie Straub, HRM
Commissioner Braun made the motion to go into Closed Session. Commissioner Rost seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Rost made the motion to come out of Closed Session. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
Decision:
Commissioner Rost made the motion to issue Jessica Scott, Emergency Communications Dispatcher, a written warning. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
5:05 PM Chairman Baldwin ended the discussion.
5:45 PM Commissioner Rost made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner Braun seconded the motion. Commissioner Baldwin asked for any further discussion; being none. 3 Ayes. 0 Nays. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURN
s/Steve Baldwin, Chairman
s/Megan Slagter, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
s/Brenda J. Wood, Clerk and Recorder
